Concerns and controversy around referendum on the Constitution

Soon it will all be clear. The senators will decide this week whether to go on with the President's flagship idea of constitutional referendum.

President Duda wants to ask Poles 10 questions. The referendum is to be held on two days to enhance the voter turnout.

"Despite everything, it's hard to imagine that as Law and Justice senators, with a majority in a parliament, we could be so impolite to the President as to throw out his proposal," said Professor Aleksander Bobko, a senator from Law and Justice.

In order for the Senate to agree to the president's referendum, an absolute majority of votes is needed in the presence of at least half the statutory amount of senators. At least in theory. In practice, above all political will is needed.

The President is enthusiastic about the idea while others, including even his supporters, are less so.

Civic Platform senator Bogdan Klich said about President's plan: "if this flagship initiative of his doesn't pass in the Senate, it'll be the latest slap in the face from his own people."

President Andrzej Duda has been hearing discouraging opinions for months. And not only from the opposition. And although Law and Justice politicians appreciate the discussion on the constitution itself, they are blowing cold on the referendum. Especially regarding the date it should be held.

"We have suggested the President to choose another date. The date of the European Parliamentary elections in spring next year appears to be a good time. The president has chosen otherwise," said the Head of the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers, Jacek Sasin.

There are also worries about a low voter turnout. The discussion on Andrzej Duda's referendum constantly returns to former president Bronisław Komorowski's referendum, when turnout was only seven percent.

Former advisor to Bronisław Komorowski, Professor Tomasz Nałęcz said: "it's as if the president had no idea about the fate of his predecessors' referendum. About how it ended. He's like a man who's decided to drive his car into a wall to see if the wall gets out of the way or not".

Some of the opposition MPs are going even further. "If opposition parties boycott it, and the Modern Party will call for a boycott, it can be a great failure in turnout terms, and a way for society to show that Law and Justice doesn't have support in Poland," said the leader of Modern Party, Katarzyna Lubnauer.

Another controversial issue are the questions themselves because not all find them right. Professor Aleksander Bobko said: "I feel that social questions shouldn't be included in the Constitution, because a lot depends on the economic situation. But there are a few important, constitutional questions."

"It's a real jumble of questions. In fact they show that the President has no real concept of how Poland should function," said Civic Platform MP Marcin Kierwiński.

Finally, there are also concern regarding the number of questions. The president wants to ask ten.

Law and Justice MP and former vice president of the European Parliament Ryszard Czarnecki said: "isn't ten too many? Maybe it's better to be more specific. Compromise to a couple, or a few."

Another Law and Justice MP, Bartosz Kownacki added: "in my view, three to four questions is the limit in order to lead to a discussion of the facts".

In order to change the Constitution, two thirds of the votes are needed in the Sejm. And Law and Justice doesn't have that many this term.

Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 International, PAP