Polish President Vetoed the Law on Aid to Ukrainian Citizens

Polish President Karol Nawrocki refused to sign the law extending the special rules for assistance to Ukrainian refugees.

The document provided for the continuation of existing benefits until 4 March 2026, including the right to legal employment, education, healthcare, and social payments.

The President's Arguments

In his address, Nawrocki stated that he does not agree with the law in its current form. According to him, the 800+ benefit should be granted only to those Ukrainians who are working in Poland. He holds a similar position regarding access to medical services.

"I do not agree with this law in its current form. I did not sign the Law on Aid to Ukrainians. I have proposed my own draft and I encourage the government and all political circles in parliament to work on a new formula for the law," the president emphasised.

The Presidential Chancellery stressed that this is not an action directed against Ukrainians. According to the head of the chancellery, Paweł Szefernaker, the law adopted in the first weeks of the war needs to be updated: "The situation has changed, and the bill is outdated."

Public and Political Reaction

The president's decision sparked widespread debate. Those close to Nawrocki believe the law should be fair above all to Polish citizens who have been hosting Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of the war. At the same time, opposition politicians argue that abolishing existing benefits could be a step backward in relations between the two nations.

Deputy Speaker of the Senate Magdalena Biejat recalled that last year Ukrainians contributed approximately 15 billion zloty to the Polish state treasury, while spending on social benefits amounted to 2.8 billion zloty. "I'll leave the maths to you," she responded to the president.

Context

Despite the veto, the president signed five other laws and vetoed a total of three. As Polskie Radio notes, discussions are ongoing in political circles about whether such an approach creates a dangerous narrative.

For now, the future of the law on aid to Ukrainians in Poland depends on further work by the government and parliament. Consultations on a new version of the document are expected to begin in the near future.

Based on materials from Polskie Radio