EU Polish President Blocks Benefits for Ukrainian Refugees

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Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki made waves by vetoing a bill aiming to extend benefits for Ukrainian refugees. Nawrocki, newly in office, insisted only Ukrainians in employment should receive child benefits, aligning with his campaign to tighten welfare amidst rising anti-Ukrainian sentiment.

 

Nawrocki vetoed the proposal that would have continued current aid until 2026, with payments set to end this September. Around one million Ukrainian refugees, mostly women and children, have settled in Poland since 2022.

 

Critics, like Prime Minister Donald Tusk, slammed the veto, emphasising that such actions harm children. The child benefit amounts to 800 złoty (roughly 7,056 Thai baht) monthly.

 

Nawrocki's office stated he opposed unequal treatment for foreign citizens, opting instead to propose his legal measures. This decision has sparked a political face-off; the government can veto presidential proposals and vice versa, creating a legislative stalemate, reported The Guardian.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski highlighted another potential risk – the funding for Starlink internet in Ukraine could be affected unless parliament passes Nawrocki’s proposals.

 

Poland was initially very welcoming to Ukrainian refugees, but anti-Ukrainian sentiment has grown despite evidence that Ukrainians benefit Poland's economy.

 

Historical tensions exacerbate feelings, with disputes over Ukraine’s wartime nationalist movement adding friction. Nawrocki plans to amend the criminal code to classify the promotion of Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera as equivalent to advocating for banned ideologies such as Nazism.

 

Ambassador Bartosz Cichocki notes that, following the initial solidarity, some backlash from society was inevitable. He remains hopeful for a balanced response in the future.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Guardian 2025-08-26

 

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