EU referendum is a binding success; 59% turnout, 78% vote yes

The EU referendum has been a successful for the yes camp. According to Reuters at 21:58 on Sunday, turnout stood at 59.6%,with yes voters accounting for 78.02% of ballots cast and the no vote stood at 21.98%. The referendum on Saturday seemd to be a close run thing as on the first day only 17.6% of the public bothered to turnout. This state of affairs gave European Affairs Minister, Danuta Huebner, a sleepless night. Yesterday, Primate Józef Glemp said, "It is necessary to pray to the Holy Ghost for enlightenment." Some priests reminded the public that exercising their vote was a civic obligation, as Pope John Paul II stated that Poland had belonged to Europe for centuries. This result will allow President Kwaśniewski to ratify the EU Accession Treaty. (Reuters; Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1, 4-13) M.M.