The president’s decision to veto the amendment to the law on out-of-court divorces has sparked outrage within the December 13 coalition camp. Among those who spoke out was Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who stated that it was “an unwise veto”. Meanwhile, Professor Przemysław Czarnek, Law and Justice (PiS) candidate for prime minister, assessed that the vetoed provisions amounted to “promoting divorces, the destruction of marriages”. He also thanked the president for issuing the veto.
Presidential veto of the out-of-court divorce law
President Karol Nawrocki vetoed, among other things, an amendment to the Family and Guardianship Code concerning out-of-court divorces. “In this matter, my decision was unequivocal. Not because the state should not streamline procedures, but because there are matters that must not be reduced to an administrative formality. Marriage is not an ordinary entry in a register. It is one of the foundations of social life. It is the foundation of the family, the upbringing of children, and the دوام of the national community”, he stated.
Tusk claims “this is an unwise veto”
The head of government, Donald Tusk, commented on the decision.
“The president has vetoed the law on out-of-court divorce. I feel that the most dissatisfied with this will be PiS MPs”, the prime minister wrote on X.
At a press conference in the Sejm, Tusk also argued that “this is an unwise veto”.
“The amendment was intended to simplify and make life easier for those who, in a consensual and unequivocal manner, want a divorce and do not wish to go through procedures that sometimes last even years”, he claimed.
Czarnek: “These people promote the breakdown of marriages”
Professor Przemysław Czarnek, Law and Justice (PiS) candidate for prime minister, spoke in strong terms in the Sejm about the provisions vetoed by the president.
“These people, instead of promoting the family, […] promote divorces, promote the breakdown of marriages. This is a scandal. This is, in fact, treason against the state”, he said.
He added that “if someone today does not see the nightmare of Polish families and wants to deepen this nightmare by saying: ‘you can get divorced calmly, just go sign an agreement at the civil registry office or before a notary, without any court,’ then that is a person acting against the family”.
“I would like to thank President Karol Nawrocki for vetoing this law. We are supposed to promote the family, not promote its destruction”, he declared.