Polish Prime Minister Leszek
Miller today staked his future on winning European Union membership, saying his government will resign if Poles reject joining the bloc in a referendum due next year.
Mr Miller, whose government has made securing EU entry its top priority, said Poland was determined to win membership at the start of 2004, despite fears of delays in the last difficult stages of entry talks due to conclude by December.
Polls show a nearly two-to-one majority in favour of joining the EU, but a poor membership deal might yet provoke a surge of anti-Europe feeling in Poland, the largest of 10 mostly ex-communist countries hoping to join the Union in 2004.
"This referendum is so important that if it was to be lost it would mean a failure of the government. And a government that failed would have to resign," Mr Miller said in an interview.
"But I am an optimist, and the grounds for that optimism are simple - I am confident in the wisdom of my nation and that is why this referendum will be won," he added.