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