The Polish Senate voted down President Karol Nawrocki’s proposal for a national referendum on EU climate policy, drawing immediate condemnation from the Presidential Palace as a denial of democratic rights.
The Senate Vote and Presidential Reaction
On May 20, the Senate rejected President Karol Nawrocki’s proposal to hold a referendum on September 27 regarding the impact of EU climate policy on living costs. Out of 95 senators present, 61 voted against the motion, 32 were in favor, and one abstained.
Presidential chief of staff Paweł Szefernaker criticized the decision, labeling it a vote against the rights of Poles to express their views on the economy and job security. He asserted that while the request was dismissed, the citizens’ voices cannot be silenced.
Arguments and Counter-Arguments
Nawrocki had previously argued that the public deserves a direct say on the consequences of the Green Deal, maintaining that the referendum was not intended to oppose environmental protection or European integration. Critics, however, pointed out that the referendum question contained a biased premise, essentially suggesting that EU policy is inherently detrimental.
Climate Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska dismissed the proposal as a political stunt. She countered that the current economic challenges stem from past reliance on imported fossil fuels and questioned the responsibility of the previous administration in stabilizing energy costs.
Legal and Expert Perspectives
Legal expert Wojciech Kukuła of the ClientEarth foundation clarified that a national referendum in Poland cannot override European Union law, which requires consensus among member states. He characterized the president’s proposal as an attempt to exploit public anxiety over rising energy prices.
Kukuła emphasized that the most effective solution to current economic pressure is to reduce Poland’s dependency on expensive fossil fuels and accelerate investments in clean energy. He warned that further delays in this transition will result in higher costs for citizens.