Poland could hold referendum on EU treaty-PM

A Polish plebiscite on the treaty, aiming to streamline EU decision making, could embolden calls for such votes across the bloc, slowing the charter's approval and risk failure to be unanimously approved by all 27 members.

"If in their belligerence (the conservatives) block the Lisbon treaty, we will have to appeal to the people in a referendum," Tusk told a news conference. "I hope this can be avoided," he added.

Until last week, the treaty looked set to sail through the Polish parliament because it was supported by the government and the opposition Law and Justice party of ex-prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski who negotiated and signed up to it last year. But Kaczynski, facing pressure from anti-EU nationalists in his party made a U-turn last week, depriving the government of a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament needed to approve ratification.

Compounding the problem, his twin brother Lech, Poland's president, signalled he might not sign the treaty even if it is ratified by parliament because he believed it could hurt Polish interests. So far the treaty was ratified by five EU countries through their parliaments. Only Ireland plans to hold a referendum.

At the heart of Kaczynskis' opposition to the treaty is concern that Tusk and his centre-right government will adopt the Charter of Fundamental Rights accompanying the treaty. 

The Kaczynskis won an opt out from the charter, which guarantees basic freedoms to EU citizens, saying it paved the way to allowing gay marriages in the Catholic nation of 38 million people.Â

Recent surveys show a vast majority of Poles are in favour of the treaty but for a referendum to be valid it must clear a 50 percent turnout hurdle, which analysts say may be difficult to achieve. (Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; editing by Sami Aboudi)