NEWSLETTER
From Poland with Love. February
Topic of the Month
Veto, Veto, Veto
President Karol Nawrocki has exercised his veto against a key piece of judicial reform legislation, deepening a confrontation with the ruling coalition and raising fresh questions about the future of legal order reforms. The legislation, passed by the Sejm and intended to reshape the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), proposed that all judges across Poland elect the Council’s judicial members in direct and secret ballots. The government argued the change would reduce political influence on judicial appointments, a central point of its rule-of-law agenda.
Nawrocki rejected the bill, saying it would not fulfil the constitutional duty of safeguarding judicial independence and might instead introduce “a new stage of chaos” by dividing judges and exposing the justice system to political pressure. He maintained that the amendments could undermine legal stability and the status of existing judgments.
The president’s decision has drawn strong rebuke from minister Waldemar Żurek, who described the move as deeply damaging to efforts to stabilise the judiciary. Żurek accused Nawrocki of ignoring dialogue during the bill’s preparation and dismissed the draft as a “strange construct,” asserting that it could leave the justice system in worse condition than under previous reform efforts. In stark terms, the minister said the president’s approach was “worse than what former Minister Zbigniew Ziobro devised,” and warned that without significant changes Poland might have to contemplate withdrawing from the European Union to implement such provisions.
According to Żurek, the veto will prolong delays in court proceedings and further entrench uncertainty in the system. He insisted that the original reform was constitutional and necessary to return the judiciary to proper functioning, with the government prepared to pursue alternative paths — including a “plan B” to continue restoring constitutional bodies.
On the same day as the veto, President Nawrocki submitted his own legislative proposal aimed at “restoring the right to a court and ensuring the prompt handling of cases without undue delay.” In announcing the proposal, Nawrocki emphasised the need to confront what he sees as a deteriorating judicial system, signalling his intent to anchor reforms in stability rather than procedural overhaul. He warned that if political dialogue on his project fails, he may call for a national referendum to let citizens decide on restoring normal court functioning.
Critics argue that what Nawrocki presents as a corrective legislative initiative risks becoming another form of a gag-la) package that weakens judicial independence rather than strengthening it. The draft crosses a dangerous line by not only restructuring judicial governance but also proposing criminal penalties of up to 10 years in prison for judges and court officials who are deemed to have violated its broadly defined provisions. Opponents say this aspect of the bill is especially troubling because it could criminalise ordinary judicial decision-making and give political authorities excessive leverage over the judiciary.
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Nawrocki sparked wide political debate after vetoing two other major bills: legislation regulating the cryptocurrency market and a bill granting Silesian the status of a regional language. Supporters praised Nawrocki for defending legal clarity and long-term stability, while critics accused him of stalling modernization and ignoring social realities.
The second veto of the crypto bill was justified by concerns over excessive regulation, potential harm to innovation, and insufficient consultation with the fintech sector. According to the presidential argument, the proposed rules risked pushing startups and investors out of Poland while failing to strike a balance between oversight and growth. Opponents of the veto countered that the law was necessary to protect consumers, reduce fraud, and align Poland with broader European standards, warning that regulatory uncertainty could ultimately do more damage than regulation itself. They also stress Nawrocki’s links with crypto business and remind how the latter sponsored Polish far and alt right parties.
Even more emotionally charged was the veto of the Silesian language bill. The President questioned whether Silesian could be legally defined as a separate regional language and warned against decisions that might undermine linguistic cohesion. For many in Upper Silesia, however, the veto was seen as a rejection of regional identity and decades of cultural advocacy. The move triggered protests and renewed debate over decentralization, minority rights, and the limits of cultural recognition within the Polish state—ensuring that both vetoes will remain reference points in discussions about the direction of Poland’s political and social development.
Security
Spy in the MoD
Polish authorities have detained a long-serving employee of the Ministry of Defence on suspicion of collaborating with foreign intelligence services, in one of the most high-profile counterintelligence cases in recent years. On 3 February, military counterintelligence officers arrested the 60-year-old official at his workplace in Warsaw, charging him with espionage under Polish law.
