Poles to polls?

Warsaw may call a referendum on Europe’s new constitution, Poland’s president said on Wednesday.

Aleksander Kwasniewski told FT Europe that a popular vote might be a safer option than a possible government defeat in a divided parliament.

The government would require a two thirds majority to seal Poland’s ratification – an unlikely outcome in the present parliament.

“Can the constitution be sold in Poland? I think yes,” he told the newspaper.

“In my view we can turn to public opinion, which is strongly in favour of the European Union.”

Politically precarious governments across Europe are jittery over the prospect of holding referendums to approve the constitution.

The more votes, held by national leaders experiencing growing disenchantment and low levels of political trust, the more likely a ‘no’ result could delay or scupper a constitution.

If a new EU treaty is agreed in June all 25 members have two years to ratify before Europe’s constitution can take effect.

But EU constitutional draftsmen have left room for manoeuvre should some countries lose referendums.

EU leaders have allowed themselves leeway to do deals if up to five member states refuse to sign up to the constitution.

As long as 20 capitals pass the European blueprint, the constitution need not automatically fall, leaving time for second votes or new deals.

“If, two years after the signature of the treaty establishing the constitution, four fifths of the member states have ratified it and one or more member states have encountered difficulties in proceeding with ratification, the matter will be referred to [Europe’s leaders],” states the draft document.

The EU’s existing Treaty of Nice remains in effect until November 2009.

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