President Nawrocki files second referendum request on EU climate policy, sets 27 September vote

Second referendum attempt

President Karol Nawrocki announced on 23 July that he had submitted a second request to the Senate for a nationwide referendum on the European Union's climate policy, known as the Green Deal. Speaking at a meeting with residents of Dębica in south-eastern Poland, he said the new proposal came after the upper house rejected his first attempt in May. He was greeted by local government representatives, young people and members of rural housewives' associations.

Before leaving for Dębica, I submitted a second referendum request on the Green Deal.

New question and voting details

The proposed question is: "Are you for Poland implementing the European Union's climate policy?" The president's office said the ballot would include official explanations outlining the consequences of each answer. The tentative date for the vote is Sunday, 27 September 2026. For the referendum to be called, the Senate must approve it by an absolute majority with at least half of all senators present. The next Senate sitting is scheduled for 5–7 August.

First attempt rejected in May

Nawrocki's initial referendum proposal, submitted in May, asked a different question: "Are you for implementing a climate policy that has led to an increase in the cost of living for citizens, energy prices, and the conduct of business and agricultural activity?" The Senate rejected that request, with 32 senators in favour, 62 against and one abstention. Several Senate committees had earlier recommended against the referendum, arguing the question was loaded.

At the first attempt, the question was not acceptable. I seek compromises, I seek solutions. If the Senate did not like the question, we prepared a completely different, simple question in the Presidential Chancellery.

Political reactions and threats

Deputy leader of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party Przemysław Czarnek praised the president's move on social media, saying Nawrocki "did what millions of Poles have been demanding for months." Czarnek, who is also the party's candidate for prime minister, argued that the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) has been draining Polish families and businesses, costing the country tens of billions of zlotys annually in higher electricity, heating and product prices.

I congratulate this initiative. On such fundamental matters as climate policy, Poles should decide, not Brussels officials.

Czarnek went further, declaring that if the Senate again blocks the referendum, he will submit his own bill to "take Poland out of the ETS system." He said: "Enough of passively watching how ideological climate policy destroys the competitiveness of our economy and hits the wallets of Poles. It is time to say clearly: Poland's interest is more important than Brussels experiments."

Energy prices and frozen legislation

During his Dębica appearance, Nawrocki also vented frustration over what he described as the government's obstruction of his legislative agenda. He claimed that Sejm Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty has frozen 14 presidential bills, including a measure to lower energy prices submitted 250 days ago and a "PIT 0" proposal that would exempt families with at least two children from income tax up to 140,000 zlotys. "Everything is frozen," Nawrocki said.

He linked high energy costs directly to EU climate policy, stating that Polish businesses pay the highest electricity prices in the EU at 252 euros per megawatt-hour.

In Poland we pay the highest bills in the entire EU, 252 euros per megawatt-hour. What has the Green Deal policy led to? Across the EU we pay more for business electricity than anywhere in the world. That's 50 percent more than in China and India. How are enterprises supposed to develop?

The president insisted his "plan for Poland" was created by the will of his voters and would be implemented "sooner or later."