Poles voted yesterday in a close presidential run-off between free market enthusiast Donald Tusk and Lech Kaczynski, a conservative keen to restore some of the welfare protection existing before the 1990s.

No matter who wins, the vote seals a swing to the right after four years of social democrat rule and two five-year terms for leftist President Aleksander Kwasniewski who could not run again.

The final opinion surveys showed voters evenly split in an election that has turned into a plebiscite on whether Poland needs more free market medicine after 16 years of often painful reforms or should now focus on shoring up the social safety net.

Voting began at 0400 GMT and exit polls were due after 1825 GMT, 25 minutes behind the original schedule because one polling station opened late and voting was extended there, the state election commission said.

"With just two candidates each vote counts and if exit polls were published while voting still continued somewhere in the country this could serve as basis for protests," commission head Ferdynand Rymarz told a news conference.

Nearly 30 million Poles are eligible to vote in the fourth presidential election since 1989.

The ex-Communist left brought Poland into the European Union last year, but voters punished it in September parliamentary polls for graft scandals and high unemployment, giving power to its old foes from the Solidarity movement.

A first round of voting narrowed the presidential field to Tusk and Kaczynski, both former Solidarity activists. Their Law and Justice and Civic Platform parties won the general election and they are trying to form a coalition government.

The bitter rivalry between Tusk and Kaczynski has slowed coalition talks and analysts expect whoever wins the election will be able to tip the balance of power in the coalition.

Asked after voting in Warsaw what would be his first decision if he wins, Kaczynski said: "Get a few days rest."

The Warsaw mayor said he would also plan prompt visits to Washington, the Vatican and Brussels.

Tusk, voting in his home city of Gdansk, said he was relieved and proud regardless of the vote's result.

"In May, voters were giving me 8 percent, today it's 50-50. I met wonderful people who ... managed to convince millions that my vision was important for them," he told reporters. "We did a really great thing."

The president is commander in chief of the army, can propose or veto legislation, nominate prime ministers -- who hold most executive power -- and, in some cases, dissolve parliament.

(China Daily October 24, 2005)