In the event of low EU referendum turnout, Parliament will have deciding vote

Parliament is almost certain to approve EU accession if June's membership referendum fails to achieve the necessary turnout to be binding, said Józef Oleksy, the Chariman of Parliament's EU Affairs Committee. He declared that his ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and mainstream opposition parties would back EU entry in a vote which would have to be held if the referendum's turnout is below 50%. Under a new bill, soon to be approved, the lower house of Parliament and the Senate can clear EU entry with a two-thirds majority of those voting, providing that more than half of the 460 deputies and 100 senators are present. Recent public opinion polls show about 70% of those planning to vote back EU accession but that turnout could be below 50%. (Reuters) A.K.