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Polish president to unveil 'development strategy' within months

06.08.2026 23:55
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said on Thursday that he would unveil a "presidential development strategy" within several months, saying he hoped it would become a key reference point ahead of the next parliamentary election.
Audio
Polish President Karol Nawrocki.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki.Photo: Mikołaj Bujak/KPRP

Nawrocki made the announcement during a ceremony at the presidential palace in Warsaw marking the first anniversary of his inauguration.

In a speech summarizing his first year in office, he said the strategy had been prepared with the help of 17 presidential councils bringing together around 700 experts, mostly people not involved in politics.

"I deeply believe that the presidential development strategy, which will formally be presented within several months, will become a point of reference in the next parliamentary election for all those who aspire to govern the country and create a real plan for the future," Nawrocki said.

He described the strategy as an invitation to political groups "willing to work with the presidential office."

Nawrocki said he hoped the document would help identify "patriotic forces" prepared for dialogue with the president and a future prime minister to ensure that Poland develops, remains secure and experiences fewer political conflicts.

"I will remain your voice," Nawrocki told supporters gathered outside the presidential palace, adding that he had "no intention of changing course" from the one he took during his presidential campaign.

'There is not even a trace of fatigue in me'

"The first year of my presidency was a year of hard work, but there is not even a trace of fatigue in me," he said. “I still have a lot of energy for the next four years."

The president said that during his first year in office he submitted 22 legislative initiatives, 21 of which were still awaiting action in parliament.

He criticized parliamentary leaders for blocking his proposal aimed at reducing electricity prices by 33 percent.

Nawrocki said he had submitted an average of two legislative initiatives per month since taking office, arguing that the president’s role should extend beyond reviewing legislation passed by parliament.

"The president is also there to come forward with legislative initiatives and carry your voice and your demands," he said.

He added that he had already decided to sign four more bills and would do so on Friday.

Nawrocki also defended his record on legislation, saying that by Friday the number of signed and vetoed bills would total 300 — 259 signed and 41 vetoed.

"Those 259 signed bills show that wherever I can find even a small measure of compromise, wherever I can see that this law is written for Poles and will serve Poles, even if I have some reservations, I will always sign it," he said.

The president also criticized the upper house's rejection of his proposal to hold a nationwide referendum on EU climate policy and the European Green Deal.

He said the decision showed that ruling coalition politicians were "ignoring voters’ concerns about energy costs."

The upper house rejected the referendum proposal on Wednesday, the second such request from Nawrocki to be turned down.

Nawrocki also addressed foreign policy, including relations with Ukraine, saying Poland's strategic interest was for Ukraine and its military to contain Russia as far from Poland as possible.

"It is in Poland’s interest that Ukraine and Ukrainian soldiers do as well as possible against the post-Soviet Russian Federation and keep them as far away from Poland as possible," he said.

At the same time, he argued that Poland’s support for Ukraine should be based on its own national interests.

"We will help Ukraine, but always saying: Poland comes first, Poles come first," Nawrocki said. "We must analyze everything and approach it with dignity, partnership and allied understanding."

He also said Poland should not see Ukrainian nationalist symbols associated with the World War II-era Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (UPA) displayed in the country.

'Fort Trump'

Nawrocki highlighted relations with the United States and President Donald Trump, saying efforts had created a "highway" toward establishing a permanent US military presence in Poland.

"Now everything is on the government's side, which I support wherever I can," he said. "But we need to seriously get to work on building Fort Trump and securing a permanent US military presence in Poland."

Poland has long sought a large permanent US military presence on its soil. American troops currently serve in Poland mainly on a rotational basis.

Nawrocki also praised Poland’s role in NATO, saying recent diplomatic efforts had secured allied unity and commitments involving military infrastructure and fuel supply systems.

He said the prospect of a permanent US military presence in Poland, the release of Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut from prison and an invitation for Poland to join the G20 group of wealthy economies all represented concrete achievements.

Nawrocki was sworn in as Poland’s president on August 6, 2025, succeeding Andrzej Duda.

Poland’s president can veto legislation, appoint judges and ambassadors, and influence defence and foreign policy.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP

Click on the audio player above for a report by Piotr Urbaniak