President Lech Kaczynski officially gives the go-ahead to elections for the European Parliament today.

Poles are to vote on the June 7 and will have one day for the ballot. The government had originally wanted to make various changes to Poland’s election law, allowing for the ballot to be taken over two days, but President Kaczynski refused to gove his stamp of approval to the reforms.

The voting in all EU states must take place between June 4 and 7. In accordance with Polish electoral law the president determines the date of elections on a non-working day. In this case it will be Sunday, June 7.  

The Poles will vote in compliance with the hitherto prevailing rules – on one day and without proxies. The amendment to the voting law, as prepared by the ruling Civic Platform, which was to introduce a two-day ballot and voting via plenipotentiaries, was referred to the Constitutional Tribunal by President Kaczynski. 

Another proposed reform – to cut the numbers of MEPs elected from 54 to 50 – will also not go ahead. (jm/pg) 

Source: PAP