Polish President Karol Nawrocki is facing a wave of criticism following his veto of cryptocurrency legislation, coupled with accusations of pro-Russian sympathies and controversial appointments.
Presidential Veto Fuels Political Offensive
President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of legislation concerning crypto assets has ignited a political backlash. Accusations of pro-Russian leanings, stemming from a visit to Hungary, controversial appointments to the New Media Council, and declining public trust are compounding the pressure.
An attempt to override the presidential veto on the crypto asset law failed in the Sejm on Friday. President Nawrocki justified his decision by arguing the law imposed overly restrictive controls on citizens using digital assets, potentially infringing on their financial freedoms. The ruling coalition countered that the veto jeopardizes Poland’s ability to fully implement European regulations regarding crypto assets, threatening the security of the national financial system.
Allegations of Lobbying and Political Alignment
Nawrocki has been accused of aligning with a cryptocurrency lobby and the political right. A former campaign associate claimed Przemysław Wipler attempted to lobby the president to block the cryptocurrency legislation, and advised against the veto.
President Defends Decision on Crypto Regulation
In a Sunday interview with Kanał Zero, President Nawrocki defended his decision, stating the government is failing to protect the interests of Polish citizens and intends to remove the entire cryptocurrency market from Poland, including legitimate operators.
Controversy Surrounding Meeting with Orbán
The president’s meeting with Viktor Orbán during the Hungarian prime minister’s election campaign has drawn criticism, with coalition politicians framing it as support for a “political friend of Vladimir Putin.”
Further controversy arose with the appointment of Paweł Swinarski, a controversial YouTuber, to the Presidential New Media Council. Swinarski had previously suggested that a September 2025 incident involving Russian drones in Polish airspace was either a Russian attack or a Ukrainian provocation intended to draw Poland into the war.
NASK (National and Academic Network) analyzed Swinarski’s recording and notified YouTube about the dissemination of Russian disinformation and propaganda. The Polish General Staff also cited the video as an example of disinformation.
Poll Shows Declining Trust in President Nawrocki
Recent events have negatively impacted the president’s public image. A new poll conducted for Onet by UCE Research indicates that more respondents lack trust in President Nawrocki than express trust, with approximately 36% expressing trust and 39% expressing distrust.
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