Title: Poland’s Ruling Party Calls for Referendum on Accepting Middle Eastern and African Immigrants
by [Author Name]
WARSAW, Poland – In a bid to secure power in the upcoming parliamentary election, Poland’s ruling party, Law and Justice, has announced its intention to hold a referendum asking voters whether they support accepting “thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa.” Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki made the announcement in a video released on social media, indicating the party’s focus on immigration as a campaign tactic that previously helped them come to power in 2015.
Citing concerns over the nation’s cultural identity and security, Polish officials have consistently expressed reservations about accepting immigrants from different cultures, particularly Muslims. Currently, Poland is home to over a million Ukrainian refugees, who are predominantly white and Christian. However, the government perceives Muslims and others from diverse backgrounds as potential threats.
The proposal for the referendum aligns with a plan endorsed by EU interior ministers in June to distribute responsibility for unauthorized migrants entering Europe, which has been a long-standing political crisis within the bloc. The Polish government aims to hold the referendum alongside the parliamentary election scheduled for October 15. The question to be posed in the referendum will ask voters whether they support admitting illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa under an imposed forced relocation mechanism by the European bureaucracy.
The video announcing the question features footage of street violence and burning cars in Western Europe. Notably, the video includes a scene of a Black man licking a large knife, ostensibly to imply potential criminal behavior. Party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski questions whether voters desire such circumstances to occur in Poland and suggests that Polish citizens could lose control over their own country.
However, opposition politician Robert Biedron argues that the migration question is unjustified as participation in the EU mechanism is voluntary, and Poland could explore alternative forms of shared responsibility. He pointed out that Poland may be eligible for support or exemption due to its high number of Ukrainian refugees. Biedron shared a letter from EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson explaining the terms of the relocation mechanism and possible grounds for exemption.
In recent days, leaders have announced two other questions to be included in the referendum. One will seek public opinion on the privatization of state-owned enterprises, while the other will address the controversial issue of raising the retirement age. The framing of these questions is intended to portray the opposition party, Civic Platform, as a threat to Polish interests. Civic Platform, which governed from 2007 to 2015, previously raised the retirement age, favored partial privatization, and expressed willingness to accept a limited number of refugees.
The video campaign directly targets Civic Platform leader Donald Tusk, a former president of the European Council, labeling him as the “greatest threat to Poland’s security.” Prime Minister Morawiecki warns against allowing Tusk, viewed as an envoy of Brussels elites, to undermine security in Poland.
The European Union’s asylum system collapsed in 2015 when a significant influx of migrants, mostly fleeing the Syrian conflict, overwhelmed reception capacities in Greece and Italy. This triggered a major political crisis within the bloc, resulting in ongoing disagreements among member nations about the allocation of responsibility and support for unauthorized arrivals.
Poland’s status as a front-line state in dealing with migrants only emerged two years ago when migrants began crossing from Belarus, which European authorities interpret as a Russian effort to incite turmoil in Poland and other European countries. In response, Poland constructed a substantial border wall and recently bolstered its military presence amid concerns of increased migration and potential destabilization.
In addition to immigration disputes, Law and Justice has been embroiled in conflict with the EU over allegations that the Warsaw government has been undermining democratic norms. These longstanding tensions have further strained Poland’s relationship with the bloc.
As the parliamentary election approaches, Poland braces itself for a divisive and contentious campaign, with immigration at the forefront of political discourse. The outcome of the referendum and election will undoubtedly shape the nation’s policies and relationship with the European Union in the years to come.