President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed a bill enabling Poland to access billions in EU loans for military modernization, sparking a fierce political clash with Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government over national sovereignty and debt.

Veto of SAFE Program

President Karol Nawrocki blocked legislation that would have allowed Poland to access 43.7 billion euros in EU loans for defense infrastructure.

Sovereignty and Debt Concerns

The President argued the 45-year loan in foreign currency threatens sovereignty and could cost 180 billion zlotys in interest.

Government's Plan B

Prime Minister Donald Tusk's cabinet passed a resolution to proceed with the program despite the veto, citing urgent security needs.

Opposition Support

The Law and Justice (PiS) party supported the veto, with Przemysław Czarnek accusing the government of putting the country into excessive debt.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed the bill implementing the Security Action for Europe program on March 12, 2026, triggering a sharp political confrontation between the presidency and Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government. The program would have provided Poland with 43.7 billion euros in EU loans for military modernization. Nawrocki framed the loan as a burden on Polish citizens, arguing that interest costs could reach 180 billion zlotys over a 45-year repayment period. Presidential spokesperson and undersecretary of state Rafał Leśkiewicz criticized the government's response to the veto, according to reporting by Do Rzeczy, saying the government's approach crossed all limits. The veto immediately exposed a deep fault line between the president, backed by the opposition Law and Justice party, and the ruling coalition.

The Tusk government moved swiftly to circumvent the veto. On March 13, 2026, the government passed a resolution to proceed with the SAFE program through an alternative legal route, described in reporting as a "plan B." Tusk's coalition argues that access to EU defense financing is essential for Poland's security given the threat from Russia. The government's position, as reported by Polityka, holds that a less armed and more divided Poland serves Russian interests. The EU also signaled continued commitment to the defense loan arrangement with Poland despite the presidential veto, according to Reuters.

Poland has significantly increased defense spending in recent years, driven by the war in Ukraine and its position on NATO's eastern flank. The SAFE program is part of a broader EU push to boost collective defense capacity across member states. Nawrocki has been president since August 6, 2025. Donald Tusk has served as prime minister since 2023, heading a coalition government that replaced the Law and Justice administration.

The opposition Law and Justice party aligned firmly with Nawrocki's position. Przemysław Czarnek, a Law and Justice member of parliament and former minister of education, accused Tusk and the government of acting as traitors seeking to saddle Poland with debt. „Zdrajcy chcą nas zadłużyć” (Traitors want to put us in debt) — Przemysław Czarnek via wydarzenia.interia.pl Czarnek also challenged the legal basis of the government's plan B approach, asking publicly who was compelling the government to break the law. The Süddeutsche Zeitung characterized Nawrocki's veto as revealing that, in the president's view, the enemy is the EU and Germany rather than Russia, though that framing reflects the German outlet's editorial perspective. Television journalist Dorota Gawryluk also faced criticism after making remarks about Tusk's intentions regarding the SAFE program, according to wpolityce.pl, though the nature of the attacks on her was not fully detailed in available reporting.