The 2015 nationwide referendum in the light of law and practice

Abstract

This article analyses the background, administration, and outcomes of the nationwide referendum held in Poland on 6 September 2015. The initiative announced by then President Bronisław Komorowski immediately after his defeat in the first round of the presidential election was widely regarded as an attempt to use the referendum for personal political gain. Addressing this issue is well-justified, because nationwide referendums in Poland are exceptionally rare, and previous experience most notably the 2015 vote reveals a clear tendency to treat this tool primarily as an instrument of political rivalry rather than as a genuine mechanism of civic participation. Even years later, the referendum remains a key point of reference in research on direct-democracy mechanisms and prompts reflection on the role referendums should play in a democratic system.