President Nawrocki vetoed: 800 Plus only for working Ukrainians and the end of reliefs

President Karol Nawrocki made a decision that shook the public debate, vetoing the Law on benefits for Ukrainian citizens. This decision, announced on August 25, 2025, is simply a signal of a crucial change in the state's policy towards refugees and immigrants, putting the current support rules in question. The president's main argument is that the program "The 800 Plus family" should only include refugees who have actively taken up work in Polandto be a step towards a more balanced and equitable system.

In his argument president Nawrocki clearly stressed the rule “First Poland, first Poles”by opposing the preferential treatment of nationals of another countries at the expense of their own citizens. This strong position announces a revision of existing regulations and the introduction of fresh solutions that are to better respond to the current social and economical situation of the country. Veto opens the way to the presidential bill, which is to comprehensively regulate issues related to the stay and benefits for Ukrainians in Poland.

Why did president Nawrocki veto the bill? No more no-job relief?

Since Russia's violent attack on Ukraine has passed three and a half years. president Nawrocki recalled the unprecedented solidarity of Poles, who from the first days of the conflict gave immense support to refugees from Ukraine – both material and institutional. Poland has opened its borders and hearts, accepting millions of people fleeing the war. However, as the president pointed out, at that time The social and economical situation has changed rapidly, and the first provisions, created in an emergency mode, require urgent adjustments.

The core of the presidential opposition is the issue of providing 800 Plus. president Nawrocki expressed his deep conviction that financial support under this programme should be closely related to professional activity. "I think that the 800 Plus benefit should only be paid to Ukrainians taking up work. The bill I received does not make this amendment, so I decided to veto it," he said. This means that future social support for refugees from Ukraine will require them to engage more in the Polish labour marketplace in order to reduce budgetary burdens and advance self-reliance.

This decision is besides a consequence to increasing public votes on fairness and equality in access to benefits. The president emphasized that Poland cannot afford a strategy in which citizens of another countries are treated preferentially to citizens of the Republic of Poland. This post aims to protection of the interests of Polish taxpayers and ensuring that public resources are distributed in a fair and efficient manner to meet the state's current needs.

Equality in access to health: Poles cannot be treated worse

President Nawrocki highlighted not only the issue of social benefits but besides the problem preferential treatment of Ukrainian citizens in the wellness system. This is an area that raises quite a few controversy, especially in the context of the fact that a large proportion of refugees do not pay contributions to wellness insurance. "Poles in their own country must not be treated worse than guests from abroad," the president stressed, emphasising the fundamental rule of equality.

The current system, which frequently allows Ukrainian citizens to access the full scope of medical services without paying fees, creates additional burdens for the Polish budget and wellness care system. This in turn can translate into longer queues and limited access to specialists for Polish citizenswho regularly pay contributions. president Nawrocki seeks solutions to guarantee that access to healthcare is based on clear and fair rules, taking into account the financial contribution to the system.

The President's veto is so besides a signal that equality in access to public services is becoming a priority. This aims not only to calm social sentiments, but besides to guarantee stability and efficiency of key sectorssuch as wellness care. president Nawrocki signals the request for a comprehensive improvement that takes into account both exile rights and needs and fundamental principles of social justice towards its own citizens.

Revolutionary changes: President's fresh proposals on the table

In consequence to the veto law and in the face of the impending expiry date of the current government (end of September), president Nawrocki announced the preparation of his own comprehensive bill. He presented key assumptions to fundamentally change the approach to Ukrainian citizens in Poland. These proposals affect both social and long-term migration and historical aspects.

The main points of the presidential task are:

• Dependence on the payment of the benefit 800 Plus on taking up employment by Ukrainian citizens: This is simply a repetition of the main argument for veto, aimed at encouraging professional integration and reducing social burdens. Only active refugees would be entitled to this support, which is to advance independency and contribute to the improvement of the Polish economy.
• Extension of the period required to get Polish citizenship from 3 to 10 years: This is 1 of the most crucial changes, which aims to guarantee that Polish citizenship is granted to people who are actually integrated into Polish society and culture. "Polish citizenship is an honor, as well as a responsibility," stressed the President, signaling that it will require a longer process of adaptation and proof of strong ties with Poland.
• Increase of penalties for illegally crossing the border to 5 years in prison: This proposal aims to strengthen the protection of the Polish border and increase the effectiveness of the fight against illegal immigration. This is simply a consequence to the challenges of State safety and control of the movement of persons, which is peculiarly crucial in the context of a geopolitical instability.
• Writing “stop flagism” into the right and aligning flag symbolism with Nazi and Communist: This is an highly crucial and symbolic point that refers to the painful Polish-Ukrainian history. president Nawrocki strives to unequivocally condemn the flag ideology, recognizing its symbols as equivalent to totalitarian Nazi and Communist symbols. This is aimed at protecting Polish historical memory and ensuring that there is no place in Poland to advance ideology that led to crimes against humanity.

These proposals, if adopted, will have far-reaching consequences for the future of Polish-Ukrainian relations and for the position of Ukrainian citizens residing in Poland. president Nawrocki clearly signals that the precedence is building "fair Polish-Ukrainian relations" based on common respect and historical understanding.

What does this mean for citizens of Ukraine and Poland?

The decisions of president Nawrocki and his announcements of the fresh regulations consequence in extended repercussions for both Ukrainian citizens residing in Poland and for Polish society. For Ukrainians this means primarily End of unconditional social support period and the request to work in Poland to benefit from the 800 Plus programme. This is besides a signal that the integration process will require greater commitment and longer time, especially in the context of citizenship.

On the another hand, for Poles, fresh regulations are intended to bring a sense of justice and equality. president Nawrocki responds to concerns about budgetary burden and preferential treatment, trying to balance refugees' needs with their own citizens' capabilities and expectations. Strengthening border control and a clear stance towards flagism are besides elements that are to build social trust and a sense of security.

The head of the President's Cabinet, Paweł Chiefernaker, reported that the current regulations expire at the end of September, which gives urgency to the work on the fresh project. He expressed hope that presidential bill will be adopted by Parliament before that dateto avoid a legal gap and guarantee a smooth transition to fresh regulations. Future weeks will be crucial for the destiny of these proposals and the improvement of migration and social policy in Poland for the coming years.

These changes not only redefine the rules of residence and support for Ukrainian citizens, but besides send clear signal about priorities of the Polish state: protection of national interests, social justice and care for common historical memory. This is simply a step towards building more sustainable and liable global relations, based on common respect and clear principles.