A win for right-wing opposition leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski in next month's presidential election runoff would pose a threat to Poland's financial stability, Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski said on Thursday, according to Reuters. Kaczynski is the arch rival of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's economically liberal government, Though conservative on moral and social issues, Kaczynski tilts leftward on economic policy, favouring more state spending and opposing privatisation. Kaczynski and Bronislaw Komorowski, the candidate of Tusk's ruling Civic Platform (PO), are facing off in the July 4 second and decisive round of the presidential election after both men failed to win more than 50 percent in a June 20 first round. Asked by reporters whether Kaczynski's victory could be a risk for state finances, Rostowski said: "Yes, I believe so." "It appears that way from Kaczynski's recent remarks. This is creating an ideological basis for vetoes from a future president Jaroslaw Kaczynski," Rostowski said. The election was called after Kaczynski's identical twin brother, President Lech Kaczynski, died along with much of Poland's political and military elite in a plane crash in Russia on April 10. Tusk's government fears Jaroslaw Kaczynski as president would follow his brother's habit of using his veto powers to block legislation. Rostowski has often criticised Kaczynski's views on the economy and last year he resisted the opposition leader's calls for stimulus packages to help the Polish economy weather the global financial crisis. In the election campaign, Kaczynski has toned down his usually aggressive rhetoric and said he would seek compromises with the government if elected. But he has also accused the government of plotting to privatise the state health service. Tusk and Komorowski strongly deny any such plan. Kaczynski has waged an effective campaign and has been able to narrow the gap with Komorowski, gaining 36.5 percent in the first round of the election against 41.5 percent for the ruling party's candidate. Despite Kaczynski's improved ratings, opinion polls still suggest Komorowski will win the runoff vote.
