Miller takes back threat to resign over EU referendum

Prime Minister Leszek Miller yesterday backtracked on a pledge to resign if the public rejects EU accession in a referendum, in a bid to lessen the chance of the ballot becoming a no-confidence vote in his government. Miller fears the referendum, likely to take place on June 8, could become a pretext to sink his 13-month-old coalition over its handling of a deep economic crisis. "'This (resignation threat) limits potential allies by making the ballot into an ultimatum...I am aware that the backing for accession is greater than that for the government," Miller told public radio. A 'yes' vote is still required to give a public mandate to the agreement reached in Copenhagen on Friday, setting Poland's EU entry date at May 1, 2004. Miller said the ballot could not be won by appealing only to supporters of his leftist party, saying a broad-based drive was needed to seize what he called Poland's historic chance to recover its place in the heart of Europe. (Reuters) A.Z.