Reuters: Polish referendum could crush euro bid after PM gives way

26 March 2013

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk opened the door to a popular vote on joining the euro, with surveys showing most of the country's 38 million population would vote no.

Tusk had previously shied away from a referendum on the single currency, which the Poles are obliged to adopt under EU membership, but has had to agree to a formal vote in exchange for necessary changes to the country's constitution. "I would be in favour of reaching an agreement to change the constitution, where there would be a referendum about joining the eurozone", Tusk said.

Tusk's government holds a slim majority in the parliament and would need the support of the rightist Law and Justice (PiS) party to reach the two-thirds in the lower house required to change the constitution to swap zlotys for euros. PiS has previously said it would oppose the euro adoption without a referendum.

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