Tusk Targets Nawrocki’s First Year with “Top 5 Worst Decisions” List

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has published a scathing assessment marking the first anniversary of President Karol Nawrocki’s term, highlighting five controversial vetoes and executive actions.

Tusk’s First-Anniversary Critique

“On the first anniversary, the 5 worst decisions of Karol Nawrocki: SAFE, civil partnerships, cryptocurrencies, the pardoning of Staruch, and CKN, meaning Karol’s prices at gas stations,” Donald Tusk wrote on Thursday afternoon.

The decisions listed by the prime minister refer to vetoes of ruling coalition bills and a single presidential pardon. Over the course of the year, Nawrocki signed 255 bills while vetoing 41—the highest number of any president.

The SAFE Program and Defense Funding

The president withheld his signature from the bill implementing the EU’s SAFE program, which involves nearly 44 billion euros (around 185 billion zlotys) in low-interest loans for developing Poland’s defense and funding the arms industry. The vast majority of these funds were intended to develop the Polish defense industry.

Facing the president’s opposition, the government adopted a resolution authorizing the ministers of national defense, finance, and economy to sign agreements under the Polish Armed Forces program without requiring the head of state’s approval.

Civil Partnerships and Cryptocurrencies

In July, Nawrocki vetoed the bill on the status of next of kin and cohabitation agreements, labeling it “ideological pressure.” “I have always emphasized that nothing that is a quasi-marriage can count on my support. The same is true for the adoption of children,” he stated.

The president has also vetoed bills intended to regulate the cryptocurrency market three times. “It sounds unbelievable, but the president has vetoed the cryptocurrency bill again. He is probably more entangled in this than everyone thought,” the prime minister wrote after the third veto.

Pardoning of Piotr Staruchowicz

Just two days ago, Karol Nawrocki exercised the right of mercy toward Piotr Staruchowicz, a well-known Legia Warsaw ultra and activist. “Staruch” had been penalized by a court with a two-year ban from mass events, known as a stadium ban, for being in an unauthorized area—the stadium fence—during a March 2025 match between Motor Lublin and Legia Warsaw.

Blocked Windfall Tax on Fuel Companies

Karol Nawrocki also blocked the bill regarding the windfall tax on fuel companies. “President Nawrocki has blocked another 4 billion zlotys for the Polish budget. These funds were supposed to finance the CPN package protecting Poles from high fuel prices,” Finance Minister Andrzej Domański wrote in July following the president’s decision. “Instead of standing with the people of Poland, he stood with fuel corporations making massive profits from the current fuel market situation.”