Reclaiming the diaspora

The Polish parliament has finally passed the long-discussed "Pole Card" (Karta Polaka) bill. The passage of the legislation will guarantee a number of rights for people of Polish descent living in 15 ex-Soviet countries, including Lithuania, Moldova, Russia and Tajikistan. A Civic Platform-sponsored amendment to the bill, which would have encompassed those with Polish heritage living in the rest of the world, was not included, however.

Once signed into law by President Kaczyński, the Pole Card will be given to people with documented proof of Polish roots, or "a connection with Polish culture," who also display at least a "passive understanding" of the Polish language. Applications for the document will be approved and issued by Polish consuls in the respective countries.

Not everybody is happy about the legislation, however. According to Ryszard Klemm, a former Polish Consul in Lviv, Ukraine, "Unclear rules about how to decide if the person is actually a Pole or not will lead to abuses and scams."

The card gives neither the right to vote in Poland nor to work in the country. However, it is possible that the Polish labor market will be opened for cardholders via a special regulation. People who obtain the Pole Card do not automatically get a visa to Poland, but if they apply for and are granted one, they can request a reimbursement of the costs. The document will confirm Polish nationality without giving Polish citizenship or EU rights. Dual citizenship is officially prohibited in most of the countries covered by the bill.

Cardholders will have free access to Polish universities and will also be permitted to apply for scholarships for foreigners. They will obtain a 37-percent discount on intercity trains, free access to public healthcare as well as to all museums, as many have so far been deprived of access to Polish culture.

Anna Kalembasiak