Poland's president opposes creation of alternatives to traditional marriage

Karol Nawrocki. Photo: Czarek Sokolowski

President Poland Karol Nawrocki will not support initiatives that could create a legal "alternative to marriage". This was stated by the head of the President's Office, Pawel Szefernaker, commenting on the government bill on the status of a "closest person".

In a post on the X platform, Szefernaker highlighted that President Nawrocki "presented a clear view regarding the regulation of the status of a 'closest person' during the election campaign ." He emphasized: "Marriage and family are under the protection and care of the Republic of Poland — and this forms the foundation for the discussion on the draft law concerning the status of a closest person. The President will not agree to the creation of an alternative to marriage through new legal measures by granting the institution of a “closest person” features that in Poland belong exclusively to marriage. This must be taken into account by the authors and promoters of the bill."

Thus, the head of state actually made it clear that he will not support the bill in a form that at least partially equates partnership relations to marriage.

Earlier, the Polish Sejm had presented a government bill on the status of a "closest person". The document provides that two people running a joint household can sign a contract before a notary, which will grant them certain rights and obligations in relationships that are currently available to married couples.

Szefernaker's statement is based on Article 18 of the Polish Constitution, which states that "marriage as a union of a man and a woman, family, motherhood, and fatherhood are under the protection and care of the Republic of Poland."

Poland remains one of the few EU countries where same-sex marriages and civil partnerships are prohibited.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Poland established a Day of Remembrance for the victims of the genocide by the OUN and UPA.

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