The Polish government has presented a motion to the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, advocating for a nationwide referendum coinciding with the October 15 general election. The motion, delivered by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Monday evening, introduces four questions, each addressing crucial topics that have stirred substantial public debate.
Initially conceived as a vehicle to gauge public sentiment on the European Union’s proposed new migration policy, the referendum has evolved to encompass an array of pressing issues. The scope of the plebiscite has broadened to include matters spanning from economic policies to geopolitical concerns.
Among the questions poised to shape the referendum’s discourse, the first delves into the pivotal issue of state assets. It will ask the citizens, “Do you support the sell-off of state assets to foreign entities, leading to the loss of control by Polish women and men over strategic sectors of the economy?”
The second question tackles the contentious subject of retirement age. Polish citizens will be asked, “Do you support raising the retirement age, including restoring the increased retirement age to 67 for men and women?”
The third question pertains to a border issue that has garnered international attention. “Do you support the removal of the barrier on the border between the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Belarus?”
The fourth and final question thrusts the spotlight on immigration and its implications. “Do you support the admission of thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa, in accordance with the forced relocation mechanism imposed by the European bureaucracy?”
Prime Minister Morawiecki, addressing the public on Facebook during a live broadcast on Monday evening, asserted that these questions are pivotal to the democratic process. He noted that “All these questions are crucial… because that is what democracy is all about.”
The regulation concerning the referendum will be a central topic of discussion during the Sejm’s August 16-17 sitting.