Record low turnout provokes reactions from Walesa and from Kwasniewski

According to pollster TNS OBOP, the national turnout was 49.6%, but peaked in the Mazowiecki region at 56%. "We should carefully analyze the reasons for such a low frequency. It surely was not the outcome of the lack of the campaigns," commented outgoing president Aleksander Kwasniewski. He stated that he is still considering which candidate to choose in the second round. Lech Walesa did not conceal his anger on hearing about the low attendance. "When I fought for democracy I thought people would make use of it, but now I begin to wonder. We should have retained the Soviets, the communist system, the Militia, clubs - maybe it all lasted too short and now we see the result," he said. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 2; Rzeczpospolita, p. A5) A.F.