People in Poland voted for a new president on Sunday after the country's former president, Lech Kaczynski, was killed in a plane crash in April.
One of the two leading candidates for president is Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin brother of the late president and leader of the far-right Law and Justice party. His main opponent is Poland's acting President, Bronislaw Komorowksi of the governing center-right Civic Platform party.
According to Poland's electoral commission, the first official results give Mr. Komorowksi a two-point lead, with 39 percent of the vote.
Voter exit surveys show Mr. Komorowski leading by a wider margin. But so far, neither candidate has received 50 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off election expected on July 4th.
For many Poles, Mr. Kaczynski is a highly controversial figure. Like his late brother, Mr. Kaczynski is a social conservative and he has taken a hostile stand toward the European Union. He also has been openly suspicious of Poland's historical enemies, particularly Russia and Germany.
Mr. Komorowksi led in opinion polls throughout the campaign. But Mr. Kaczynski and his party have steadily gained support since April 10th, when former Polish President Lech Kaczynski was killed along with 95 others in a plane crash near the Russian city of Smolensk. Mr. Kaczynski has promised that, if elected, he will continue his late brother's policies.
Final results are expected to be announced on Monday after all of the votes have been counted.
