President Karol Nawrocki vetoed the law on aiding Ukrainians, citing a change in social and financial realities in the country, and demands of social justice for Poles and conditionality of benefits for refugees from Ukraine.
The arguments of president Nawrocki
The president explained that after more than 3 years after the start of the Ukrainian war, the social and economical situation in Poland changed significantly. He stressed that Poles showed solidarity at the most hard moments, but now the aid should be more closely linked to the activity of the beneficiaries – especially in the context of the 800 plus benefit. According to Nawrocki, this benefit should be paid only to Ukrainians who legally work in Poland.
The president besides raised the question of equal treatment of Poles and assistance to Ukrainians – pointing out that Polish citizens should not be treated worse than refugees, especially in terms of access to social services and wellness care. He criticized the situation in which Ukrainians receive benefits and can benefit from the wellness strategy regardless of taking up work or paying contributions.
Proposals for change and political context
Nawrocki announced his own draft bill, which will include increased conditions for granting Polish citizenship – extending the required period of stay from 3 to 10 years and another changes to strengthen the integration and accountability of future citizens.
The decision fits into a number of demands of conservative groups, specified as the Confederation, which publically supported the veto, pointing to problems with the budget and availability of public services for Poles and to the exhaustion of the first justifications for peculiar assistance to refugees.
Social and economical responses
Experts and business circles estimation that the veto of the president can importantly hit not only migrants from Ukraine, but besides Polish employers who employment Ukrainians, raising the possible hazard of labour marketplace shortages and adverse economical trends. On the another hand, aid organisations inform that even a million refugees may lose their legal residence in Poland by the end of September unless fresh regulations are rapidly passed.
The President's decision was besides commented on by representatives of the Ukrainian community and the government who expressed concerns about the safety and stableness of thousands of refugees. In response, the government announced work on the fresh form of the bill as a substance of urgency.
Summary
President Nawrocki's veto is simply a consequence of changing social and economical priorities, striving for greater justice in the distribution of benefits and force from any political groups to reduce peculiar support for Ukrainians. It can have far-reaching social, economical and political consequences.
