Andrzej Weychan, Chairman of the Zgorzelec County Council, has put forth a proposal allowing Ukrainian immigrants living in Poland to join the police service and participate in elections for municipal authorities. This initiative aims to promote closer integration between Poland and Ukraine by providing equal opportunities for both nationals within the country. The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from Polish citizens, with some expressing concerns that foreigners should not be able to influence elections or vote on issues concerning a different nation.
Over time, Zgorzelec city has established strong partnerships with Ukraine and several government agencies are now exploring ways to further integrate the two countries by enabling the election of Ukrainian citizens to local government positions. The experiences of Romania and Moldova serve as positive examples that support this approach. Consequently, representatives from various departments suggest that providing service opportunities in the police force, army, and State Fire Service to Ukrainians before they obtain Polish citizenship could lead to increased cooperation between both countries.
However, for this proposal to be fully realized, adjustments would need to be made to existing Polish laws. One such amendment could be made to Article 4 of The Civil Service Act, which currently mandates that a person eligible for civil service must be a citizen of the European Union or a citizen of a country whose citizens have the right to work in Poland based on international agreements or EU law. In this case, an exception should be made for Ukrainian citizens, allowing them to participate in local government elections and serve in the police force without needing Polish citizenship.
Additionally, it would be necessary to modify the Electoral Commission’s Resolution No. 26/2024 of 23 January 2024 and other acts related to the election process. This amendment would establish procedures for submitting candidates from different nationalities and provide clear rules for appointing these commissions.
The initiative has garnered support from several high-ranking officials, including Secretary of State in the Ministry of Development and Technology Jacek Jerzy Tomczak, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, and Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of the Interior and Administration Maciej Duszczyk. The latter has announced plans to prepare an amendment to the act and vote on it in the Sejm later this year.
In conclusion, the proposal put forth by Zgorzelec County Council Chairman Andrzej Weyhan aims to strengthen ties between Poland and Ukraine by allowing Ukrainian immigrants to join the police service and participate in local elections. While some Polish citizens have expressed concerns about foreign influence on their elections, the initiative has received support from various government officials and experts who believe that closer integration can lead to mutual benefits for both countries.
