Poland’s Ruling Party Wields Referendum to Mobilize Support
- Referendum to take place Oct. 15, alongside general election
- Opposition attacks referendum plan as political ploy
A voter fills out their ballot in Gdansk, Poland in July 2020.
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Poland’s ruling party finalized a plan to hold a referendum that coincides with an election in October, potentially mobilizing base voters with politically charged questions on migration, state-asset sales and the retirement age.
A fourth question will ask voters whether Poland should dismantle a fence along the border with Belarus as the government deploys some 10,000 troops to the frontier to bolster security, Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Monday. The ballot measure will have to be approved by lawmakers in Warsaw.