Polish parliament pushes vetoed partnership law back to Sejm for vote

At a Friday meeting, Paweł Szefernaker, head of the president’s office, justified the presidential veto by citing constitutional doubts, particularly article 18’s safeguard of marriage. He said the president will not accept measures that create an alternative to marriage or equal its legal effects, pointing to concerns over joint property, tax filing, tax reliefs and the near-200 statutes that would equate a close partner’s rights with those of a spouse.

The extraordinary committee nonetheless voted 10 in favor and one against to pass the bill again. Advisor Barbara Socha argued the draft would grant marriage-like privileges without imposing duties such as alimony, potentially eroding the institution at a time of demographic decline. Government equality representative Katarzyna Kotula posted that the law is returning to the Sejm, where lawmakers will attempt to reject the veto, and highlighted that more than 55% of Poles view the president’s move negatively.