Financial news

Proposed Poland referendum to include questions about migration and state control of industry – JURIST

Poland’s conservative ruling party Law and Justice (PiS) announced on Sunday the second question in its proposed nationwide referendum. The referendum, scheduled to coincide with the 2023 parliamentary election in October, will include multiple questions pertaining to issues facing Poland.The second question the referendum will pose to Polish citizens is: “Do you support the acceptance of thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa, according to the forced relocation mechanism imposed by the European Bureaucracy?” PiS has taken issue with an EU plan to create a mechanism that requires member states to accept a certain number of refugees as part of redistribution efforts, which would penalize countries €20,000 per unadmitted refugee. The party presents this as a challenge to national sovereignty and questions the effectiveness and fairness of such a mechanism.The first question, announced alongside the referendum on Friday, is: “Do you support the sale of state-owned enterprises?” The PiS seeks to preserve national control over strategic industries and to prevent the reversal of policies implemented by the current government.The referendum’s unveiling has drawn sharp reactions from opposition parties and foreign politicians. Opposition politicians have taken aim at the PiS’s motivations and the proposed plebiscite’s legality. “I will take part in the referendum … to chase the corrupt PiS government. I will not take part in Kaczyński’s political hoots.” Marcin Kierwiński, secretary general of the opposition party Civic Platform said in a video. Critics also denounce the referendum as a manipulation and scam, citing concerns over the use of state resources, including public TV, to demonize political opponents.This move by PiS has intensified the political atmosphere as various factions debate the referendum’s legality and implications for Poland’s democratic processes. As the referendum proposal progresses, the shape and final formulation of the questions will be subject to approval.