President Andrzej Duda made a televised address to the Polish people on Thursday night, state news agency PAP reported.
The head of state said: “Casting a vote in elections is not only an expression of our beliefs and values, but also an indication of the direction in which Poland should develop.”
Duda noted that voters could choose between “various visions” for the country’s development.
The president stressed: “Our decisions will have an impact not only on the future of our country, but also on the future of our families, our children and ourselves. Let’s keep this in mind as we head to the polling station.”
“Let’s choose wisely and responsibly,” he added.
Duda also urged Poles to take part in a nationwide referendum held together with the parliamentary elections, “to have a say in extremely important matters related to our security as well as economic and social policy.”
'A celebration of democracy': upper-house Speaker
Also on Thursday evening, the nation was addressed by Tomasz Grodzki, the Speaker of the Senate, the upper house of parliament, the PAP news agency reported.
Grodzki said: “I would like to appeal to you to take part in the elections. It’s a celebration of democracy that should select the best possible representation of the nation in parliament.”
The Senate leader told Poles: “Regardless of your personal preferences, I urge you to choose candidates for whom the constitution is the all-important act of law, who respect democracy, the rule of law, the rights of minorities, of people with disabilities, who are full off respect for women, who understand the need to take special care of our children and senior citizens, and who understand the fact that the basis for the prosperity and development of our homeland is our presence and rightful position in NATO, the European Union and the community of the democratic countries of the free world.”
Poland to elect new parliament on October 15
Poles will head to the ballot box to vote in parliamentary elections on Sunday. They will elect 460 MPs and 100 senators for a four-year term.
Seeking a third term in power, the governing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party appears to be running ahead of an opposition divided into separate blocs.
But if they win the election, the governing conservatives may not be able to form a majority in parliament on their own, according to the latest polls.
Poles to vote in referendum
In August, Poland's lawmakers approved a plan to combine parliamentary elections with a nationwide referendum asking Poles whether their country should accept migrants from the Middle East and Africa, whether state companies can be sold to foreign buyers, whether the retirement age should be increased, and whether a wall on Poland's border with Belarus should be dismantled.
The ruling conservatives have encouraged people to cast their ballots in the referendum, while the opposition has asked voters to boycott it, saying the referendum questions are worded in a biased way and contain misleading information designed to boost support for the government.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP/PAP, prezydent.pl