Jaroslaw Kaczynski at Smolensk anniversary events, Sunday: photo - PAP

The latest opinion poll commissioned by Polish Radio puts the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) just two and a half percentage points behind the ruling Civic Platform party.

The poll by the Homo Homini institute, the first taken since the 10 April Smolensk anniversary commemorations at the weekend, finds that the centre-right Civic Platform (PO) would receive 32.6 percent of the vote if elections were held this week, up 1.6 percent on a poll taken on 1 April.

The conservative Law and Justice however have the support of 30.1 percent of respondents (up 4.2 percent), the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) 14.9 percent and the junior coalition partner, the Polish Peasant’s Party (PSL)  7.7 percent.

Director of the Homo Homini pollsters, Marcin Duma, told Polish Radio that Law and Justice, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin brother of the late president, Lech Kaczynski, has received a bounce in support due to the attention focused on the Smolensk tragedy.

"While the growth of support for Law and Justice is a consequence of the anniversary of the disaster, the growth in support for Civic Platform is a bit surprising,” he said.

The survey was conducted over the telephone on 11 April from a sample of 1,100 people.

Poland's geberal election is scheduled for autumn this year. (pg)