I am not affiliated with this group, just sharing after seeing a post on Belarusian immigrants. Link to Instagram page: https://instagram.com/kolektywstus?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

WHY DO WE ORGANIZE SYMBOLIC
ELECTIONS FOR MIGRANTS ?
Nope, this is not a joke. We invite you to vote for real Polish parties because they talk about us (check out in the next comment). We clearly understand that there are individuals with migration experience who purposefully isolate themselves from Polish politics or politics in general, because it is a traumatic experience for them. The symbolic elections we are organizing are a chance to restore faith in the ability to make decisions for ourselves, to have a voice – at least at the level at which we can afford.

We do not call on the migrant community to fight for full voting rights (active or passive suffrage). Our main goal is to encourage migrants to take an interest in the political situation in Poland, which directly affects them; to direct Polish politicians to pay attention to the voice of a large number of people who, like Poles, pay taxes, finance the Polish government and state projects. Despite the fact that politicians spend this money, we have no opportunity to talk to them openly. It should also be noted that 14 EU countries allow migrants from third countries to participate (with a residence permit) in local elections, and 5 to run in regional elections.

What is the purpose of symbolic elections?

We want people with migration experience to speak for themselves. We want to show that we are here, we have an opinion. Many of us have submitted or are planning to submit documents for permanent residence or citizenship in Poland. Anyone who goes through these procedures knows how difficult and time-consuming they are.

Unfortunately, in the election campaign, migrants are mentioned only in sections about national security, defense and the border crisis. This comes in the context of a biased question in the referendum, which will be held together with the elections, in which Poles will be asked about their support for accepting thousands of illegal migrants from the Middle East and Africa.
Today, the debate on the topic of migration does not take place in the context of policies and solutions for the integration of people with migration experience who are already in Poland, but rather in the context of a threat – physical or economic.

by Rude-Ad-1540

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