According to official statements and media reporting, the suspect had worked for the ministry since the 1990s and was employed in central departments, including strategy and defence planning. Investigators allege that he passed sensitive information to operatives from one or more “eastern” intelligence services — with initial reports indicating links to Russian and Belarusian agencies. Prosecutors say evidence was collected over many months, documenting a pattern of cooperation.
Head of the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW) told reporters that the suspect’s access to defence planning data posed a serious risk to national security and justified swift detention and search operations at both his office and residence. Details of the evidence and the specific information allegedly passed remain under investigation, and authorities have not publicly named the detained individual.
The detainee has been remanded in custody pending further legal proceedings; if convicted under the Polish Penal Code provisions on espionage, he could face significant prison terms.
Politics
Clash With the US Ambassador Boosts Czarzasty
A diplomatic dispute erupted after Włodzimierz Czarzasty, Speaker of the Sejm and co-leader of the Left, clashed publicly with Thomas Rose, the United States ambassador to Poland. The conflict followed Rose’s sharp reaction to Czarzasty’s refusal to support Donal Trump’s nomination to the Peace Nobel Prize, after which the ambassador announced he was cutting off official contacts with the Speaker. The move communicated via social media was widely described as highly undiplomatic and without precedent in Polish-American relations.
The controversy deepened when Rose repeatedly refused to explain what, precisely, Czarzasty had said that allegedly offended Trump. In interviews and public statements, the ambassador declined to provide quotations or concrete examples, insisting only that the remarks were unacceptable. According to opinion polls cited by Polish media, a vast majority of respondents believe the ambassador should clearly explain his accusations, while another poll shows that a majority of Poles side with Czarzasty in the dispute, viewing the ambassador’s behavior as an overreach into Poland’s domestic politics.
Reactions from Polish parties were unusually broad and cross-cutting. Politicians from the ruling Civic Coalition urged de-escalation but stressed that Poland’s parliamentary speaker cannot be singled out or informally ostracized by a foreign envoy. Even far right Confederation figures criticized Rose’s tone, arguing that alliances do not justify public pressure on elected officials. Only PiS politicians defended the ambassador outright.
For Czarzasty and the Left, the episode has unexpectedly turned into a political asset. Party strategists openly argue that standing firm against what they frame as unjustified foreign pressure strengthens Czarzasty’s image as a decisive and sovereign-minded leader. With the 2027 parliamentary elections on the horizon, the Left intends to use the conflict to build a stronger, more assertive profile for Czarzasty—one that appeals not only to left-wing voters but also to a broader electorate sensitive to issues of national autonomy and political respect.
The Split of Poland 2050
The split of Poland 2050 was the culmination of a long internal crisis that began with the resignation of its founder and long-time leader, Szymon Hołownia. His departure after a defeat in presidential elections and end of his term as a Speaker of the Sejm opened a power vacuum that the movement struggled to manage.
The elections that followed were exceptionally tough for Poland 2050. Although the party maintained parliamentary representation, the campaign exposed deep strategic and personal divisions. These tensions escalated dramatically after a scandal surrounding the second round of internal voting to confirm the new leadership. Allegations of procedural irregularities, unclear rules, and last-minute changes to voting eligibility undermined trust in the process and polarized the party.
After weeks of dispute, the final decision was pushed through by the party membership, confirming close ally of the funder and EU Funds Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz as the new leader. Climate Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska came second, with support of all remaining candidates from the first round, and almost half of the members’ votes. While Pełczyńska-Nałęcz’s supporters argued that she represented continuity with a more technocratic, pro-state vision of Poland 2050, critics claimed that the decision means a significant shift to the left and dictatorship.
