British bandwagon
President Aleksander Kwaśniewski has announced that Warsaw is considering putting its referendum plans on ice if the EU summit planned for this week ends in indecision. This comes despite the likes of such high-ranking government officials as Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld extolling the values of holding a Constitutional referendum, regardless of the French and Dutch 'no' votes. The announcement deals yet another blow to the beleaguered document's already dim future.
In a radio interview, Kwaśniewski said that Poland should not set a date for the vote until the EU discusses the constitutional crisis in which it now finds itself. He indicated that the EU summit in Brussels this week would probably not find a way forward for the bloc, and if it doesn't the referendum would have to be postponed.
"We [EU leaders] might decide to give ourselves a few months and meet when we are better prepared," he said. "A lack of a decision is also a decision."
Kwaśniewski had favored an October 9 referendum, coinciding with presidential elections, to ensure a turnout of over 50 percent, which is required to make the vote binding. When asked if he favored this date should this week's summit end inconclusively, Kwaśniewski said: We must realize that the timing in 2006 may not be easy, but we'll see."
In a radio interview, Kwaśniewski said that Poland should not set a date for the vote until the EU discusses the constitutional crisis in which it now finds itself. He indicated that the EU summit in Brussels this week would probably not find a way forward for the bloc, and if it doesn't the referendum would have to be postponed.
"We [EU leaders] might decide to give ourselves a few months and meet when we are better prepared," he said. "A lack of a decision is also a decision."
Kwaśniewski had favored an October 9 referendum, coinciding with presidential elections, to ensure a turnout of over 50 percent, which is required to make the vote binding. When asked if he favored this date should this week's summit end inconclusively, Kwaśniewski said: We must realize that the timing in 2006 may not be easy, but we'll see."
