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PoliticsPoland's President Nawrocki vetoes registered partnerships law
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Poland's right-wing conservative President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed a law on registered partnerships passed by parliament, blocking a key reform promised by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's center-left coalition. The law would have allowed two adults, including same-sex couples, to enter a notarized contract granting rights such as shared property, maintenance obligations, medical information access, and legal representation. Nawrocki, from the opposition PiS party, argued the law creates a 'quasi-marriage' and violates the constitutional definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Government Equality Commissioner Katarzyna Kotula criticized the veto, stating it ignores the needs of two million Poles in informal partnerships and that support for equality is growing. The veto delays but may not permanently stop the legislation.
Source report
Poland's right-wing conservative President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed a law on registered partnerships that was passed by parliament, effectively blocking the introduction of civil unions—including for same-sex couples.
In a video message from Warsaw, Nawrocki stated that he is not opposed to regulating legal issues for unmarried couples in principle, but argued that the law creates a "quasi-marriage" and therefore cannot receive his approval.
Background of the Reform
The registered partnerships law is one of the key reforms promised by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's center-left coalition government upon taking office. The legislation would have allowed two adults to enter into a contract before a notary. Following registration with the civil registry office, partners would have been able to:
- Choose the matrimonial property regime
- Determine the obligation to pay maintenance
- Exercise the right to use the shared apartment
- Access the partner's medical information
- Act as the partner's authorized representative
The registered partnership would have applied to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples.
Political Reactions
The right-wing conservative opposition party PiS, from which President Nawrocki also originates, had strongly opposed the law during parliamentary debate, particularly regarding the inclusion of same-sex couples. Nawrocki cited the constitution in his veto announcement, stating: "The constitution explicitly states that marriage is a union between a man and a woman."
Criticism of the veto came swiftly from the government camp. Government Commissioner for Equality Katarzyna Kotula said in a video on platform X that Nawrocki is "turning away from two million Poles who live in informal partnerships." She added: "Support for registered partnerships and equality in marriage is growing. Nawrocki will delay these changes but will not be able to stop them."
Source
taz.de - taz.deWestern
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Poland's President Nawrocki Vetoes Registered Partnerships Law