President Bronislaw Komorowski announced this morning that Poland’s general election will take place on 9 October.
“According to the article 98 of the Polish Constitution, from today 4 August, we officially start the election calendar,” Komrowski said, signaling the start of the election campaign. “We have already set a date for the electoral day for the Parliament and Senate, which will be on the 9th October 2011,” he added. On the idea mooted that the election should take place over two, and not one, day – in an attempt to boost Poland’s moderate turnout during ballots.
President Komorowski said however that the election will be held over one day, a Sunday, and that “ we are going to apply new solutions that for the upcoming elections, to ensure a higher turnout, making it easier for people with disabilities, and Poles living abroad. The new laws introduce the possibility to vote with a representative and by mail for Polish people living abroad.”
The largest opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS) had called for the election to be held at the end of October, but the President’s Office commented that this would clash with All Saint’s Day, when many Poles travel to family members to lay flowers on graves of loved ones outside the constituency in which they are registered.
Full Article: Official – Poland’s general election on 9 October – National.