Politicians Courting Poles Abroad

As the early elections near, Polish politicians have begun an intensive campaign of persuading the estimated one million Poles in the UK and 200,000 Poles in Ireland to vote in the upcoming election, scheduled for the 21st of October. So far, polls estimate about 40 percent of ex-pat Poles to vote, and the majority seem to be leaning towards the main opposition party, Civic Platform (PO), followed by the Left and Democrats (LiD) and then the governing Law and Justice (PiS) in third place. That likely has to do with the fact that most Poles abroad are much younger and left-leaning than their compatriots at home, with the average age of ex-pats being 26. Unfortunately, youth often translates to indifference when it comes to voting, especially as about half the Poles abroad have no plans of returning to Poland, and generally see the government back home as corrupt, no matter who is running it.

Nevertheless, Polish politicians remain adamant about securing ex-pat votes, with PO's Donald Tusk recently completing a tour of the UK and Ireland. The contest escalated in a debate between the five leading parties on the new Polish Radio London this week. Twenty polling stations have been set up in the UK and Ireland, so that Poles living in smaller communities outside of London and Dublin could still cast their vote. However, with the electoral system set up as it is, the votes of Poles abroad will be only counted towards the votes in Warsaw, and not for the nation as a whole, which means that while ex-pat voters have some sway, the final outcome of the elections will be decided by the Poles still living in Poland.