Plans to hold referendum on euro entry may find support

Law and Justice (PiS) wants a referendum to be held as to when Poland will introduce the euro, "At the very beginning of Polish efforts to enter the euro zone," said the party's deputy leader Aleksandra Natalii-Świat. PiS wants the referendum to be held in spring 2009, ahead of the government's expected decision on the euro issue in mid 2009.

However, Civic Platform (PO) Parliamentary Club deputy leader Grzegorz Dolniak argues that, "Expectations that we will hold a referendum on this issue are groundless."

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Grzegorz Schetyna said on Thursday that Poland may hold the referendum in conjuction with the presidential elections in order to boost turnout.

"Together with the presidential elections, there would be a guarantee that turnout would be higher," Schetyna told public radio. "So when we are talking about a [euro] referendum, then I think 2010 would be the date."

The referendum motion can be made either by the President, in which case it would be decided on by the PO-dominated Senate, or by a group of deputies, and voted on by the Sejm. This last option is the most probable as support has not been ruled out by the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) or Polish Peasants' Party (PSL).

Sources: Dziennik, Parkiet, Reuters (K.K.)