Elections in the offing

After a summer of political paroxysms, Poland is finally and definitely headed for new elections. The vote, cast late Friday evening, saw 377 deputies in favor of dissolving the Sejm and 54 against.

The decision to go ahead with early elections came after hours of vitriolic tub-thumping, with big players from several parties taking the opportunity to address the assembled. Donald Tusk, leader of Civic Platform (PO), spoke early. "We have gathered here this afternoon in the Sejm in order to accept the surrender of Jarosław Kaczyński," he began, earning shouts of agreement from members of own party and stoney-faced looks from Law and Justice (PiS) politicians.

PiS' Jacek Kurski answered back, intimating that Tusk and PO would experience their own surrender in coming elections. The League of Polish Families' Roman Giertych later took the podium and railed against his former coalition partner, claiming "You have deceived Poland." Just before the vote took place, Self-defense's Janusz Maksymiuk tried to move for the vote to be held by secret ballot, but was defeated.

With the decision to dissolve the Sejm thus made, President Kaczyński has to choose a date to hold elections no more than 45 days from the vote. Based on comments previously made by PiS politicians, new elections could be held on October 21. Further details will no doubt emerge this week, but Polish voters will be left to wonder if all the hoopla means anything at all.