Polish election on the cards

Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski has said he expects early elections in the autumn.

His announcement came after his conservative party gave him the green light to push for a snap vote to end weeks of political turmoil.

Early parliamentary elections have been on the cards in the country since bitter fighting erupted within the awkward coalition formed by the ruling Kaczynski twins, a far-right party and a rural leftist faction.

"Elections could be on October 21," Jaroslaw Kaczynski told a news conference. "In November at the latest."

Mr Kaczynski and his brother Lech, the president, have governed during a spell of fast economic growth but have failed to stop political infighting and clashed repeatedly with other European Union leaders.

Early elections are still not absolutely certain, especially with the Kaczynskis' Law and Justice party trailing the pro-business Civic Platform opposition in opinion polls, but the coalition has become so divided it functions only in name.

Law and Justice party leaders decided on Saturday to give their approval for an early ballot.

The president, who would not face re-election yet, gave his backing this week and opposition parties also want it to happen.

Parliament reconvenes on Aug. 22 after its summer break and could then decide to dissolve itself ahead of new elections.

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