As things stand, this pair heads the most formidable electoral front, which also includes Mintimir Shamiev, president of Tatarstan, a republic within Russia, and most of the Agrarian Party, once allied to the Communists.

ECONOMIST: Russia��s political battle looms | The

If the leftists purge their old-timers, Mr Tusk might choose them in place of his tiresome and greedy current coalition ally, the agrarian People's Party.

ECONOMIST: Polish politics

Many support Civic Platform's coalition partner, the agrarian Polish People's Party (PSL), which controls the labour and agriculture ministries.

ECONOMIST: The new team gets going

Law and Justice admits to slow progress on some fronts, but says that it is hampered by its two coalition partners, the leftist agrarian populists in the Self Defence party and the Catholic-nationalist League of Polish Families.

ECONOMIST: Poland's awkward government