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Polish PM welcomes OSCE observers for October elections

04.09.2023 22:00
Poland's prime minister has said that elections in his country are held democratically and that everyone is free to monitor the parliamentary ballot on October 15.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks to reporters in the central city of Tomaszów Mazowiecki on Monday, September 4, 2023.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks to reporters in the central city of Tomaszów Mazowiecki on Monday, September 4, 2023.PAP/Marian Zubrzycki

Mateusz Morawiecki made the declaration in the central city of Tomaszów Mazowiecki on Monday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

The prime minister was asked about an observation mission designated for Poland’s October 15 parliamentary elections by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Morawiecki said that after the 2014 local elections, which he described as “fraudulent,” his governing Law and Justice (PiS) party “rectified the system through additional checks.”

The prime minister added: “There should be as many election monitors as possible … from all political parties. I encourage everyone. It is very important that there are no irregularities.”

Morawiecki stated: “In recent years, elections in Poland have been held in a democratic fashion, and so if anyone wants to verify the process, we have no problems with that whatsoever.”

Douglas Wake, who heads the OSCE observation mission for Poland's October 15 parliamentary elections, told reporters on Monday that the country had invited the panel as part of its obligations as an OSCE member.

The official explained that the OSCE observers would assess the “compliance” of the Polish elections with the obligations the country had adopted as a member of OSCE, as well as with the binding standards in this respect and with national regulations, the PAP news agency reported.

The OSCE observation mission consists of “11 international experts from seven OSCE participating states, who will be based in Warsaw,” as well as “20 long-term observers,” who will be deployed throughout the country from September 8, the organisation said.

Poland’s main opposition grouping, the centrist Civic Coalition (KO), announced on Sunday that it would have monitors in every constituency to help ensure that the parliamentary elections are transparent.

In January, Civic Coalition leader Donald Tusk called for greater public scrutiny of election rules to avoid cases of "manipulation and fraud" in this year's parliamentary vote.

The former prime minister’s appeal came after Polish lawmakers approved changes to the country's election law, designed to increase voter participation and expand access to polling stations, according to the ruling conservative Law and Justice party.

Last month, Poland's lawmakers approved a government plan to combine the parliamentary elections with a nationwide referendum on issues including illegal migration.

Poles will head to the ballot box on October 15 to elect 460 new MPs and 100 senators for a four-year term.

The Law and Justice party and its government coalition allies have maintained a clear lead over the opposition in most recent surveys, polling ahead of the Civic Coalition (KO) and the far-right Confederation group.

The ruling conservatives in 2019 won a convincing victory over opposition parties at the ballot box, securing a second term in power.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, niezalezna.plOSCE