Post by Jaga on May 21, 2007 21:57:37 GMT -7
Low turnout nullifies Poland referendum
Web posted at: 5/22/2007 1:55:23
Source ::: REUTERS
WARSAW • Poland’s ruling conservatives suffered a setback in its fight with the European Union over a proposed highway after a local referendum on the issue was declared invalid yesterday due to insufficient turnout.
Only 21.6 per cent of eligible voters took part in Sunday’s referendum in the eastern region of Podlasie, where the ringroad would cut through Europe’s largest peat bogs, protected under the EU’s Natura 2000 network of conservation sites.
At least 30 per cent of voters were required to make the referendum valid under Polish law.
The ruling Law and Justice party refused to admit defeat however.
“It isn't good that we didn't hit the 30 per cent mark, but if we treat the vote as an opinion poll, it demonstrates our success,” Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski told a news conference. Around 90 per cent of those who took part in the referendum, which asked “Are you in favour of maintaining the route of the Augustow ringroad in line with plans outlined?” supported going forward with the highway construction.
Law and Justice party had hoped the referendum would strengthen its case in the war of words against the European Commission, which asked the Europe’s top court in March to order Poland to stop the construction of the highway. The Commission argued that the 17.1km bypass of towns such as Augustow would pass through a number of protected habitats and a unique wetland system.
The government stands by the planned route, saying it would ease heavy lorry traffic that cuts through towns such as Augustow.
The fight over the highway is one among several issues that have soured the relationship between the rightist government in Poland and the EU. “It’s a defeat, but a comfortable one because it lets Law and Justice save face in front of the European Commission,” said Waldemar Dziak, political science professor at the National Academy of Science.
Web posted at: 5/22/2007 1:55:23
Source ::: REUTERS
WARSAW • Poland’s ruling conservatives suffered a setback in its fight with the European Union over a proposed highway after a local referendum on the issue was declared invalid yesterday due to insufficient turnout.
Only 21.6 per cent of eligible voters took part in Sunday’s referendum in the eastern region of Podlasie, where the ringroad would cut through Europe’s largest peat bogs, protected under the EU’s Natura 2000 network of conservation sites.
At least 30 per cent of voters were required to make the referendum valid under Polish law.
The ruling Law and Justice party refused to admit defeat however.
“It isn't good that we didn't hit the 30 per cent mark, but if we treat the vote as an opinion poll, it demonstrates our success,” Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski told a news conference. Around 90 per cent of those who took part in the referendum, which asked “Are you in favour of maintaining the route of the Augustow ringroad in line with plans outlined?” supported going forward with the highway construction.
Law and Justice party had hoped the referendum would strengthen its case in the war of words against the European Commission, which asked the Europe’s top court in March to order Poland to stop the construction of the highway. The Commission argued that the 17.1km bypass of towns such as Augustow would pass through a number of protected habitats and a unique wetland system.
The government stands by the planned route, saying it would ease heavy lorry traffic that cuts through towns such as Augustow.
The fight over the highway is one among several issues that have soured the relationship between the rightist government in Poland and the EU. “It’s a defeat, but a comfortable one because it lets Law and Justice save face in front of the European Commission,” said Waldemar Dziak, political science professor at the National Academy of Science.
