Polish president proposes restricting state benefits for Ukrainians
Warsaw (Reuters) -Poland President explained the plans to limit Ukrainians’ access to children’s assistance and health services on Monday, while a 20th century Ukrainian Ukrainian nationalist leader was glorified with signs of hardening for refugees.
Poland has been one of the most loyal supporters of Ukraine since the occupation of Russia in 2022, but some poles were tired of numerous refugees, while tensions on the two world wars between Warsaw and Kiev from time to time. Official data shows that approximately 1.5 million Ukrainian citizens have resided in Poland.
Inspired by US President Donald Trump, President Karol Nawrocki, a conservative nationalist, promised to “put the first” put and limit the rights of foreigners in Poland during the election campaign this year.
“I have not changed my mind and I plan to fulfill my obligations, and I believe that the assistance of (family) should be provided to Ukrainians in the same way as health services that make an effort to work in Poland.”
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond immediately to the request for comments.
If Ukrainian refugees are currently continuing their children to Polish schools, 800 zloty ($ 219) per child is entitled to receive monthly family assistance. Like Germany, other EU countries have recently offered cutting benefits.
In Poland, President may propose invoices and veto government legislation. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a pro -EU centralist who is currently opposing Nawrocki, can similarly block and lock the president’s suggestions.
Historical strains
Nawrocki also proposed to tighten the criminal law to ban the promotion of Stepan Bandera, a Ukrainian nationalist leader who fought both Nazi and Soviet forces during the Second World War.
“I believe that this bill should openly address Bandera and equalize the Bandera symbol in the Penal Code with symbols corresponding to the German national socialism, commonly known as Nazism.” He said.
Many Ukrainian Bandera and their militias are the symbols of the resistance they assembled against the Soviet Union and Kiev’s struggle for independence from Moscow.
But he is remembered by many people in Poland as a symbol of anti -police violence. Bandera is associated with the Ukrainian Rebellion Army (UPA), who said that Warsaw carried out the mass massacre of Polish civilians in 1943-44, especially in Volhynia.
Thousands of Ukrainians died in retaliation murders.
The public explanation of Nazi, fascist or communist ideas is subject to prison for up to 3 years in accordance with the Polish Penal Code.
($ 1 = 3.6456 zlotys)
(Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk and Pawel Floriewicz reporting by Anastasiia Malanko Additional Reporting in Kiev; Organization by Gareth Jones)
