Poland: Warsaw voters' expectations for presidential runoff

Voting started Sunday in Poland's close presidential election runoff between the conservative incumbent Andrzej Duda and liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

Duda, who is backed by the ruling right-wing party and the government, is seeking a second 5-year term.

Trzaskowski, a former European Parliament  lawmaker, is running for the main opposition Civic Platform party.

Latest polls showed that the race may be decided by a very small margin.

Following calls from both sides to some 30 million eligible voters to take part in the ballot, turnout is expected to be higher than the 64.51% in the first round of voting on June 28.

In the first round, Duda got 43.5% and Trzaskowski 30.5% .

Polling stations remain open until 9pm (1900 GMT,) and the final official results are expected early in the week.

The outcome of the election will decide the shape of politics in the deeply divided Poland at least until 2023, when the next parliamentary elections are scheduled.

If Duda is reelected, the right-wing Law and Justice party that backs him will continue to have a close ally in the president and maintain its hold on almost all key instruments of power in the country.

Trzaskowski's win would give him the power to veto laws passed by the ruling party. Poland's tone would also be softened on the international arena and especially with the EU.