POLAND: THE PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT VOTE IN THE TWO DAY REFERENDUM WHICH WILL DECIDE IF POLAND JOINS THE EUROPEAN UNION
Record ID:
328703
POLAND: THE PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT VOTE IN THE TWO DAY REFERENDUM WHICH WILL DECIDE IF POLAND JOINS THE EUROPEAN UNION
- Title: POLAND: THE PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT VOTE IN THE TWO DAY REFERENDUM WHICH WILL DECIDE IF POLAND JOINS THE EUROPEAN UNION
- Date: 7th June 2003
- Summary: (W4) WARSAW, POLAND (JUNE 7, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. MLV: PEOPLE OUTSIDE A POLLING STATION 0.05 2. CU: REFERENDUM SIGN 0.11 3. VARIOUS: MAN GETTING HIS POLLING CARD 0.35 4. VARIOUS: MAN PUTTING HIS VOTE IN THE BALLOT BOX 0.41 5. WS: OF INTERIOR OF POLLING STATION WITH MEDIA AWAITING PRIME MINISTER LESZEK MILLER 0.46 6. VARIOUS: PRIME MINISTER LESZEK MILLER ENTERING THE POLLING STATION WITH HIS WIFE 1.02 7. VARIOUS: PRIME MINISTER LESZEK MILLER AND HIS WIFE VOTING (6 SHOTS) 2.03 8. VARIOUS: PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI WITH HIS WIFE ENTERING THE POLLING STATION 2.20 9. VARIOUS: PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI WITH HIS WIFE VOTING (6 SHOTS) 3.44 10. LV: KWASNIEWSKI WITH HIS WIFE LEAVING THE POLLING STATION 4.06 11. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI, SAYING: "No doubt this is a historic day for Poland I hope the result will be very historic for Poland too. (Qu. what are your expectations?) Well I have some expectations but it is difficult to speak about it now but I'll optimistic, Poles understand the weight of this decision, it is a decision not just for the next few years but a decision for a very long perspective and good perspective for Poland. So I expect good results and I'm optimistic." KWASNIEWSKI THEN WALKS OFF TO HIS CAR 4.45 12. TRACK: THE PRESIDENT'S CAR DRIVING AWAY 4.57 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 22nd June 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Reuters ID: LVA6I99H7T1P6WQVCN9TEVYSTOA4
- Story Text: Poland began voting in a two-day referendum on joining
the European Union which will make or break the bloc's
historic expansion eastward across the old Cold War divide.
Surveys suggest that three in four voters in Poland,
which led the 1989 overthrow of communism in eastern Europe,
will vote to rejoin the West in the referendum ending on
Sunday (June 8).
But apathy among the losers of the transition to the free
market could keep turnout below the 50 percent needed for the
result to be binding in the largest of 10 countries invited to
join the EU in May 2004.
Polling stations opened in the sunshine at 6 a.m. (0400
GMT) on Saturday (June 7). First-day turnout figures will be
released after they close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT).
Turnout below half of Poland's 29.5 million voters would
force parliament to ratify EU entry by a two thirds majority,
shaking financial markets and likely felling Prime Minister
Leszek Miller's minority government.
The blandly dogged pro-EU campaign has been helped by
appeals to vote "Yes" from Polish-born Pope John Paul, British
Prime Minister Tony Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
and other leaders.
Late opinion polls show a rise in those intending to vote,
while thousands of taxi and bus drivers -- even fire crews --
have volunteered to ferry the old and infirm to voting
stations to help get out the vote.
President Aleksander Kwasniewski said he was optimistic
that Poles would make the right decision and vote to join.
"No doubt this is a historic day for Poland I hope the
result will be very historic for Poland too. Well I have some
expectations but it is difficult to speak about it now but
I'll optimistic, Poles understand the weight of this decision,
it is a decision not just for the next few years but a
decision for a very long perspective and good perspective for
Poland. So I expect good results and I'm optimistic," he said.
Stormy showers were forecast late on Saturday and Sunday,
increasing chances city voters may delay voting and first head
to the country. Election turnout in Roman Catholic Poland
traditionally jumps after Sunday morning church.
Malta, Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia have all
voted to join the EU -- but turnout in Slovakia barely cleared
a similar 50 percent minimum. The Czech Republic, Estonia and
Latvia have yet to vote, while Cyprus does not plans a
plebiscite.
Television exit polls are expected soon after voting ends
at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Sunday, with partial results later in
the evening.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None