One of the most controversial moments of Pełczyńska-Nałęcz’s early leadership was the adoption of the so-called “gag resolution”, which restricted personal changes in the party until late March. Officially to stop fights and prevent further divisions, but internal opposition claimed it was to silence criticism and unable necessary audits. This move was widely seen as a break with the movement’s original promise of openness and transparency. Accusations swiftly followed, particularly against the group’s leader, Paweł Śliz, a close ally of Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, for allegedly violating party statutes. His deputy, Bartosz Romowicz, also came under scrutiny for failing to inform party colleagues of his prior defamation conviction.
The backlash triggered a wave of departures. Prominent figures, including ex-chairman and MEP Michał Kobosko (Renew), left the party, citing the abandonment of founding values and the concentration of power at the top. Out of this rupture emerged a new parliamentary group, Center (Centrum). Presenting itself as a liberal alternative free from internal authoritarianism, Center aimed to attract voters disillusioned both with the old establishment and with what they saw as Poland 2050’s failed experiment in “new politics.”
As a result, there are currently two caucuses in the Sejm, composed of MPs and senators who entered parliament on Hołownia's back. Both are so small that the departure of individual members would mean the loss of their caucus status and the associated rights. Poland 2050 appears more united – this is where the MPs loyal to Hołownia, all new to politics, remain – and has a unified program thanks to Pełczyńska-Nałęcz's clear progressive-leftist postulates. Although the Center advocates for a more liberal agenda, it has united MPs with varying social sensibilities, with political experience in other parties, and who share a common aversion to the new leader of their parent party.
What does the split mean for the stability of the government? Many commentators point to the current situation as favoring Tusk. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, who until now was the minister most critical of the government from within, has weakened her position within the coalition and lost hope of securing the deputy prime ministership. There is talk that she may be forced to form an electoral coalition with the Left to maintain any parliamentary representation for Poland 2050. The Hennig-Kloska’s group is composed of supporters of close cooperation with the Civic Coalition, who may want to run on its lists in 2027.
Task Force to Examine Epstein Links
The Polish government has set up a special task force to examine whether newly released materials related to Jeffrey Epstein contain any Polish connections or indications of foreign intelligence involvement.
The move follows the publication of millions of pages of U.S. Justice Department documents linked to Epstein’s network. Polish authorities say the task force will analyse whether Polish citizens, institutions or territory appear in the files and assess if any crimes — including human trafficking or sexual exploitation — may have involved Poland. "Pedophilia is a crime against humanity, especially on the scale of Epstein," Tusk wrote in English at X. "The place of those involved, regardless of who they are, is in prison, and in the long run, in hell," the Polish prime minister added, emphasizing that "there is no room for compromise" on the matter.
Tusk has also ordered officials to examine claims that Epstein’s circle may have been used for Russian intelligence operations, including potential “honey-trap” tactics. The investigation will involve cooperation between prosecutors, police and security services and could expand into formal criminal proceedings if credible evidence emerges.
Officials stress that the review is preliminary and does not imply wrongdoing, but say a thorough examination is necessary for both justice and national security.
The most prominent Polish name to appear in the released documents so far is undoubtedly former tennis player Wojciech Fibak. Fibak insists that his meeting in Paris "did not take place" and that he "did not maintain any contact" with Epstein. Several women with Polish surnames appear in the released documents. The released emails also indicate that Jeffrey Epstein ordered a motorboat from a Polish company.
Empire Strikes Back
In a surprising development on two far-right political groups in Poland, New Hope (Nowa Nadzieja) and Empire Strikes Back (Imperium Kontratakuje), agreed to merge in a bid to secure their future ahead of the next parliamentary elections.
Nowa Nadzieja, led by prominent libertarian far-right figure Sławomir Mentzen, has been a key component of the Confederation alliance in the Polish parliament. However, the party faced a legal threat after failing to submit its financial report for 2024 on time, prompting the National Electoral Commission to seek its removal from the official registry of political parties.
