Poland News in English, 16 October 2026
Short answer: On 15 October 2026 President Nawrocki vetoed three bills and signed eight, MSWiA drafted higher border funds rules, GUS showed population down 90,000 and the state opened a TVN review.
Thursday 15 October 2026 brought three presidential vetoes, a draft rule that would raise the money foreign visitors must show at the border, new population figures and a security review of the TVN takeover. This brief is based on the outlets and official sources named below, with dates.
President vetoes three bills, signs eight
President Karol Nawrocki announced on Thursday that he had signed eight laws and vetoed three, according to Super Express and Polish News. The vetoed bills concern changes to the electoral code, oversight of political advertising, and the implementation of European Court of Human Rights rulings. He signed laws on tax, energy and consumer protection.
The electoral code reform had passed the Sejm in September by 238 votes to 200, TVP World reports. It would have required the National Electoral Commission (PKW) to announce each year, by 30 November, how many of the 460 Sejm seats are elected in each of the 41 constituencies, using population data from the central voter register. It also cut the maximum size of a polling district from 4,000 to 3,000 residents. Nawrocki said rules cannot be changed "one year before parliamentary elections" and objected to shifting seats between constituencies by an official notice from the PKW. A veto can be overridden by a three-fifths majority in the Sejm. For now the current rules stay in place for the 2027 vote.
Draft rule: more money to show at the border
A draft regulation of the Interior Ministry (MSWiA) would raise the funds foreigners must prove when entering Poland, according to Bankier.pl and RMF24 on 15 October. Under the draft, a foreigner entering for up to four days would need at least 1,000 zloty, and 300 zloty for each planned day for longer stays. This is a draft, not law. Current rules offer exceptions for several groups, including holders of residence permits, so the draft figures should not be read as applying to everyone crossing the border. Check the final regulation if it is adopted.
Population falls by 90,000 in half a year
Statistics Poland (GUS) data reported by TVP World show Poland's population fell by 90,000 in the first half of 2026, to 37.24 million. About 115,000 babies were born against about 210,000 deaths. Around 9,900 people registered for permanent residence after moving from abroad, against 4,300 who reported leaving permanently. The Polish Economic Institute warned that the number of people working could shrink by 2.1 million by 2035.
Security review of TVN takeover
Poland has opened a national security review after being formally notified that TVN changed hands when Paramount Skydance completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, TVP World reports. The Ministry of State Assets has 90 days from the notification to complete its review. TVN is on Poland's list of strategic companies, which gives the state special powers to scrutinise takeovers.
Second nuclear plant and Brussels summit
Poland's energy ministry signed an agreement with PEJ and PGE on preparing the second nuclear plant, Notes from Poland reports. PEJ will be the investor and PGE will prepare feasibility studies and site analysis, with Bełchatów and Konin the preferred locations. A foreign partner is not expected to be chosen until next year. Construction is planned to begin in 2032.
Polish Radio reports that Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in Brussels for a two-day EU summit, will urge leaders to tighten sanctions on Russia and will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.
Security and politics
A Warsaw court ordered two months of pre-trial detention for a 66-year-old man suspected of planning an attack targeting Tusk and others, Polish Radio reports. He faces nine charges, the most serious being planning the violent overthrow of state authorities. The same day, Polish Radio looked at the governing coalition three years after the 2023 election: an October CBOS poll put the Civic Coalition at 28.6 percent, while its smaller partners all polled below the 5 percent threshold.
Frequently asked questions
What did the president veto on 15 October 2026?
Bills on the electoral code, political advertising oversight and implementation of European Court of Human Rights rulings. He signed eight other laws.
Are the new border funds rules in force?
No. They are in a draft MSWiA regulation reported on 15 October 2026. The draft figures are 1,000 zloty for stays up to four days and 300 zloty per day for longer stays.
How big is Poland's population now?
GUS figures put it at 37.24 million after the first half of 2026, down by 90,000 since the end of 2025.
