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PM Kopacz: President Duda disappointed me

PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea 21.08.2015 14:23
Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz has said that she feels “cheated” by President Andrzej Duda’s decision to hold a referendum on just three issues on 25 October, in addition to a referendum on 6 September called by Duda's predecessor.
PM Kopacz said she felt "cheated" by the President's decision. Photo: PAP/Leszek SzymańskiPM Kopacz said she felt "cheated" by the President's decision. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

The Prime Minister said that she felt “disappointed and cheated” by Andrzej Duda. She said that the president wants a referendum to ask only questions proposed by his political base. She was referring to the fact that Duda hails from the conservative opposition PIS party.

She added that there is never a second chance to make a first impression.

Andrzej Duda was sworn into office on 6 August.

The Prime Minister said that if Andrzej Duda wants to be a President of all Poles, he must respect the opinion of those who did not vote for him.

She said that Poland is not a one-party state, and recalled that former President Bronisław Komorowski also garnered nearly eight million votes in the May presidential elections. She was referring to the fact that six million Polish citizens had signed petitions in support of ideas championed by PIS and tackled in the proposed 25 October referendum. The Polish Senate, in which the ruling PO and PSL parties hold a majority, is yet to vote on the President's referendum proposal.

PM Kopacz said she expects President Duda to expand the range of questions in the referendum following discussions with representatives of all political parties.

Polish President Andrzej Duda appealed to the Senate on Thursday to allow a second referendum on three “major issues” to be held on the same day as the general election, 25 October.

“A few days ago I met with representatives of civic initiatives. They represent the six million Poles who signed the request for a referendum in three extremely important issues for the state and society – the possible abolition of compulsory schooling for six-year-olds, lowering the retirement age which was raised to 67 years, and the protection of state forests,” Duda said in a televised address.

In a separate referendum on 6 September, called by former President Bronisław Komorowski, Poles will be asked whether they approve of introducing single-member constituencies in elections to the lower house of Parliament, if they are in favour of changes in the current system of financing political parties from the state budget, and whether they are for introducing a presumption in favour of the taxpayer in disputes over the tax law.

PiS has repeatedly come ahead of PM Kopacz’s Civic Platform (PO) party in opinion polls prior to the 25 October election. (rg/rk)

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