“I will never agree to social indifference as President of the Republic of Poland. Nor will I agree to mandatory fees for students who wish to study at public universities. We must put a stop to this privatization frenzy affecting those social sectors in Poland that are responsible for our well-being and security,” said Karol Nawrocki, the civic candidate for president, speaking today in Jasło in the Podkarpacie region.
Karol Nawrocki, a citizen candidate for the presidency, met today with residents of Jasło (Podkarpackie Voivodeship).
Addressing those gathered and the media, he spoke about what he considers the harmful effects of privatizing important sectors of Polish social and economic life. He also warned against a scenario in which “the system closes in on itself” if Rafał Trzaskowski wins the presidential election in May.
“Yet again, I arrive for a press conference, and I’m greeted by hope, enthusiasm, and smiles from the people of Poland. We smile not because we live in a ‘happy Poland,’ but because we have great faith and hope that on May 18, 2025, something will change in Poland and that all of us will put an end to the frenzy and the harm being done to us by the current government of Donald Tusk. I will defeat his deputy, Rafał Trzaskowski, in the presidential election,” he declared at the start of his speech.
In response, the crowd chanted: “We will win!”
Nawrocki: I won’t allow the privatization of State Forests
“We have all grown accustomed to Polish foresters and the State Forests, and here in Podkarpacie you understand this perfectly well—they know how to manage Polish forests. It’s an institution that has been operating for 100 years and exemplifies our commitment to environmental stewardship under the principle of sustainable development. Sustainable development of Polish forests, which cover one-third of our country’s territory, means these forests have economic and strategic importance for the Polish state,” said Dr. Nawrocki.
He pointed out that “today we find ourselves at a time of eco-terror, seeking to cordon off yet more areas of our state forests in Poland, basing sustainable development only on environmental protection and ecology.”
“I stand before you as a great proponent of environmental protection, but at the same time a strong opponent of eco-terror. After the recent creation of a national park on the Oder River, I’m hearing from people in Podkarpacie that there’s also talk of creating a new national park here—without properly consulting local governments or the broader community,” he said.
“As President of the Republic of Poland, I will never agree to undermining the sustainable development of our state forests. Yes, we do have the right, as citizens, to enjoy these forests while also protecting the environment, but we also have the right to support those workplaces that build our national potential through wood processing. We need them,” the civic candidate for president emphasized.
“Our furniture businesses, our factories need opportunities for growth,” Nawrocki continued.
“Today, unfortunately, wood processing is collapsing. Many companies are going under; they have to pay exorbitant electricity bills, and at the same time, the price of wood is rising due to further forest exclusions. We cannot allow this. I guarantee you here in Jasło that, if I become President of the Republic of Poland, any move toward privatizing the State Forests will be unequivocally blocked by all my initiatives. I will use my veto power on this issue. No to the privatization of Polish State Forests!”
“It’s about improving our lives”
According to Karol Nawrocki, “the economy is there to serve people. We build our household prosperity, we build the prosperity of the Polish state so that Poles can live better—not to serve politicians, businesspeople backed by a specific political group, or corporations. The forest is our common national good, and we should protect it. We need to halt this privatization frenzy.”
He added that “the economy must grow without harming society.”
He also touched on his opponent’s proposals regarding paid university studies:
“I will never agree to social insensitivity as President of the Republic of Poland. Nor will I agree to mandatory fees for students who want to attend public universities. We need to halt this privatization frenzy in those areas of Polish social life that ensure our well-being and security. No to the privatization of forests, no to privatizing healthcare, and no to forcing people—especially those who can’t afford it—to pay for higher education at public institutions. The president of the Polish state is here to reduce social disparities, not to make things even harder for people living in small and medium-sized towns, where life is already more difficult—depriving them of social, professional, or academic opportunities. As President of the Republic of Poland, I will put a stop to this social insensitivity,” Nawrocki said in Jasło.