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Nearly Half a Million Poles Abroad Participate in Presidential Election
Almost 500,000 Polish citizens living abroad have registered to vote in this year’s presidential election, underscoring the strong engagement of the Polish diaspora in national politics, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
According to the ministry, interest among Poles abroad remains high, with citizens eager to exercise their democratic rights regardless of where they live. Under Polish law, all citizens — even those born abroad who have never resided in Poland — are eligible to vote in national presidential and parliamentary elections. Local elections, however, remain off-limits to expatriate voters.
The turnout marks another strong showing from the Polish diaspora, building on record levels seen during the 2023 parliamentary elections, when over 600,000 voters abroad registered — the highest number to date. That surge in participation led to the establishment of 417 polling stations worldwide, including major hubs in London, Berlin, and Munich.
Belgium has also seen a sharp increase in voter engagement. More than 18,000 people registered to vote there this year, with the vast majority utilizing Poland’s e-election system. In comparison, 21,000 people registered for the 2023 parliamentary vote, while just 9,000 voted in the first round of the 2020 presidential election.
“The rise in participation reflects a growing connection between the Polish diaspora and national politics,” said Poland’s Consul in Belgium, Dagmara Jasińska, in comments to Euronews. “From Ghent and Antwerp to the communes of Brussels, voters are making their voices heard.”
Ghent and Antwerp saw the highest turnout in Belgium, with over 2,000 voters each. In Brussels, participation was more evenly distributed, with between 1,000 and 1,700 voters per district across eight communes.
In the United States, over 43,000 voters registered, with the largest concentrations at polling stations in Chicago and New York.
Poland’s enduring culture of civic engagement among its diaspora has historical roots, dating back to the Polish government-in-exile established during World War II. That tradition has continued into the modern era, particularly following Poland’s accession to the European Union in 2004, which spurred large-scale migration to countries like the UK and Germany. Today, an estimated 700,000 Polish citizens live in the UK and nearly 900,000 in Germany.
As this year’s election unfolds, it is clear that Polish citizens abroad remain deeply connected to their homeland’s democratic process — a commitment reflected in steadily rising voter participation around the world.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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