Polish voters appeared to have ousted their controversial prime minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, last night, after streaming to the polls in numbers not seen since the fall of communism, writes Derek Scallyin Warsaw.
Unofficial exit polls suggested that the opposition Civic Platform (PO), led by Donald Tusk, had captured 44 per cent of the poll, with Mr Kaczynski's Law and Justice (PiS) on about 31 per cent.
"For many weeks we have been convincing Poles that life in Poland can be better, that Poles deserve a better government," Mr Tusk said after the exit polls. "We are moved that Poles went to cast their ballots. This is the victory of decency ... Poles deserve a decent government."
Millions of Poles, including many young and first-time voters, made a point of voting PO to register their disapproval of the policies of the Kaczynski government.
Polling stations around the country reported running out of ballot papers yesterday evening and, after a delay getting fresh supplies, they stayed open an extra three hours.
Polish people living in Ireland last night broadly welcomed the result of the exit polls. Several also noted the role played by young Poles living outside the country in influencing the result. An estimated 14,000 Irish-based Poles cast their votes in Dublin and Cork yesterday.
The Kaczynski government had launched what it called a "moral revolution" in Poland, with campaigns against corruption and a "lying" liberal elite which PiS said had stolen the spoils of post-communist Poland.
The campaigns were highly controversial and in just two years, 14 cabinet members were fired or walked away in frustration.
The PiS government's national conservative line in Brussels alienated many EU partners; its anti-German rhetoric in particular appalled politicians in Berlin and damaged bilateral relations.
If elected, Mr Tusk has promised a more conciliatory line with the EU and Berlin, and a more pro-business approach with investors.
"PO are perhaps not very well prepared for power but they are better prepared than PiS was two years ago," said Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a political analyst and no relation of the PiS leader.
"What they lack in their front bench they have in well-educated second-row officials. They can also bring back experienced EU officials fired by PiS."
Based on last night's preliminary figures Mr Tusk has many coalition options.
One is a coalition with the small but stable Peasants' Party (PSL), which appears to have won about 8 per cent of the vote.
Alternatively, he could ally his party with the LiD alliance of post-communists and left-leaning liberals: various estimates gave LiD about 12 per cent of the poll. That might mollify the PO-critical Gazeta Wyborcza, the leading Polish daily, which backed LiD in the campaign.
Even on the opposition benches, Mr Kaczynski will be a formidable opponent for any new government: he can count on the support of his twin brother, Lech, president of Poland until 2010, to block vital legislation.
Mr Kacyznski has also achieved another objective: to redraw Poland's political landscape and reduce the number of parliamentary parties.
During his short-lived coalition with the extremist League of Polish Families (LPR) and Self-Defence, Mr Kaczynski wooed away enough of their supporters that they are unlikely to make it into the next parliament.
His constant war with his two coalition partners, and corruption allegations surrounding one of his ministers, brought down the government last month, two years early.