“A Las Vegas-style marriage – quick to enter into and easy to end – may make for an interesting movie scene. In a serious state, law and legislation are not about writing a film script. Marriage is not a trivial matter or a fleeting whim. It is an institution under special protection of the state”, President Karol Nawrocki argued, announcing his veto of the amendment to the Family and Guardianship Code concerning out-of-court divorces.
Two vetoes. President explains his decision
Karol Nawrocki announced that he had signed three bills concerning sustainable aviation fuel, the quality of drinking water, and the protection of women in sport. At the same time, the President of Poland explained the reasons behind his decision to veto two other legislative proposals. Among them was the amendment to the Family and Guardianship Code regarding out-of-court divorces.
“The law on out-of-court divorce – in this matter, my decision was unequivocal. Not because the state should not streamline procedures, but because there are issues that must not be reduced to an administrative formality. Marriage is not a simple entry in a register. It is one of the foundations of social life”, we hear in a recording published by the Chancellery of the President.
The president clearly emphasized that marriage is the foundation of the family, child upbringing, and the دوام of the national community.
As the Polish head of state admitted, this is not a technical law. It is a change that lowers the status of an institution explicitly protected by the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.
“Protection does not consist in making separation easier – it consists in supporting durability, despite various difficulties. The proposed law provided for the possibility of quickly dissolving a marriage before a civil registry officer, without the involvement of a court”, he said.
He added that “a court’s decision to end a marriage is not a formality – it is a guarantee that the decision on divorce is well-considered, genuine, and not harmful to either party”.
Tusk reacts immediately
This time as well, Donald Tusk responded to President Nawrocki’s decision – as usual, targeting the opposition.
“The president has vetoed the law on out-of-court divorce. I feel that the most dissatisfied with this will be PiS MPs.”
Authorities tamper with elections
The second key decision was the veto of changes to the Electoral Code. The president indicated that the proposed provisions could undermine trust in the electoral process:
“I vetoed the Electoral Code law. This legislation raises very serious doubts regarding the impartiality and transparency of the electoral process. It does not strengthen the fairness of elections. It does not increase citizens’ trust. On the contrary, it creates justified concerns about the possibility of political influence where absolute neutrality must prevail”, Nawrocki said in the recording.
Particular concerns were raised by the new role of secretary of the electoral commission:
“At first glance, it sounds harmless. However, the secretary would be appointed by commune heads, mayors, or city presidents. Until now, the division of roles within an electoral commission was based on the democratic choice of its members – and that is a very sound principle”, he stressed.
As he noted, the scope of this role’s powers could be much broader:
“This was not meant to be an ordinary technical official – in practice, it would be a ‘super-chair’ of the electoral commission”, he assessed.