Polish support for restoring conscription slips below 40%: poll

Fewer Poles back a return of mandatory military service, with 39.2% in favor and 45.5% opposed, a new IBRiS survey for Rzeczpospolita shows.

The number of Poles who oppose the return of compulsory military service is growing. "We are seeing a shift in sentiment, as just six months ago, more than half of respondents supported this solution," the newspaper writes.

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The newspaper said sentiment has shifted in recent months, noting that six months ago more than half of respondents supported bringing back conscription.

The latest poll asked about reinstatement in light of the current international situation.

Support skews toward backers of the ruling government, people aged 70 and over (59%), and residents of small villages (42%). Acceptance is similar across education levels—primary, secondary and higher—each at 39%.

Many in this group cite Polsat’s “Wydarzenia” as their main news source (52%) and place themselves on the political left, the paper reported.

Opposition is strongest among non-voters (50%), women (49%), people in their 30s (59%) and Generation Z (58%)—groups that could be called up—along with residents of large cities (54%) and those with higher education (52%).

They mainly follow TVP Info (58%) and tend to identify politically at the center (49%), Rzeczpospolita wrote.

(jh)

Source: PAP, Rzeczpospolita