Poles are up for a tough choice in elections to the European parliament - will they make the effort?   

Report by Slawek Szefs

More than thirteen hundred candidates will be running for the fifty seats Poland has in the upcoming term in the European Parliament. But does quantity guarantee quality? And what does the average Pole intend to do with his or her ballot rights? 

The first European elections in Poland just weeks after the country had become an EU member in May 2004 produced a low, less than 21 percent turnout. What is worse, current surveys indicate the situation is bound to repeat itself.

Observers of the Polish political scene continue to be surprised that a nation, which for long decades under communism fought so persistently for democracy, seems to have forgotten all its sacrifice and is not making full use of the rights it has attained.

One reason for this might be society's growing distrust in politicians and the games they play. Another factor contributing to low election turnout can be attributed to a modest awareness among Polish society of the European Parliament's role in actually shaping the life of EU citizens. 

Analysts fear the election campaign to the European Parliament might be shallow and without much reference to serious matters. Very picturesque, as they say, but without true substance.

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