Polish Parliament Approves Civil Unions Bill, but President Promises Veto

On Friday, May 29, 2026, the lower house of the Polish parliament (Sejm) passed a bill allowing both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to enter into civil unions. This marks the first time in the country’s history that lawmakers have approved such legislation. However, the law risks not coming into force, as Polish President Karol Nawrocki has already promised to veto it. This was reported by Notes from Poland and the French newspaper Le Monde .

The document, officially titled the “Act on the Status of the Closest Person,” allows two adults to sign an agreement before a notary and then register it at the Civil Registry Office (USC). Partners will gain rights to joint property ownership, joint taxation, inheritance, access to each other’s medical information, and survivor’s pensions. However, the law does not include provisions for the adoption or joint raising of children.

Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty called the passage of the bill a historic event, remarking, “The impossible has happened.” The initiative was authored by the Minister of Equality, Katarzyna Kotula.

Despite parliamentary support, the future of the law remains uncertain. President Karol Nawrocki, who is aligned with the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, stated that he would block the document. He argued that it is his duty to defend the Polish Constitution, which defines marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman. Nawrocki emphasized that he would not sign a law that creates an “alternative to marriage.”

The vote in the Sejm took place against the backdrop of other significant changes in Polish legislation. A week earlier, on May 22, the Polish government ordered the official recognition of same-sex marriages contracted by its citizens in other European Union member states. This decision was made to comply with rulings from the Court of Justice of the EU and Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court. Nevertheless, recognizing foreign marriages only resolves certain administrative issues and does not grant couples full marital rights within Poland itself.