Poland sets date for the EU constitution referendum.

Poland's ruling leftists will agree to hold general elections in June if President Aleksander Kwa[niewski calls a referendum on the European Union constitution for September, its leader said today. The ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) is under increasing pressure to back a parliamentary motion to dissolve parliament on May 5 and hold elections a month later. Without the SLD's support the opposition-drafted motion is set to fail.

The scandal-ridden SLD is reluctant to go for early elections as opinion polls show it would likely be heavily defeated by a resurgent centre-right. Previously the leftists argued that if they shortened the parliamentary term by several months, the next government could opt out of staging a referendum on the EU charter along with the first round of presidential elections due around September.

The leftists seek to make European integration the main plank of their campaign for the presidential election at which the popular Kwa[niewski cannot run after serving out his second term. "The priority for the SLD is the EU constitution referendum in the autumn, together with the presidential elections," Oleksy told the public radio. "If our goal is achieved, then our problem with elections in June disappears."

Mr. Oleksy said Kwa[niewski could seal the fate of the referendum by proposing such legislation to parliament's upper house, where the SLD still enjoys a majority. SLD leaders are due to re-evaluate their position on the timing of parliamentary elections on March 12. The SLD's own prime minister pressed for early polls last week, threatening to quit on May 5 regardless of whether parliament dissolved itself or not.

The centre-right opposition favours holding the EU charter referendum in 2006 after major EU powers decide if they want the constitution, aimed at making the enlarged bloc work smoother. A referendum can be ordered by the lower house of parliament through a simple majority, which may be difficult for the SLD to gain, or by the president in accord with the upper house.