The Polish Senate voted on Wednesday to reject President Karol Nawrocki’s request for a national referendum on EU climate policy, following weeks of intense debate over the phrasing of the question.
Public Response to the Senate Decision
Following the Senate’s rejection, we conducted a poll to gauge public opinion on the decision. Out of 3,162 total votes cast by May 21, 2026, the majority supported the Senate’s move.
The results showed 2,631 people, or 83.21 percent of participants, approved of the rejection. Conversely, 510 people, or 16.13 percent, opposed the decision, while 21 individuals chose the “no opinion” option.
Debate Over Contentious Referendum Phrasing
The proposal drew scrutiny throughout May, focusing on whether the referendum question was framed to lead voters toward a specific answer. Karol Nawrocki’s draft explicitly linked EU climate policy to rising costs of living and energy prices.
Constitutional expert Professor Marek Chmaj argued that the Senate should reject the proposal, claiming it suffered from substantial substantive flaws. His assessment was presented to the Senate during the deliberations.
Political Clash Over the Referendum’s Purpose
Pawel Szefernaker, head of the Presidential Cabinet, criticized the decision as an infringement on the rights of citizens to express their views on the economy and energy costs. Nawrocki maintained that the referendum was not intended to challenge Poland’s EU membership or environmental protection.
Government officials, including Climate Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska, countered that the question was biased. She accused the President of using the referendum to cynically build political capital rather than addressing genuine democratic processes.
The Broader Climate Policy Context
The failed referendum has reignited national discussions regarding energy security and the pace of the transition away from fossil fuels. Discussions often focus on energy dependence and the impact of imports on fuel prices.
Legal experts, such as Wojciech Kukula of the ClientEarth foundation, have noted that a national referendum holds no authority to alter European Union law, as climate policy decisions are made at the Community level.