Direct democracy at the national level in Poland.... The case of referendum

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyze a  referendum as the main institution characteristic of direct democracy at the national level in Poland. The article consists of two parts. First of them is connected with direct democracy before 1989, and the second one after 1989. Direct democracy has never been or is particularly esteemed in Poland. The referendum of 30 June 1946 was essentially instrumental and the initiators utilized it as a  way to hold power and legitimize it. High expectations were placed on the transformation period after 1989. The referendum of 30 June 1946 was essentially instrumental. The initiators utilized it as a  way to hold power and legitimize it. The next referendum of 29 November 1987 also became part of the negative practice of politicizing this instrument of direct democracy. High expectations
were placed on the transformation period after 1989. The President’s referendum bill of November 1995 concerning the general granting of property rights to citizens was passed. This motion was approved because it was initiated by the President and then supported by the motion of a  group of the SLD Deputies
concerning the sharing out of State property. Under such circumstances those submitting the motion had a  guaranteed majority necessary for taking an appropriate resolution. It became the grounds for the referendum which was held on 18 February 1996. The next referendum was the Constitution-approving one of 25 May 1997. The political scene was clearly divided into the supporters and opponents of the new Constitution. On 17 April 2003 the Sejm passed a  resolution on ordering a  nationwide referendum concerning Poland’s membership of the European Union.