Vita Europe reports: On March 5th, 2009 Polish president did not sign theamendment to the electoral law that was to enable people with severe and moderatedisabilities and people over 75 to vote through a plenipotentiary – another personappointed by them. It means that many Polish citizens will not be able to vote inEuropean Parliament elections in June 2009.
The president sent the bill to the Constitutional Tribunal, arguing that it violates thePolish constitutional principle that says that elections should be direct. He alsoclaimed that the changes could provoke many abuses.The works on the amendment had been started many months ago, with high level ofparticipation of NGOs acting for the benefit of people with disabilities andinvolvement of the Ombudsman. They, as well as the people with disabilities and theelderly and many other people do not agree with the presidential decision.