Poland’s Law and Justice party has announced plans to hold a referendum regarding the acceptance of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa. The ruling party aims to use this tactic to garner support and fend off challenges from the political opposition. It intends to hold the referendum alongside the fall parliamentary election scheduled for October 15th.
The proposed question for the referendum is framed as follows: “Do you support the admission of thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa under the forced relocation mechanism imposed by the European bureaucracy?” This question highlights the party’s concern with the European Union’s stance on mandatory migrant resettlement.
The referendum has become a point of contention between Warsaw and Brussels. Poland and the European Union have been locked in a clash over allegations of democratic erosion. In June, the EU endorsed a plan to share responsibility for unauthorized migrants entering Europe. However, Poland has been resistant to accepting more migrants, leading to tensions with the EU.
This conflict between the European Union and Poland extends beyond migration. The EU has been critical of changes made to Poland’s judiciary and media, viewing them as erosion of democratic values. As a result, Brussels has initiated legal action against Poland, notably over a new law that establishes a committee to investigate “Russian influence.” Critics argue that this move is an attempt to delegitimize opposition politicians.
By holding this referendum, the ruling party hopes to gather public support for its stance on immigration and undermine opposition parties. It remains to be seen how the referendum and the parliamentary election will shape Poland’s relationship with the EU and its handling of migration policies moving forward.
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