Last updated on August 26th, 2026 at 10:24 am
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed legislation that would have granted legal recognition and marriage-like rights to unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, saying the measure threatened the constitutional status of marriage.
The bill, backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s governing coalition, would have allowed two adults to register a legal partnership and receive rights involving inheritance, property, medical information, and burial decisions.
Nawrocki argued that the proposal went beyond solving practical problems for unmarried couples and would effectively create an institution resembling marriage.
“As the guardian of the constitution, I cannot accept a solution that would lead to the loss of the special status of marriage,” Nawrocki said.
Poland’s constitution specifically defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The president also noted that registered partnerships would provide many benefits associated with marriage while carrying fewer obligations and being easier to dissolve.
The dispute comes amid increasing pressure on Poland over same-sex relationships from European institutions. Recent court decisions have also raised questions about Poland’s obligation to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere in the European Union.
Nawrocki’s veto reinforces his commitment to maintaining the traditional legal definition of marriage as Poland faces growing pressure to expand recognition of same-sex relationships.