With proportional representation abolished, Jewish leaders here discussed today ways and means of securing an adequate number of seats in the Polish parliament under the new electoral law, which was made public here yesterday.
The new law, which cuts the number of members of the parliament from 444 to 200, will greatly affect Jewish representation. It practically deprives the Jewish population of the seats they now hold in the Sejm.
A demand was advanced by Jewish leaders today that the government introduce special so-called minority mandates, in order to secure for the national minorities the number of seats in the Sejm to which they are entitled in accordance with their proportion in the general population. Only if this demand is accepted can the three-and-a-half millions Jews of Poland expect to have deputies in the new parliament.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
