The government has announced plans to hold parliamentary elections in tandem with a referendum on migrant relocation, aiming to reduce overall costs. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated that running the elections separately would incur additional expenses, a point he underscored during a recent press conference.
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During the press briefing, attention turned to the draft amendments to the National Referendum Law, which was submitted to the Sejm last week. The proposed changes would allow a national referendum to take place on the same day as parliamentary, presidential, or European Parliament elections by implementing uniform voting hours from 07:00 to 21:00.
In the Sejm debate concerning the EU migrant relocation mechanism, PiS President Jarosław Kaczyński argued that a referendum should address this issue.
“We intend to conduct the parliamentary elections together with the referendum on migrant relocation to cut costs. Holding them separately would generate nearly identical expenses,” the prime minister stated.
“Democracy in Question”
Morawiecki was asked whether this plan aligns with the previously announced shift of local government elections from autumn to spring next year. A journalist noted the logistical, technical, and legal challenges of organizing local elections in autumn when parliamentary elections might also occur.
He recalled that back in 2014, the local elections saw a large wave of miscast votes. He noted that the ruling party at the time, Civic Platform, attributed the complexity to the multiple local government levels and a sprawling ballot book, emphasizing that a referendum with a single question is a simpler process.
Morawiecki emphasized that postponing the local elections was intended to ensure a smoother electoral process overall.
“Those elections in 2014 were marked by a dramatic loss for democracy, with about 2.5 million votes miscast. The aim now is to avoid additional complications—yet a referendum with one yes/no question remains straightforward,” he remarked.
Referendum Questions
Last November, President Andrzej Duda signed into law a measure delayed by the Sejm and proposed by PiS, postponing the date of local elections and extending their term to April 30, 2024. The amendment sought to prevent clashes with Sejm and Senate elections, given that local elections were originally slated for autumn 2023, alongside parliamentary contests.
Asked about the possibility of adding more questions to the migrant referendum, the prime minister replied that the preliminary plan covers a single issue on “illegal migration to Poland.” When asked what the exact referendum question would be, he stated that it would be determined later, guiding the process toward a single, focused inquiry.
There is a preliminary decision, but no definitive one yet, as it may be decided to pursue a different question. For now, the aim is clarity and simplicity: a single question addressing illegal migration to Poland and the broader challenge facing Europe, he explained.
Critics and Observers
The prime minister also commented on the shift in Donald Tusk’s rhetoric regarding Poland’s borders, noting that Tusk has moved from warnings about accepting migrants to a different stance. Many observers have expressed surprise at these changes in the Civic Platform leadership’s positions.
Morawiecki urged Tusk to distance himself from Ochojska, arguing that continued collaboration between them could intensify discussions about migration. He described the evolving stance as a juggling of positions that could obscure real policy directions, suggesting that the current moves aim to keep migration issues in plain sight.
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Mon/PAP
Reflection on the situation remains ongoing, with officials weighing the best path to balance electoral efficiency and clarity for voters.