Polish president vetoes cohabitation bill

On Friday, Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed two bills that would have established cohabitation agreements for couples. These legislative proposals were designed to allow two adults to formalize aspects of their relationship, including joint property rights, access to medical information, and funeral arrangements. The bills had garnered support across Prime Minister Donald Tusk's governing coalition, including from the conservative Polish People's Party. President Nawrocki, an ally of the nationalist Law and Justice party, rejected the measures on the grounds that they create a formal institution too similar to marriage. He cited Article 18 of the Polish Constitution, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, to justify his decision. The move complicates the reform agenda of Prime Minister Tusk, who took office in 2023 with promises to improve rights for LGBT individuals. Currently, Poland remains one of the few countries in the European Union with limited legal recognition for same-sex couples. This veto effectively halts the attempt to introduce these civil rights reforms at this time.