Four presidential vetoes — President Karol Nawrocki on Friday refused to sign four bills passed by the Sejm. Most notably, he opposed the creation of the Lower Oder Valley National Park, citing concerns that it would block the region’s economic development, where the Oder River is a key source of investment potential. But — as the Chancellery of the President reports — another of the vetoes prevents the repeal or shortening of bans on holding positions in company boards by individuals convicted of certain crimes.
President Karol Nawrocki refused to sign:
• the Act of October 17, 2025, on the establishment of the Lower Oder Valley National Park,
• the Act of September 26, 2025, amending the Act on Collective Water Supply and Sewage Disposal and certain other acts,
• the Act of September 26, 2025, amending the Road Traffic Law and certain other acts,
• the Act of September 26, 2025, amending the National Criminal Register Act, the Commercial Companies Code, the Act on the Liability of Collective Entities for Offenses Punishable by Law, and the Act on Counteracting Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.
According to the justification, in the President’s assessment, the creation of the Lower Oder Valley National Park under the provisions of this bill raised serious concerns about halting the region’s economic development, where the Oder River serves as a key source of investment potential. The President also noted the lack of analysis regarding the impact on infrastructure investments in the area, even though the establishment of the park could bring real financial losses for some municipalities. Moreover, despite the sharp division of opinions among the local Międzyodrze community, no local referendum was held. The act would have imposed significant restrictions on residents without broad public consultations or expert debate.
Another veto concerns the Act of September 26, 2025, amending the National Criminal Register Act, the Commercial Companies Code, the Act on the Liability of Collective Entities, and the Anti–Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act. According to the President, the provisions would have allowed for lifting or shortening bans on serving in company governing bodies for persons convicted of specific crimes.
The justification states that “this solution, in practice, significantly increases the risk that individuals who have been lawfully convicted of violating the law could return to corporate boards. This could lead to a decline in corporate governance standards, reduce transparency and integrity in company operations, harm shareholders, creditors, and contractors, and undermine trust in the market as a whole.”
The President also supported the objections of transport industry representatives and local governments, who argued that the amendment to the Road Traffic Law would harm the development of bus transport in less urbanized areas. Provisions introduced during the Sejm committee stage — without consultation and unrelated to the bill’s main goal — were deemed unfavorable for public transport and, consequently, for hundreds of thousands of people who rely on buses daily to reach schools, workplaces, offices, or clinics.
The act aimed to shorten the duration of contracts concluded with the Bus Transport Development Fund (FRPA)from ten to three years — a change which, according to local officials, experts, and carriers, would reduce the number of existing bus routes, since in many municipalities bus connections exist only thanks to FRPA support. The President made it clear that he would not approve further restrictions on Poles’ access to public transport.
Finally, President Karol Nawrocki also vetoed the amendment to the Act on Collective Water Supply and Sewage Disposal. According to the President, this law constitutes overregulation, imposing on housing communities, cooperatives, and local governments obligations not required by the EU directive. As a result, it would increase financial burdens on these entities. The President pointed out that instead of offering municipalities assistance in modernizing water networks and treatment plants, the bill imposed new duties and penalties, including administrative liability.