2003 Polish European Union membership referendum

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2003 Polish European Union membership referendum
Flag of Poland.svg
7–8 June 2003 (2003-06-07 2003-06-08)

Do you approve of the Republic of Poland's accession to the European Union?
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes13,514,87277.45%
Light brown x.svgNo3,935,65522.55%
Valid votes17,450,52799.28%
Invalid or blank votes126,1870.72%
Total votes17,576,714100.00%
Registered voters/turnout29,864,96958.85%

Referendum2003 Barry Kent.png
Percentage of the Yes votes by voivodeships

Referendum2003swiat Barry Kent.png
Percentage of the Yes votes in the countries of voters abroad
Poland and the EU prior to its accession in 2004 European Union 15 Poland Locator (with internal borders).svg
Poland and the EU prior to its accession in 2004

A referendum on joining the European Union was held in Poland on 7 and 8 June 2003. [1] The proposal was approved by 77.6% of voters. Poland subsequently joined the European Union that year following the ratification of the Treaty of Accession 2003. The country's first European Parliament elections were held in 2004.

Contents

Question

Do you approve of the Republic of Poland's accession to the European Union?

Party policies

The governing Democratic Left Alliance and its junior coalition partner, the Labour Union, strongly campaigned for joining the EU. The biggest opposition party, the Civic Platform, was also strongly supportive of joining the EU. The agrarian Polish People's Party gave its support to the "Yes" campaign after its demands for the government were met in regards to farmers. The conservative Law and Justice party was openly critical of the EU's social agenda but ultimately supported joining the EU on economic grounds. The radical agrarian Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland was strongly Eurosceptic since its foundation but ultimately stayed neutral during the campaign. The far-right League of Polish Families was the only party in the Sejm which supported the "No" campaign. [2]

PositionPolitical parties
Yes Democratic Left Alliance (SLD)
Civic Platform (PO)
Law and Justice (PiS)
Polish People's Party (PSL)
Labour Union (UP)
No League of Polish Families (LPR)
Neutral Self-Defence RP (SRP)

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For13,514,87277.45
Against3,935,65522.55
Total17,450,527100.00
Valid votes17,450,52799.28
Invalid/blank votes126,1870.72
Total votes17,576,714100.00
Registered voters/turnout29,864,96958.85
Source: Nohlen & Stöver [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1491 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Zuba, Krzysztof (2009). "Through the Looking Glass: The Attitudes of Polish Political Parties towards the EU before and after Accession". Perspectives on European Politics and Society. 10 (3): 326–349. doi: 10.1080/15705850903105744 . S2CID   153679861.