DPA
Fri, February 20, 2026
Polish President Karol Nawrocki arrives for a meeting at Bellevue Palace during his inaugural visit to Germany. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed a law aimed at restoring the independence of the National Council of the Judiciary, which was promoted by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European government.
Poland's right-wing conservative President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed a law that seeks to restore the independence of the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) and is promoted by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European government.
In a video message posted on X on Thursday, Nawrocki said the law was unconstitutional, divided the judiciary and handed the administration of justice "into the hands of a political interest group."
The KRS is a body that nominates judges for vacant posts. Nawrocki, who is backed by the right-wing conservative Law and Justice party or PIS, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, introduced a reform in 2018 under which 15 of the council's 25 members were appointed by parliament.
Previously, the majority had been elected by judges. That step and other judicial reforms brought Poland into conflict with the European Commission
The European Court of Justice (ECJ), ruling on a complaint, criticized the KRS as a body that "had been substantially reshaped by the Polish executive and legislature" and said there were justified doubts about its independence.
With Nawrocki's veto, a central project of Tusk's government is at risk of failing. In office since late 2023, Prime Minister Tusk had promised both voters during the election campaign and the European Union to reverse PiS's judicial reforms.
Nawrocki, 42, said, when he took office, that he would pursue a confrontational course with Tusk's government.
In Poland, the president's veto can be overturned only by a majority of more than 60% of votes in parliament. But Tusk's centre-left alliance does not have that majority.
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