Poland Votes Overwhelmingly to Join EU

Voice of America ^ | 09 Jun 2003, 00:34 UTC | Stefan Bos

[yonif]

Poland has voted overwhelmingly Saturday and Sunday to join the European Union. Early results show eight out of 10 Poles voted for EU membership.

Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski tells a cheering crowd at the presidential palace, the vote represents what he called Poland's return to Europe. He spoke shortly after early results made it clear more than 50 percent of voters -- the minimum required to make the ballot legally valid -- turned out to vote.

Local television also reported more than 80 percent of the voters said "Tak" -- the Polish for "Yes" -- to the ballot question: "Do you express your consent for the Republic of Poland to join the European Union?"

The outcome came as a major boost for embattled Prime Minister Leszek Miller, whose government saw its popularity decline in the wake of corruption scandals and widespread anger over high unemployment. Mr. Miller and other political leaders campaigned heavily for membership, which they believe will help Poland to overcome a legacy of 40 years of communist rule that ended in 1989.

Speaking to a pro-EU crowd, Mr. Miller made clear his country still faces major challenges. "We are returning to Europe with the tremendous potential of the Polish people." He cautions, however, that Poland has a hard road ahead in trying to bring its economy up to EU levels.

With nearly 40 million people, Poland will become the largest of the 10 candidate countries vying to join the 15-nation bloc next year. It is expected to hold voting power equal to Spain's and behind only Great Britain, Germany, France and Italy.

With most Poles supporting EU membership, the only question before the two-day referendum was whether enough voters would bother to vote. The government even asked European leaders, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, to encourage Poles to cast their ballots.

Polish-born Pope John Paul II himself went out of his way to encourage mainly Catholic Poland to seize this historic opportunity and go out and vote. As he put it, "the Church in Europe needs the Polish peoples' witness to the faith."

News about the outcome of Poland's referendum is expected to be welcomed in the Czech Republic, which will vote on EU-membership next week, followed by the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia in September.

Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta and Lithuania have already approved entry into the European Union. Cyprus is the only candidate country that does not intend to hold a referendum on the issue.

[JustPiper]

I believe that Poland will be a thorn in France's side.

Bumped with fingers crossed!

[JustPiper]

I like your way of thinking ;)

[JustPiper]

We Poles are pro American and we see America as a sole guarantee of our freedom and peace in the world. Our love to America is a question of honor and pride! We supported your country in the hour of need as much as we could and do not worry - we will more!

Of this "I" have no doubt!
The "Amerikanski Polski Pani" Piper

[JustPiper]

I am very glad your here Matthew, I added you to the Polish ping list! Proud to have you as a member of FR! Your in Poland now?

[JustPiper]

All of my grandparents are from a small village near Krakow.
Where did you get those graphic abortion pictures (I feel so ill)

[JustPiper]

Mathhew is common for pilsh males. Its from the bible for goodness sake, Poles are Catholic mostly. Maybe it is his handle?

[JustPiper]

Wowsers Cole, good ping!!! I'm here for you Matthew ;)

[Spirited]

Please, M.P., consider that on this board there are too many who think too highly of Poland to laugh or deride at all. (On the other hand, when it comes to our own leadership we feel very free to do both if in our view it is warranted.)

The bulk of us also empathize with your nation and it's people over the fact of your geographical location between two "mountains of conceit".

Some percentage of us have some roots in Poland, early or late and appreciate the character and support of your population at large. We do not forget, either, the needed, welcomed and valued help of Pulaski and Kosciusko at the time of our Revolution.

WE are, however, skeptical of any communist (even a "former" one) at the head of anything, anywhere. (We feel about the same way about Democrats in this country.) It is bitter training which has taught us that. But we are also largely bent on being fair and upright. If your former communist leadership proves over a period of time that it deserves respect, it will get it. That, however, is not something which can be rushed. The wounds of too many of us are too deep--we have learned our lesson too well.

God bless you if you are a friend, God help you if you prefer the role of foe.

[JustPiper]

So not only are you a new Freeper, your our first one in Poland!!! Yeah for us polish folk! Admin, we need to put Poland on the Chapter list!!!