Former Polish pres. Wałęsa not to vote in Sunday’s referendum

"I'm not going to the referendum because it does not take into account my demands," Wałęsa told Polish press agency PAP.

Wałęsa said he had wanted the referendum to ask Poles if they wanted a fixed two-term limit for publicly elected posts, including trades unions, city mayors, MPS, and senators.

A three-part referendum will be held on 6 September. Voters will be asked whether they approve of introducing single-member constituencies for Sejm (lower house of parliament) elections, maintaining state financing of political parties and introducing a presumption in favour of the taxpayer in disputes over tax law.

The referendum was called by outgoing president, Bronisław Komorowski, who had promised to hold a referendum on the electoral system after the first round of the presidential elections, which he subsequently lost to Andrzej Duda.

President Duda wants to organise a second referendum on 25 October, the day of parliamentary elections, and covering the three questions he earlier said should be included in the 6 September referendum. The Senate is to vote tomorrow on whether to hold the second referendum. (jh/rk)