Mr Marcinkiewicz's office is strikingly underpowered, both in people and in clout.

ECONOMIST: So much to do

On Tuesday, Law and Justice announced that it had chosen not Mr Kaczynski but the little-known Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz to lead the next government.

ECONOMIST: Return of the right | The

But even if Mr Marcinkiewicz continues as prime minister thereafter, few doubt that the party boss will be pulling his strings from the shadows.

ECONOMIST: Return of the right | The