The update of the law on the Pole's Card provides for the extension of this document's validity to the whole world
Currently, this document, confirming affiliation with the Polish nation, is issued to people of Polish origin living in 15 countries beyond Poland's eastern border, created or revived after the collapse of the USSR, which do not recognize dual citizenship.
As Polskie Radio notes, the Sejm adopted the law on the Pole's Card unanimously. Compared to previous provisions, the new document contains a number of amendments. The law on the Pole's Card is to take effect one month after its signing by Polish President Andrzej Duda. Before the vote on this law, a brief discussion took place in the Sejm chamber.
Voices of approval for extending the Pole's Card to the whole world were heard from all sides. This was stated by MP Anna Schmidt-Rodziewicz from the Law and Justice party, who prepared the report on the law on the Pole's Card:
"Poland's duty is to support compatriots living abroad, as well as to care for the preservation of Polish national identity in them. We are proving once again that our care for compatriots living in different parts of the world has a concrete dimension. Effectively acting for the benefit of all Poles, we are adopting a legal solution aimed at eliminating the problems that circles of the Polish diaspora have struggled with for many years. The proposed law on the Pole's Card builds the unity and strength of the Polish diaspora and Poles around the world.
The Pole's Card gives its holders specific privileges, which, thanks to us, will be able to be used for the first time by people of Polish origin but without Polish citizenship, living on all continents. In many countries where our compatriots settled for various reasons, the Polish diaspora was deprived of real contact with Poland and was forced to abandon the cultural heritage of their ancestors in favor of accelerated assimilation. Polish schools and newspapers were closed, opportunities for Polish organizations to operate were limited, even the use of the Polish language was banned, and Polish documents were confiscated. Poles were forced to renounce Polish citizenship. The proposed changes towards extending the law on the Pole's Card to the whole world are a breakthrough."
The Pole's Card is not a document confirming Polish citizenship, but it represents a certain possibility of obtaining it in the future, noted Minister Paweł Sztot from the Prime Minister's Office. The minister reminded that potential users of this proposal cannot always document their Polish roots, if only because Poland was not on the world map when their ancestors were displaced.
"It is rare for debates on a bill in this parliamentary chamber to proceed with such unanimity, with full agreement of opinions of all meeting participants," noted Paweł Sztot. "This bill is indeed good; it will improve the situation of many people of Polish origin living around the world, not only in the countries of the former Soviet Union. These people left territories that now belong to Poland in a situation when Poland did not exist. Their ancestors never had formal Polish citizenship. Of course, they were ethnic Poles, and many of them cultivated wonderful Polish traditions. Their descendants do the same. However, they cannot prove an official connection with the Republic of Poland, such a connection that existed in the interwar years and later."
The Kukiz'15 faction also voted for the adoption of the expanded version of the Pole's Card. Its MP Józef Brynkus also reminded that it is the duty of the Homeland to maintain and strengthen ties with Poles living abroad, as well as to support those who want to awaken Polish national identity in themselves:
"For many years, the Polish diaspora and people with Polish roots were not subjects of special care for the Homeland, mainly for political reasons. The communist authorities of the Polish People's Republic could not forgive the Polish diaspora for not accepting communism. The Third Polish Republic is trying to rectify the situation and is doing so quite effectively, including by bringing the provisions of the law on the Pole's Card into line with both the political changes taking place in the world and the expectations of people of Polish origin living outside Poland. The Polish diaspora has never renounced 'Polishness' and ties with Poland. Also today, the Polish diaspora cares for Poland's interests. An example is the demonstration and protest of representatives of the Polish diaspora in the USA against the Just Act 447 law" (concerning restitution of property of Holocaust victims who left no heirs. – Editor's note.)
The government's proposal was also approved by Elżbieta Stępień from the Civic Platform and Civic Coalition faction:
"I welcome and present a positive opinion on the amendment to the law on the Pole's Card, as it helps maintain ties with Poland and supports the cultivation of the Polish language and Polish culture. This legislative act can be called long-awaited, and its main merit is that the right to obtain the Pole's Card is extended to Poles in all countries of the world. I will also mention South America here, as I have heard opinions from there that such support is needed.
The document that is the Pole's Card confirms affiliation with the Polish nation. Its holders can legally work in Poland without needing to obtain a permit, can enjoy discounts when purchasing railway tickets and visiting museums."
After the adoption of the law on the Pole's Card by the Sejm, it will be taken up again by the Senate immediately after the Easter holidays.