A referendum on political and economic reforms was held in Poland on 29 November 1987.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1491 The government's aim in holding the referendum was to obtain a mandate for difficult economic and political reforms. Around a third of eligible voters did not participate, defying the regime.Poland Thanks for Asking, but Time, 14 December 1987 Only 44% of Poland's 26 million eligible voters voted yes to the question on economic reform, and 46% voted yes to the second question on "democratisation" in Poland. Even though a majority of the votes cast supported the propositions, according to the rules of the referendum the majority of eligible voters had to vote yes in order for the referendum to pass. The resulting failure of the referendum was unprecedented, as it was the first time that Communist authorities in Eastern Europe had lost a vote.
Questions Voters were presented with two questions:Nohlen & Stöver, p1498 Are you for the support of radical economic reform? Are you for a deep democratisation of the political life?
The first proposal would allow the government to carry out the "full government program for radical economic recovery," aimed at "improving living conditions," on the understanding that this would require a "difficult" two-to-three-year period of "rapid changes." The second would lead to the introduction a new "Polish model" for "democratising political life, aimed at strengthening self-government, extending the rights of citizens and increasing their participation" in running the country.Abraham Brumberg Poland: The New Opposition The New York Review of Books, Volume 35, Number 2, 18 February 1988
Ballot paper Translation of the voting ballot paper:
Nationwide referendum decided by the Sejm of the Polish People's Republic
BALLOT PAPER
on November 29, 1987
Question 1
ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY PROGRAM FOR THE RADICAL RECOVERY OF THE ECONOMY, AIMED AT A CLEAR IMPROVEMENT IN THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF SOCIETY, KNOWING THAT THIS REQUIRES GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TWO-TO-THREE-YEAR PERIOD OF RAPID CHANGE?
YES NO
Question 2
ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THE POLISH MODEL OF DEEP DEMOCRATIZATION OF POLITICAL LIFE, THE AIM OF WHICH IS TO STRENGTHEN SELF-GOVERNMENT, EXPAND CITIZENS’ RIGHTS, AND INCREASE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THE COUNTRY?
YES NO
Voting instructions
FOR EACH QUESTION, THE VOTER SHALL CROSS OUT THE ANSWER THEY DO NOT AGREE WITH.
Stamp: CENTRAL REFERENDUM COMMISSION (Państwowa Komisja Wyborcza)
Results QuestionForAgainstBlankInvalidTotalvotesRegisteredvotersTurnoutQuorumOutcomeVotes%Votes%Votes%Economic reforms11,601,97566.044,866,20727.701,100,7816.2769,52017,638,48326,201,16967.3213,100,585Political reforms12,127,62169.034,317,40124.571,123,9416.4069,52017,638,48367.3213,100,585Source: Central Committee for Referendum
References