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Poles agree to join the EU at referendum: Exit Poll
Warsaw, June 09: Poles have voted themselves into the European Union, as 81.9 percent of those who cast their ballots said yes to membership at a two day referendum, according to a first Exit Poll by the PBS Institute.
Warsaw, June 09: Poles have voted themselves into the European Union, as 81.9 percent of those who cast their ballots said yes to membership at a two day referendum, according to a first Exit Poll by the PBS Institute.
Only 18.1 percent said no to joining the European Union.
The poll said turnout at the referendum was 56.2 percent, surpassing the 50 percent needed under Polish law for the vote to be valid.
PBS based its assessment on 1,200 selected polling stations chosen out of a total 25,165 voting stations, selected for being representative of the country's make-up. "We today have returned to the European family," President Aleksander Kwasniewski said as political leaders applauded the result of the poll that showed that the largest of the 10 countries due to join the EU next year will become a member.
Although a yes vote had been widely expected in the country, which led Eastern Europe's breakaway from communism 14 years ago, concerns had prevailed up to the last minute that a low turnout might scupper the outcome.
With its vote in favour, Poland follows Malta, Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia, which have all voted to join the bloc on May 1, 2004 in its biggest ever expansion. The result was expected to prompt a sign of relief from European leaders, who had pressed Poland in the run-up to the crucial vote to say yes. Bureau Report
The poll said turnout at the referendum was 56.2 percent, surpassing the 50 percent needed under Polish law for the vote to be valid.
PBS based its assessment on 1,200 selected polling stations chosen out of a total 25,165 voting stations, selected for being representative of the country's make-up. "We today have returned to the European family," President Aleksander Kwasniewski said as political leaders applauded the result of the poll that showed that the largest of the 10 countries due to join the EU next year will become a member.
Although a yes vote had been widely expected in the country, which led Eastern Europe's breakaway from communism 14 years ago, concerns had prevailed up to the last minute that a low turnout might scupper the outcome.
With its vote in favour, Poland follows Malta, Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia, which have all voted to join the bloc on May 1, 2004 in its biggest ever expansion. The result was expected to prompt a sign of relief from European leaders, who had pressed Poland in the run-up to the crucial vote to say yes. Bureau Report