President Kwasniewski urges government to take on Eurosceptics

President Aleksander Kwasniewski said he was worried that the country's economic stagnation may hurt turnout at next year's referendum on European Union membership. Kwasniewski said that he would propose a bill in September to allow parliament to declare the referendum non-valid if its turnout slips below 50%. June polls showed EU support falling by three points to 57%. Though polls still show a three-to-one majority of the public in favor of joining, Eurosceptic parties now claim backing from nearly a quarter of voters. Kwasniewski called for government action to thwart growing support for anti-European parties. "EU opponents speak out loudly, and that requires action on our part," Kwasniewski said. On Thursday EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said the government should face their opponents. Prime Minister Leszek Miller has already staked the future of his government on the referendum by announcing in April that his cabinet would resign if the nation rejects EU membership next year. (Reuters)