Nawrocki, a conservative backed by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, was sworn in on August 6, 2025. He has frequently clashed with Tusk’s centrist coalition government during his first year as president.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Prime Minister's Office in Warsaw, Tusk said Nawrocki’s first year would be associated with his veto of legislation enabling Poland to access European Union defense loans, his pardon of a prominent soccer ultra and his rejection of legal protections for unmarried couples.
Tusk said he remained in contact with Nawrocki, although the conversations were "always at my initiative."
The prime minister said he last contacted the president after an armed missile, believed to be a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, entered Polish airspace and crashed near Tarnawa-Kolonia in the eastern Lublin province last week.
Tusk said he proposed a meeting with senior generals to discuss rapidly improving Poland's defenses against drones and missiles.
He linked the incident to Nawrocki’s veto of legislation governing Poland’s use of almost EUR 44 billion in loans under the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program.
The program provides long-term loans for joint defense purchases, including missile defense and counter-drone systems.
Tusk also described Nawrocki’s pardon of Piotr "Staruch" Staruchowicz, one of the leaders of Legia Warsaw’s organized supporters, as "controversial."
Staruchowicz called into an online interview with Nawrocki in December and asked whether “Santa Claus” would bring him a pardon. Nawrocki replied that he would begin reviewing pardon applications early in the new year.
The president has not publicly explained Monday’s decision. His spokesman, Rafał Leśkiewicz, said Nawrocki had exercised a power granted by the constitution.
"Keep your hands off the president’s prerogatives," Leśkiewicz told government critics.
Tusk also criticized Nawrocki for vetoing a law that would have allowed two adults to register a cohabitation agreement before a notary. The agreement would have regulated property, maintenance payments, housing rights, access to medical information and funeral arrangements.
Nawrocki said he could not accept legislation that could weaken the special constitutional status of marriage as a union between a woman and a man. Tusk described the proposed law as a "very moderate solution."
The prime minister further accused Nawrocki of continuing the judicial policies of his predecessor, Andrzej Duda. The dispute concerns changes introduced under the previous PiS government that critics say weakened judicial independence and the rule of law.
Tusk said Nawrocki was determined to entrench what he called "a flawed and harmful model" of the justice system.
He also argued that Nawrocki’s growing political influence was weakening PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński's position among Poland's conservative voters.
"On the right, the heavyweight is President Nawrocki," Tusk said, adding that Kaczyński had "no chance" in a rivalry with the president.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP