Poland's president vetoed two bills on Friday (July 17) that would have introduced "cohabitation contracts" for couples living together, dealing a blow to same-sex couples in one of the few European Union countries with limited rights for LGBT people.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk took office in 2023 pledging to deliver reforms on abortion and LGBT rights, but divisions within his broad pro-European coalition – as well as the veto powers of nationalist President Karol Nawrocki – mean he has struggled to do so.

The bills on the "status of the closest person in a relationship and the cohabitation agreement" would have allowed two adults to enter into an agreement regulating issues such as joint property rights, access to medical information and matters concerning burial.

The bills had secured support from across the governing coalition, including from the conservative PSL party which had refused to support earlier proposals which they feared would undermine the institution of marriage.

However, Nawrocki, an ally of the nationalist opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), said the bills still went too far.

"These proposals create a new, formalized institution of family law, equipped with a broad catalogue of rights similar to those of marriage," he said in a recorded statement.

"As the guardian of the Constitution, I cannot accept a solution that would lead to the loss of the special status of marriage, defined in Article 18 of the Constitution as a union of a man and a woman under the protection and care of the Republic of Poland."

Tusk responded angrily to Nawrocki's decision, saying on X: "The presidential veto is an expression of contempt for people and their right to happiness and a normal life."

The government would need a three-fifths majority – with at least half of lawmakers taking part in the vote – to overturn the veto, but with nationalist opposition parties opposed to the bills, this would be practically impossible to achieve.

LGBT rights activists were disappointed with the president's decision. Miko Czerwinski, director of Campaign Against Homophobia, said it was "a shame" that Nawrocki vetoed the bill.