To counter this risk, close associates of Mentzen had earlier registered a new formation, Empire Strikes Back, with the backing of Confederation figures. At a closed-doors congress in Warsaw, Nowa Nadzieja’s delegates voted to incorporate their party into the Empire Strikes Back structure. The plan is for Empire Strikes Back to then change its name back to New Hope, effectively creating a “new” party that bypasses the deregistration threat while preserving the brand and leadership of the original organization.
Party leaders argue this maneuver is a legal contingency designed to allow continued political activity regardless of the outcome of the pending legal challenge. Critics, however, see it as a sign of the loopholes in Poland’s party-law regime and an attempt to evade accountability for compliance failures.
What is more, it is believed that the New Hope will lose its state subsidies (even PLN 12 million) as it missed the deadline to submit party’s yearly financial report. Polish law is very strict on party’s accountability and transparency and such punishment would be imposed for even three years. Not to be deprived of state funding after 2027 elections, Mentzen might decide to register a brand new party next year to win stable funding for his political project for the next political circle.
International Affairs
FSB’s Allegations of Polish Involvement in Assassination Attempt
In a recent escalation of tensions between Moscow and Warsaw, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has publicly accused Polish intelligence services of involvement in an attempt on the life of a senior Russian military officer in Moscow. According to Russian state claims, the plot against Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy head of the GRU military intelligence, was backed by Ukrainian intelligence, with Polish intermediaries allegedly assisting in recruiting those involved. Moscow has presented no publicly verifiable evidence to support these assertions.
Polish officials reacted strongly to the accusations, dismissing them as unfounded and rooted in disinformation. Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister-Coordinator of Special Services, labelled the claims “absolutely baseless” and “typical Russian propaganda,” emphasising that Warsaw had no role in any such operation and highlighting years of Russian sabotage and hybrid threats against Poland and other European states. The head of Poland’s Military Counterintelligence Service, General Jarosław Stróżyk, echoed this view, describing the narratives circulating in Moscow as classic disinformation designed to serve internal political needs rather than reflect reality.
Beyond dismissals by Polish security officials, there has been no indication from Warsaw that any credible evidence exists linking Polish services to the shooting. Kyiv has also denied Ukrainian involvement, and independent analysts have questioned the plausibility of the Russian account of events.
Society
One of the Best Winter Olympics Results in the History
At the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the Polish team celebrated one of its most memorable performances in recent history — in large part thanks to a sensational showing from Kacper Tomasiak. Just 19 years old, Tomasiak emerged as Poland’s most successful medal winner at these Games, capturing three medals: silver on the individual normal hill, silver in the team event with Paweł Wąsek, and bronze on the large hill. His triple-medal haul helped Poland achieve four medals overall, one of the best Winter Olympics results in the history. Tomasiak’s rise from relative underdog to Olympic star captured the imagination of fans at home and abroad — even inspiring local tributes like a signature pizza in Predazzo to honor his triumphs.
Tomasiak’s performance is widely seen as a surprising and inspiring breakthrough for Polish ski jumping, for many years a winter national sport. Before these Olympics, many had questioned whether Poland could produce a new generation of jumpers following the retirement of past greats such as Adam Małysz. Tomasiak’s achievements have not only boosted Poland’s medal count but also renewed interest in the sport among younger athletes.
Alongside these celebratory moments, a more complex story emerged around another Polish medallist: Vladimir Semirunniy, a Russia-born speed skater who won silver for Poland in the 10 000 m race. Semirunniy, originally from Yekaterinburg, left Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, eventually gaining Polish citizenship in 2025 and qualifying for the 2026 Games. His success was applauded by many Polish fans, including Prime Minister Donal Tusk, as a symbol of international mobility and the welcoming nature of Polish sport.
However, not everyone embraced this story without reservation. Prominent Ukrainian community groups in Poland criticised the celebration of Semirunniy’s achievement, arguing that his Russian background and earlier representation of Russia should not be overlooked. Organisations such as Euromaidan Warszawa emphasised that sporting achievements cannot be separated entirely from broader historical and political realities, noting Semirunniy’s earlier visits to territories occupied by Russia and his competition under the Russian flag before leaving the country.
