Wojciech Hermeliński, a former head of the National Electoral Commission, declined to accept the referendum card. He argued that the questions were too overwhelming and the overall standard too high, making him feel shame at participating in the referendum.
Polish media and public figures aligned with opposition camps have frequently voiced dissatisfaction with the referendum announced by Law and Justice, with some advocating a boycott.
Boycott of Hermeliński
The group planning not to participate in the referendum gained a notable member when retired Constitutional Tribunal judge Wojciech Hermeliński joined in abstaining.
I do not accept the referendum card. The questions are so overwhelming and the level is so high that I would be embarrassed to vote in this referendum, he stated.
The decision by Hermeliński to boycott is striking because a former leader of the electoral authority could set a negative example for participation. Recently, Hermeliński unveiled a guide at an opposition event titled Tour de Konstytucja, outlining methods to abstain from the referendum.
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The former NEC chairman explained the motivation behind his stance
I would not call it a referendum, more like a plebiscite: would you prefer being rich and young or old and poor? The content of these questions is shocking and would be funny if it were not so cleverly presented. This is a basic, crude manipulation, something everyone can see, he stated.
Break the law?
According to him, the referendum questions insult voters intelligence and the larger goal is to boost turnout.
Hermeliński publicly endorsed the boycott and recommended not taking the referendum card or even tearing it up, even though Article 248 of the Penal Code states that destroying election or referendum documents carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. He argued, however, that this provision does not apply to the referendum.
The former Constitutional Tribunal judge asserted that he would not accept the ballot paper in the referendum.
I would be ashamed to vote in this referendum; one can simply choose not to take the card, and by not taking it you are not participating in the referendum, he summed up emphatically.
Comments
Social media users referenced the statement by the former NEC chairman, including Patryk Jaki, a member of the European Parliament from Sovereign Poland, who highlighted the political involvement of a lawyer who had participated in opposition demonstrations.
Judge Hermeliński recently took part in the Tusk march and broader opposition events. According to constitutional provisions, a judge should avoid public activity that contradicts the independence of courts and judges.
Thus, some argued that if anyone breaches the constitution, it would be him. Additionally, the citizens referendum boycott by the former head of the PKW could become a historic embarrassment, wrote Jaki on social platforms.
Hermeliński even proposed a referendum question about demolishing the Palace of Culture and Science. What started as a mockery was taken up by at least one Twitter user who found a certain appeal in the idea.
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Resulting discussions and comments continued to circulate across social networks, with various viewpoints attributed to different observers and commentators.
Attributions and reactions were noted in summaries and reports by political outlets and social commentators, reflecting ongoing debate about the referendum and the involvement of public figures.
Source: wPolityce (attribution noted within coverage)