President Andrzej Duda issued a response to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s recent remarks, addressing what he called manipulation in the political discourse. The exchange unfolded on social media under the banner of contemporary electoral talk, with the hashtag #cykor2025 appearing among the posts.
What Tusk said about the president
During a lull in campaigning, Donald Tusk recalled the presidential veto on amendments to the pharmaceutical law concerning access to the morning-after pill, and he referenced President Duda’s decision to refer amendments to the National Oncology Network to the Constitutional Court as part of a follow-up process. The prime minister framed these actions as provocative moves with possible long-term consequences for public health policy and hospital networks.
There was criticism of the effort to block pharmaceutical access and the imagined impact on the network of oncological hospitals, which Tusk argued reflected a lack of consideration for patient needs and health system resilience.
Stanisław Żaryn, speaking on behalf of the presidency, defended the President, calling the prime minister’s statements inaccurate and misleading.
SEE DETAILS: Tusk’s critique of the president during the election lull touches on blocked laws and questions of judgment
Andrzej Duda’s reply
Subsequently, the president issued his own reply on social media. Responding to what he viewed as mischaracterization, Duda suggested that Tusk’s political strategy could reflect personal hesitation in facing him in electoral contests. He even used the hashtag #cykor2025 to emphasize a broader political message aimed at voters in Poland and observers abroad.
The exchange centered on Tusk’s claims that the president had referred the National Oncology Network bill to the Constitutional Court as part of ongoing oversight, and on the veto that blocked a change in the pharmaceutical law intended to expand access to the morning-after pill without a prescription for certain age groups. These actions were described in the public discourse as pivotal moments in health policy and constitutional oversight.
On March 29, the president vetoed a proposed change to the pharmaceutical law that would have allowed over-the-counter access to the morning-after pill for individuals above age 15. The president justified this decision by emphasizing respect for constitutional rights and protections for child health. He also noted openness to other provisions in the law concerning adult women.
By that Friday, the president’s Chancellery announced that the office had directed, under the follow-up review mechanism, a referral to the Constitutional Court regarding the National Oncology Network. The amendment in question extended the rollout deadline for the network to April 1, 2025, with the law having taken effect on March 31 after the president signed it on March 18.
The National Oncology Network law became another point of constitutional consideration, with the presidency moving to send it to the court as part of ongoing oversight due to parliamentary attendance issues involving certain MPs in the Sejm, and as part of broader constitutional safeguards around health policy reform.
The exchange reflects how health policy and constitutional oversight play out in high-profile political debates, resonating with audiences both within Poland and among international observers tracking policy development across Europe.