The Polish election authorities announced Monday afternoon that on the basis of all votes counted Bronislaw Komorowski becomes the new President of Poland.

The center-right Komorowski from the Civic Platform party won 53.01% of votes, while rival conservative Jaroslaw Kaczynski – 46.99% in a remarkably close electoral contest.

Turnout at the second round of the presidential elections was 55.31%. For full presentation of results, see official website of Polish National Electoral Commission.

Poland had to hold elections after President Lech Kaczynski died in a tragic plane crash in April in Russia together with an entire government delegation heading for a remembrance of the victims of the Katyn Massacre. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who lost Sunday's election, is twin broder of Lech Kaczynski and former PM of Poland. The two brothers founded the conservative Law and Justice party in 2001.

Elected President Komorowski was speker of the lower house of the Polish parliament and acting President of the country up to the elections. He belongs to current PM Donald Tusk's Civic Platform party, which has sent hopes for a consolidated rule of Poland and abidance by stricter fiscal policy, amid fears that conservative Kaczynski might lead the country in another direction.

Earlier Monday TheNews.pl reported that the election results revealed a deep geographic and social rift in Poland between west and east, cities and countryside.