Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz expresses hope that President Karol Nawrocki will sign the EU’s SAFE defense program despite rumored veto.
Crisis over EU Defense Program
On Tuesday after 3:00 PM, a meeting began at the Presidential Palace between Prime Minister Donald Tusk, President Karol Nawrocki, and NBP head Adam Glapiński. Also participating are Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Minister of Finance and Economy Andrzej Domański.
The conversation concerns, on the one hand, the EU’s defense program SAFE, and on the other hand, last week’s joint proposal by Nawrocki and Glapiński regarding “SAFE zero percent”. On Tuesday afternoon, the head of government revealed that he has signals that the president intends to veto the law implementing the EU’s SAFE program in Poland.
Minister’s Plea to President
On Tuesday, in the Sejm, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, leader of Poland 2050 and Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, was asked about the matter. She expressed hope that SAFE will be signed by the president, emphasizing that “SAFE should be signed, it simply should be”. She added that vetoing it would be a huge mistake.
Regarding the “SAFE zero percent” initiative, Pełczyńska-Nałęcz pointed out that the details of this proposal are still unknown. She noted that no one knows where the additional 200 billion złoty would come from, and expressed hope that the president will “come to his senses” and sign the law for the security and good of Poland.
Additional Funding for Security
Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz also announced that from the National Reconstruction Plan, nearly a billion złoty will be redirected for security needs. This includes the Security and Defense Fund created as part of the KPO, and the new IRIS² satellite initiative, a European joint initiative under which Poland will have its own satellites.
In total, nearly an additional billion złoty will be allocated for security measures.
President’s Deadline
Presidential spokesman Rafał Leśkiewicz reminded that Karol Nawrocki still has 10 days to make a decision on SAFE, with the deadline being March 20. Leśkiewicz stated that this is not the first time they’ve had to explain to the Prime Minister about Poland’s constitutional order, noting that the President of the Republic decides on laws.
Political Implications
The ongoing dispute over the SAFE program is seen as a partisan issue, with the president’s sudden proposal for a “Polish SAFE” creating further tension. The attitude towards SAFE is considered a matter of party affiliation, raising questions about how voters perceive this issue.
