On 13 March, the Parliament approved legislation allowing the government to temporarily suspend the right to asylum for up to 60 days at the border with Belarus. The government justified the legislation, arguing that Belarusian authorities are deliberately encouraging migrants to cross the border to destabilise Poland. The suspension period could potentially be renewed indefinitely with parliamentary approval. The law includes exceptions for vulnerable individuals such as unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, and people with special healthcare needs. There has been vocal resistance from civil society, and a network of Polish and European NGOs jointly expressed alarm at the plans in January 2025. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concerns over violations of international law, stressing that the non-refoulement obligation applies even in the context of the “so-called ‘weaponization’ of migrants and refugees.” The law was signed by President Andrzej Duda on 26 March. 

Sources: ReliefWeb, UNHCR, Notes from Poland, International IDEA, Sejm, Euronews 

On 4 March, the Supreme Court adopted a resolution simplifying the procedure for changing gender identification in official documents and lifting family litigation requirements. In the absence of a legal procedure to legally change one’s gender, a practice requiring transgender people to sue their parents or legal guardians to achieve this purpose (even as an adult) had developed. The process was often lengthy, costly and traumatic, particularly when parents were unsupportive. The Supreme Court ruled that this can now be accomplished through non-contentious legal action, and that parents should not be treated as parties with a legal interest in gender recognition cases. The resolution was welcomed by civil society, including the Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH), which called it a step in the right direction, while calling for legislation to provide greater legal certainty for gender recognition.

Sources: Notes from Poland (1), Notes from Poland (2),   Supreme Court, KPH, Fundacja Trans-Fuzja 

On 27 February, the Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw charged former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who currently serves as deputy leader of the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, with abuse of power over his attempt to organise a presidential election entirely by postal vote during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the previous PiS-led government scrapped plans to hold an election by postal vote following a dispute in the ruling coalition, after spending an estimated PLN 70 million (EUR 17 million). In the same year, an administrative court found Morawiecki had committed a “gross violation of the law”, undermining the authority of the National Electoral Commission as well as voters’ access to the ballot. The Prosecutor’s charges were brought following the recommendation of a parliamentary investigative commission established in 2023. Morawiecki, who claims the case is politically motivated, has waived his parliamentary immunity. The first trial or hearing dates are yet to be publicly announced. 

Sources: Euractiv, X, Notes from Poland (1), Notes from Poland (2), Notes from Poland (3), Balkan Insight, PAP 

On 12 December, prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party MP Marcin Romanowski, who fled to Hungary in December. He has been charged with participating in organized crime and abusing his power while serving as Deputy Justice Minister under the previous government. The opposition PiS party has claimed the charges are politically motivated, and Romanowski argues he would not receive a fair trial in Poland. Since coming to power in October 2023, the coalition government has pledged to hold former government officials accountable for alleged corruption and abuses of power. On 19 December, Hungary granted Romanowki political asylum after he fled Poland. On 23 December, Romanowski made several demands in a letter to the Polish Justice Minister as conditions for his return, including reversing key judicial reforms. Poland has threatened to challenge Hungary at the European Court of Justice if it fails to comply with the European arrest warrant system. As a next step, the Budapest Metropolitan Court will decide whether to extradite Romanowski to Poland.

Sources: Notes from Poland (1), Notes from Poland (2), Balkan Insight, Euronews, Polsat, Metropolitan Police

On 19 October, the government introduced a bill that would provide for the legal recognition of same-sex partnerships. The legislation would allow unmarried adults to register a partnership with the registry office, providing greater legal protections for healthcare and inheritance, among other rights. The bill is an important step in view of the restrictions the LGBTQIA+ community suffered in Poland under the previous government, and represents a significant step in the government’s commitment to improving the rights of Poland’s LGBTQIA+ citizens. The bill is currently open to public consultation and will undergo ministerial review as a next step, after which the bill needs to be approved by Parliament and signed into law by the President. In December 2023, a European Court of Human Rights ruling found that Poland’s failure to recognize same-sex partnerships violates human rights and required the government to provide adequate recognition of same-sex relationships. 

Sources: International IDEA, Notes from Poland, Legislacja, Reuters 

On 15 October, the government adopted a migration strategy for 2025-2030 that makes it possible to temporarily suspend the right to seek asylum in the event of a national security threat. The strategy cites “organised and controlled” migration from Belarus and Russia to justify the measure. The decision was opposed by local and international NGOs, who argued that it contravenes EU law and Poland’s obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention to uphold the fundamental right to seek asylum. The strategy also outlines reforms designed to strengthen the impartiality of consular officers issuing visas, addressing irregularities in the visa system that occurred under the previous government. Additionally, the strategy proposes new requirements for accessing the labour market, including making work permits contingent on an employment contract and increasing penalties for the illegal employment of foreign nationals. 

Sources: European Council on Refugees and Exiles, Government of Poland, International IDEA, Amnesty International, Notes from Poland, Onet, Euronews