Since 2001, five prime ministers have held office. PiS was founded in 2001 by identical twin brothers, Jaroslaw and Lech Kaczynski. After the elections, PiS and PO were expected to form a coalition, but talks soon collapsed. The formation of the coalition has had both domestic and continental repercussions: Poland's Foreign Minister tendered his resignation in protest, and in June, the European Parliament stated that the leaders of LPR "incite people to hatred and violence." Over the following months, additional high level government officials either resigned or were sacked, and the Kaczynskis reportedly consolidated their power by appointing loyalists to those posts. Observers believe the dispute will be resolved after August 22, when parliament reconvenes after recess. Early elections are possible. Under the new government Poland's relations with Germany and Russia have been strained at times. Relations with the United States

Poland and the United States have historically close relations.
Poland held presidential and parliamentary elections in the fall of 2005. After several months, a ruling coalition consisting of three populist-nationalist parties was formed; the presidency and prime minister's post are held by Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, identical twin brothers who have increasingly consolidated their power. Their government's nationalist policies have caused controversy domestically, in both the political and economic arenas, and in foreign relations as well. Relations with some neighboring states and the European Union have been strained at times, but ties with the United States have not undergone significant change. Some observers believe that a recent dispute within the coalition may spark early elections. This report may be updated as events warrant. See also CRS Report RL32967, Poland: Foreign Policy Trends, and CRS Report RL32966, Poland: Background and Current Issues, both by [author name scrubbed].