EU membership at stake as Poles vote

Poles began voting on Sunday in parliamentary elections that could spell Poland's break with the European Union if nationalist candidates dominate.

Former EU chief Donald Tusk, who leads the opposition, told supporters at his final rally in Pruszkow that the nationalist Law and Justice party of PiS had "secret plans" to leave the bloc.

"This is the most important day in the history of our democracy since 1989," Tusk said. "We will also be voting for Poland to remain in the European Union. Poland is the heart of Europe."

Poland has been a leading cheerleader for Ukraine in the EU and North Atlantic Treaty Organization and has taken in a million Ukrainian refugees, but there is growing fatigue among many Poles.

Ukraine and its Western supporters are watching warily in case Poland follows Slovakia, which last month elected a government that promises to take a much more skeptical view on sending aid to Ukraine.

WITH AFP