Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki has signed legislation targeting excess profits made by fuel companies, but he has simultaneously demanded that the government take immediate action to lower prices at petrol stations. In a televised address on Thursday, he criticised the current administration for turning citizens into “political hostages” and blamed the cabinet for surging living costs across the country.
According to Polsat News, the president announced his decision to sign the bill while warning that full responsibility for fuel pricing rests with the government. He challenged ministers to deliver on election pledges that promised petrol at 5.19 złoty per litre, a stark contrast to the current reality where unleaded fuel exceeds eight złoty and diesel surpasses nine.
Nawrocki reminded viewers of campaign promises made by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who had argued that a simple VAT reduction would bring down prices. “Everyone remembers those campaign promises: ‘Just elect us and petrol will cost 5.19’,” the president said. He accused the government of failing to act on its own proposals and of shifting blame between institutions in what he described as a “political spectacle”.
President sets conditions for fuel relief
In his address, Nawrocki laid out concrete expectations. He demanded that price reductions at the pump begin at once and reach the levels promised during the election. “Not in a month, not after another political row, not in a week or two. Fuel must be cheaper now,” he stated. He also insisted that all revenue generated by the new tax on fuel companies be directed exclusively towards lowering prices for consumers.
The president argued that the government could already have reduced prices without new legislation, citing temporary cuts implemented in August and earlier in the spring. He claimed that higher fuel costs translate into greater VAT receipts for the state budget and increased profits for Orlen, Poland’s state-controlled energy giant, implying that financial motives were behind the government’s reluctance to act swiftly.
Nawrocki also drew attention to the impact on farmers, who he said face an especially heavy burden from expensive diesel. He called for the refund scheme for agricultural fuel to be restored to a level that makes production economically viable.
Constitutional challenge and wider economic concerns
Despite signing the bill, Nawrocki announced that he would refer the legislation to the Constitutional Tribunal, Trybunał Konstytucyjny, for post-legislative review. He maintained that he had constitutional concerns but chose not to block the law outright in order to end the political standoff over fuel pricing.
The president also called on the Sejm, Poland’s lower house of parliament, to begin work on his own draft fuel bill. That proposal aims to cap margins charged by fuel companies and, according to Nawrocki, would cut the price per litre by more than two złoty. He accused the Speaker of the Sejm of freezing his project.
Nawrocki’s speech extended beyond fuel to address Poland’s public finances. He warned that the country is approaching a “financial wall” and claimed that the budget deficit exceeded 150 billion złoty by the end of August. He predicted that the current administration would increase national debt by over a trillion złoty during its four-year term, equivalent to more than 26,000 złoty for every Polish citizen, including newborns.
He cautioned that deteriorating public finances could jeopardise future spending on defence and pensions, and suggested that the government is preparing a series of tax rises to cover shortfalls. Nawrocki vowed to reject any measures that would pass the cost of fiscal mismanagement onto ordinary people.
What this means for Poles in Poland
For drivers and households in Poland, the signing of the fuel profits law opens the door to potential price relief, but the timing and scale remain uncertain. President Nawrocki’s public demands place political pressure on the government to act quickly, yet no automatic mechanism guarantees an immediate drop at the pump. Consumers should monitor announcements from the Ministry of Finance and watch for changes at major fuel retailers, particularly Orlen stations.
Farmers should pay close attention to any updates on the agricultural fuel refund scheme, which the president has urged be restored. Those eligible for rebates should check with the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture, ARiMR, for the latest guidance on claims.
The referral to the Constitutional Tribunal means that even if prices do fall, legal uncertainty will linger. A negative ruling could force the government to rework its approach. Meanwhile, warnings about rising public debt and possible new taxes signal that fiscal pressures may affect other areas of public spending in the months ahead, from healthcare to infrastructure projects.
