Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed the controversial SAFE loan legislation, citing threats to Poland’s sovereignty.
Kaczyński Supports Nawrocki’s Decision
President Karol Nawrocki announced his veto in an address delivered Thursday evening. “Freedom, sovereignty, and independence have no price! And trying to sell them for a loan is anti-Polish,” wrote Jarosław Kaczyński on the same day on X.
Morawiecki Calls for Tusk’s Support
“President Karol Nawrocki vetoed the SAFE loan bill. Given the counter-proposal presented by him and Professor Glapiński, which would allow Poland to arm itself in a freer, cheaper way without an external supervisor, this is the only right decision. Now it’s time for Donald Tusk’s government to at least once act in accordance with Poland’s national interest and support the presidential project as quickly as possible. Prime Minister, you yourself have said so many times that there is no time to lose!” – wrote former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on X.
Błaszczak: SAFE is Harmful Solution
“Full support for the decision of President Karol Nawrocki! The SAFE loan mechanism is a harmful solution that prevents the proper development of the Polish Armed Forces” – stated PiS parliamentary club chairman and former defense minister Mariusz Błaszczak.
Czarnek: “Tusk, Czarzasty – Get to Work!”
Also speaking was PiS’s candidate for prime minister Przemysław Czarnek. “‘Poland first, Poles first’ – that is the principle that guided President Karol Nawrocki in vetoing the bill introducing the harmful SAFE loan mechanism. Poland’s interests cannot be subordinated to dangerous financial experiments. Our duty is to protect the stability of the state and the economic security of Poles. Mr. Tusk, Mr. Czarzasty – get to work! We must adopt the president’s bill on the 0% SAFE and build the power of our army!” – wrote Czarnek.
Nawrocki: “I Will Never Sign a Bill That Strikes at Our Sovereignty”
“I will not sign a bill that allows Poland to take out a SAFE loan. Because I will never sign a bill that strikes at our sovereignty, independence, economic and military security,” said Karol Nawrocki in his address. “The SAFE mechanism is a huge foreign loan taken out for 45 years in a foreign currency, the interest cost of which may amount to even 180 billion zlotys. Poles will have to pay back twice as much as the value of the loan granted, while Western banks and financial institutions will profit on this,” stated the president.
What are the SAFE Programs and “Polish SAFE Zero Percent”?
Nineteen European Union countries will receive a total of 150 billion euros under the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program to support defense investments. Poland will be the largest beneficiary, receiving nearly 44 billion euros. The support will be provided in the form of 3% loans, which Poland will repay by 2070.
The concept of “Polish SAFE zero percent” was presented by Karol Nawrocki and head of the National Bank of Poland Adam Glapiński. Unlike the EU program, this proposal would be financed with the help of the NBP. Glapiński argued that the initiative “would not involve any financial interest.”