“The presidential veto has fulfilled the function of a systemic safeguard. That is precisely the essence of a veto. It is not about stopping the state – it is about stopping bad law. It is not about conflict for the sake of conflict – it is about responsibility for the consequences of legislation. It is not about politics – it is about citizens”, we hear in the latest spot published by the Chancellery of the President.
According to the latest data – President Karol Nawrocki has signed 199 bills since the beginning of his presidency. He has vetoed 31 and introduced 19 legislative initiatives.
Nevertheless, almost every time President Nawrocki decides to use a veto, the currently governing coalition attacks the Polish head of state under the pretext of an alleged “legislative paralysis”.
New spot from the Chancellery of the President
Today, a new spot appeared on the Chancellery of the President’s social media profile, titled “Veto – a remedy for bad law”.
“The presidential veto does not end the legislative process. It improves it. A veto is a signal: this law requires correction. It is a tool of adjustment, not destruction. It is the voice of an independent center that clearly says: errors must be removed and risks limited. So far, the president has exercised the right of veto 31 times. However, if vetoed laws return amended and meet the standards of good legislation, President Karol Nawrocki signs them. This has already happened many times”, says the narrator.
Next, several examples are given where a law – after a veto – returned to the president’s desk and was signed after amendments had been introduced.
“After the veto of the so-called Ukrainian law, provisions eliminating privileges for Ukrainian citizens were brought back. After the veto of the road traffic law – the amended act was signed. After the veto of the so-called wind farm law, the idea of mass wind farms near Polish homes was withdrawn. The same applied to another act – the law on our strategic reserves. Initially, President Nawrocki vetoed a bill that involved transferring the maintenance of strategic raw material reserves outside the country. The government took these concerns into account and prepared a new draft, which was ultimately signed by the president. After amendments – the plant protection products law also received the president’s signature. The government had initially prepared a very poor, overly bureaucratic system burdening farmers”, we hear in the spot.
The narrator further points out: “This clearly shows: the president is not a notary of laws. He is a real participant in the legislative process and ensures that citizens ultimately receive better law. The latest example of this is the law on water quality. At the end of last year, the president vetoed provisions that constituted overregulation and threatened increased costs for residents and local governments. This law, in line with the president’s proposals, returns in an amended form and is signed”.
“The presidential veto has fulfilled the function of a systemic safeguard. That is precisely the essence of a veto. It is not about stopping the state – it is about stopping bad law. It is not about conflict for the sake of conflict – it is about responsibility for the consequences of legislation. It is not about politics – it is about citizens”, the statement concludes.