00:00Will Ukrainian citizens soon be represented in the Polish parliament?
00:07Far-right politicians in Poland have expressed their outrage at an alleged plan for Ukrainians
00:13with Polish citizenship to be given their own representation in Poland's parliament.
00:19Politicians from different far-right parties decry any notion of Ukrainians having their
00:24own representation in the same, with some even calling for a total halt to granting
00:29Polish citizenship to Ukrainians.
00:31They reference news reports stating that approximately 80% of Ukrainians with long-term
00:37residence permits intend to apply for Polish citizenship, and that Ukrainians could be
00:42represented in the same as early as 2027.
00:45However, the government has no plan to bring in specific parliamentary representation for
00:50Polish citizens of Ukrainian origin.
00:52The confusion appears to stem from a Ukrainian article that refers to proposed changes to
00:57Poland's assistance-to-citizens-of-Ukraine law, including one that would prolong citizenship
01:03requirements for foreigners.
01:04Currently, they need to live in Poland for five years to get a permanent residence permit,
01:09and then live there for a further three years to be able to apply for citizenship.
01:13According to Polish law, people arriving in the country on humanitarian grounds, such as those fleeing
01:19Russia's full-scale invasion, can't obtain a long-term EU residence permit.
01:24And the time spent in Poland via this channel doesn't count towards the five years needed for
01:29a permanent residence permit.
01:31More and more Ukrainians are being recognized as Polish citizens, according to yearly government
01:36figures, and Ukrainians currently make up the largest immigrant group in Poland.
01:41Far-right figures claim that this could lead to Ukrainians influencing Polish politics at
01:46the expense of Polish interests, but the fears are unfounded, especially with potentially
01:52harsher citizenship requirements on the way.
Commentaires