Source: flickr.com
According to the latest data from the Eurobarometer some 34% of Europeans, members of the EU, plan to vote in the June elections to the European Parliament. In Poland, the declared turnout stands at 13%, which is the worst lowest in all the EU states.
Click on the audio icon to listen to a report by Agnieszka Bielawska
The Eurobarometer shows that Belgians are the most interested in the elections, with 70% declaring their presence at the ballots. Citizens of Luxembourg and Denmark follow.
The lack of interest among Poles seems to be a repeat of the situation from 2004 when only 20% of Poles cast their votes for members of the European Parliament. The excuse for empty ballot boxes can be that people are not really aware of the importance of the European Parliament. Polish euro deputies, many of whom are seeking reelection, are surprised with the lack of interest among Poles to vote for the Polish representation in Parliament. Many claim that such a low turnout may undermine Poland's status within the EU. Poland may be seen as a country, which is not interested in decision making at the Brussels level, therefore perceived as a member who does not deserve to be heard out or reckoned with.
Christopher Bobinski, from the Polska i Unia magazine, considers that the problem with the low turnout is not that it threatens Poland's position but that the results of the elections may not bring satisfactory results.
Poles do not boast of a huge tradition of voting. National elections rarely gather over 50% and the numbers rise to 60% in the presidential ballot. However the negligence to attend the European elections can be attributed largely to the lack of awareness of what is at stake and how much is there for Poland to gain.