Polish media also relied on the story that an inconspicuous photo of President Karol Nawrocki and Olympians could have serious consequences for the Polish representatives. This was due to the president's violation of the infamous Rule No. 40 of the Olympic Charter, which protects the commercial rights of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The president wore a t-shirt and cap with the Nowrocky logo, which was later used in promotional materials of the company. According to IOC regulations, this photo could have removed Olympians from the Games, which fortunately did not happen, but it fueled the debate about the Nowrocky brand.
Sport fashionare with the red and white Nowrocky (this is how Donald Trump pronounced the name of the Polish president) logo have been available for sale online for several months by a private company that widely advertises with the president's image. It later emerged that the president’s sister, Nina, was the individual who registered the brand with the patent office.
And Nawrocki himself regularly appears in public wearing their clothing. On its Facebook page, the company publishes photos taken by photographers from the Chancellery of the President, who are therefore paid with public money. The president is accused of promoting a private company, which is unworthy of the dignity of the office and raises serious legal questions. In response, Nawrocki ironically asked whether critics believed he should go naked, emphasizing that no one would decide what the president of Poland should wear.
Economy
FedEx Buys InPost in €7.8 bn Deal
A consortium of investors led by FedEx and private equity group Advent International has agreed a conditional deal to acquire all outstanding shares of the Polish-founded parcel locker and logistics firm InPost in a €7.8 billion transaction.
Under the agreement, shareholders will be offered €15.60 per share in cash, a significant premium to recent trading levels on the Amsterdam stock exchange where InPost is listed. After completion, FedEx and Advent would each hold about 37% of the company, with founder and CEO Rafał Brzoska retaining a stake through his investment vehicle A&R (ca. 16 %) and Czech group PPF keeping around 10%.
InPost is best known for its network of automated parcel lockers and pick-up/drop-off points that support e-commerce deliveries in Poland and across Western Europe. The company has expanded into markets including the UK, France, Spain, Italy and the Benelux region, becoming a significant player in “out-of-home” delivery infrastructure.
According to the consortium’s statement, InPost will retain its operational independence, brand and headquarters in Poland, with Brzoska continuing as CEO. The investors say the backing will allow the firm to accelerate its international expansion, deepen partnerships, and take advantage of rising online shopping and consumer demand for flexible delivery options.
There are growing reports that InPost founder and CEO Rafał Brzoska intends to enter politics. There's talk of forming a new party focused on entrepreneurship and deregulation. Some suggest he might use the newly formed Centrum parliamentary group as a platform for a new party. However, others express skepticism about this approach, suggesting that Brzoska prefers to support various parties, including the Civic Coalition (KO) and the Polish People's Party (PSL), and intends to pursue his potential political ambitions in the presidential election.
Poland & Germany
Poland, Germany and France Push for High-Speed Rail Link
Poland, Germany and France have agreed to deepen cooperation on cross-border rail infrastructure, backing plans to develop a high-speed rail corridor running from Warsaw through Berlin to Paris. The initiative was formalised in a joint declaration signed in Warsaw by transport ministers as part of the revived Weimar Triangle format, aimed at integrating rail networks and fast-tracking European connectivity.
The partners - including national rail operators PKP Group, Deutsche Bahn and SNCF - will coordinate investment planning, harmonise technical standards and jointly lobby for funding within the EU’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) framework for what could become a roughly 1 600-kilometre high-speed line linking the three capitals.
Initial efforts will boost capacity and shorten travel times on existing routes such as Warsaw–Berlin and branch connections via Kraków and Gdańsk to Germany, while a joint engineering task force will prepare a pre-feasibility study for the new dedicated high-speed corridor by the end of 2026.
Polls & Trends
Party Support
United Surveys for wp.pl, 20-21.02.2026
Civic Coalition 30,7%
PiS 21,5%
Confederation 13,2%
Crown 10%
Left 7,5%
PSL 5%
Together 2,5%
Poland 2050 1%