Here is the appeal by the Nonpartisan Local Government Representatives:
In view of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic and the declaration of an epidemic in Poland, we call on all political formations represented in parliament to work out a constitutional compromise enabling the presidential election to be held safely.
The ongoing epidemic and the resulting risks, as well as the unforeseeable consequences of voting by mail—which has not been properly prepared logistically or procedurally—argue in favor of postponing the election date.
In this context, local governments themselves, within the scope of their powers, have no real possibility of assembling electoral commissions, training their members or preparing polling stations that would guarantee the safety of voters during the epidemic. Moreover, under the Electoral Code, the permanent supreme electoral body responsible for conducting elections in Poland is the National Electoral Commission. Its supervision of the correctness of the electoral process and its role in an exclusively postal voting procedure are, in practice, being excluded.
According to the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, the president is elected by the Nation in universal, equal and direct elections conducted by secret ballot. An election held on 10 May by postal ballot would not meet these fundamental conditions. Free elections are the essence of democracy; therefore, Poles expect all political forces to work out an agreement beyond divisions and to take joint parliamentary action that takes the well-being of all Poles into account.
Taking everything stated above into account, we call on political formations represented in parliament to work out a constitutional compromise enabling the presidential election to be held safely.
What do you think? We invite you to join the discussion.
(Archive photo).