Polen houdt referendum over EU-Grondwet (en)

Polish leaders have indicated that their country will have a referendum to ratify the EU's Constitution, which this week looks closer than ever to being completed.

Both Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller and President Aleksander Kwasniewski indicated on Wednesday (24 March) that a referendum is the way forward for ratification.

"Because we had a referendum on Polish membership of the European Union it would be difficult not to have one on the European Constitution", President Kwasniewski told reporters on a visit to Qatar.

The initiative, according to the head of state, is important to give people knowledge about the text and to define whether "we want to be in this Union and on what principles".

"I am more and more in favour of ratifying the Constitutional treaty by way of referendum", Prime Minister Leszek Miller said yesterday and hinted that the ballot could be held together with the presidential election next year.

This could safeguard a high turnout, necessary under Polish law to validate the vote.

It is up to the Parliament and the President to call the national ballot.