President Reelected, Partial Returns Show

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski won a second term with 55% of the vote, according to partial returns, avoiding a runoff in Poland’s third presidential election since shedding communism a decade ago. Kwasniewski, a former Communist, defeated 11 challengers, including legendary Solidarity founder Lech Walesa and a number of fringe candidates from the far right. Walesa, whom Kwasniewski ousted from the presidency in a close election in 1995, won just 0.9% of the vote. Kwasniewski’s closest challenger, Andrzej Olechowski, had 18% of the vote. Marian Krzaklewski had 15%. Final results were expected Tuesday.