President sets referendum ball in motion
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
20.07.2018 12:30
Poland's president has announced the questions he wants to put to Poles in a referendum later this year about possible changes to the constitution and referred the proposal to the Senate.
Andrzej Duda holds up his referendum proposal. Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak
In an address to the nation on Friday, President Andrzej Duda said he wants the referendum to be held on November 10 and 11 so that it coincides with the centenary of Polish independence.
The questions aim to gauge if Poles want to keep their constitution, which dates back to 1997, change it, or have a new one.
He also wants to ask whether Poles want the retirement age, family handouts, and Poland's place in NATO and the European Union to be constitutionally guaranteed.
Voters would also be asked if the president should have more powers and if the constitution should refer to Poland's Christian values and heritage.
The result of a referendum would not dictate the future of the constitution but rather act as an indication of changes Poles want to see.
The Senate, the upper house of Polish parliament, is expected to decide next week whether the referendum will go ahead.
Poland marks its centenary of independence on November 11.
On 11 November, 1918, Polish statesman Józef Piłsudski arrived in Warsaw after being held prisoner in Germany during World War I, announcing Polish independence on the same day that the armistice to end the Great War was signed, paving the way for Poland to return to the map of Europe after more than 120 years of partitions and foreign rule.
(vb/pk)
On 11 November, 1918, Piłsudski arrived in Warsaw after being held prisoner in Germany during World War One, announcing Polish independence on the same day that the armistice to end the Great War was signed, paving the way for Poland to return to the map of Europe after more than 120 years of partitions and foreign rule.On 11 November, 1918, Piłsudski arrived in Warsaw after being held prisoner in Germany during World War One, announcing Polish independence on the same day that the armistice to end the Great War was signed, paving the way for Poland to return to the map of Europe after more than 120 years of partitions and foreign rule.