One Year After Nawrocki's Election: Record Vetoes, Unfulfilled Promises, and a Divided Poland
On the first anniversary of his election, President Karol Nawrocki's tenure is marked by a record 33 vetoes, unfulfilled campaign promises, and deep political divisions, with allies praising his assertiveness and opponents accusing him of sabotage.
One year ago, on 1 June 2025, Karol Nawrocki won Poland's presidential election, defeating Rafał Trzaskowski with 50.89% of the vote to 49.11%. He was sworn in on 6 August 2025. As the anniversary arrives, his presidency is being assessed in starkly contrasting terms by political allies and opponents.
A presidency defined by vetoes
President Nawrocki has vetoed 33 bills in under a year, putting him on track to surpass the record of 35 vetoes set by Aleksander Kwaśniewski over a full decade. His chief of staff, Zbigniew Bogucki, noted that the president has also signed 211 laws, arguing that the vetoes have "motivated the government to improve legislation."
The president is not a notary; the president is not just there to sign.
Among the most contentious vetoes were the wind turbine distance law, a bill on aid to Ukrainian refugees, an amendment to "lex Kamilek" on child protection, and the SAFE programme implementation act.
Accusations of "betrayal and sabotage"
Opposition figures have used the anniversary to launch scathing attacks. MEP Michał Szczerba of the Civic Coalition called the past year "terrible" and accused the president of "betrayal, sabotage, and acting against public finances."
When he vetoed the SAFE implementation act, he said that control over the Polish army, the armed forces, the Polish Military, would be taken over by Brussels. A lie squared.
Szczerba also criticised the veto of a cryptocurrency market regulation bill, claiming it led to losses for small investors and linking it to a firm associated with Nawrocki since the election campaign.
Unfulfilled campaign promises
During the campaign, Nawrocki presented a "Plan 21" that included cutting VAT from 23% to 22%, reducing electricity bills by 33%, and a "Great 4 of Development" (a central transport hub, nuclear programme, port development, and investment zones). Economist Marek Zuber noted that many of these promises were beyond presidential powers and that the costings "simply did not add up."
Presidents who promise various things that are de facto the responsibility of parliament or the government are engaging in typical electoral populism.
Political scientist Dr Bartłomiej Machnik observed that voters' short memory means there are unlikely to be real consequences for unfulfilled pledges.
Public opinion and the First Lady
A United Surveys poll for Wirtualna Polska, conducted on 28–29 May 2026 on a sample of 1,000 people, shows the country evenly split: 48.2% rate Nawrocki's presidency positively, while 50.1% view it negatively—a difference within the margin of error (±3 percentage points). First Lady Marta Nawrocka fares better, with 58.8% positive ratings and 23% negative.
A changing political dependence
Professor Agnieszka Kasińska-Metryka, a political scientist, noted that Nawrocki has had an "intensely active" first year and that his dependence on his political backers, Jarosław Kaczyński and the PiS party, is visibly diminishing.
After a year, the president's dependence on Jarosław Kaczyński and PiS is decreasing.
- Nawrocki wins presidential election with 50.89% of the vote.
- Nawrocki is sworn in as President of Poland.
- First veto issued, blocking the wind turbine distance law.
- Vetoes three more bills, including aid to Ukrainian refugees.
- First anniversary of election: 33 vetoes and 211 laws signed.
