2003 Polish European Union membership referendum

2003 Polish European Union membership referendum
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 %
Yes 13,514,872 77.45%
No 3,935,655 22.55%
Valid votes 17,450,527 99.28%
Invalid or blank votes 126,187 0.72%
Total votes 17,576,714 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 29,864,969 58.85%
Percentage of the Yes votes by voivodeships
Percentage of the Yes votes in the countries of voters abroad
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.

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]

Position Political 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)
  • Note: The table lists the political parties which were represented in the Sejm at the time of the referendum.

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]
  • Results by county
    Results by county
  • Results by municipality
    Results by municipality

References

  1. ^ a b 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.


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