Polish president vetoes bill easing rules about building wind farms
FILE PHOTO: Polish President Karol Nawrocki speaks as he attends the ceremony of accepting the sovereignty over the Armed Forces for the five-year term, in Warsaw, Poland, August 6, 2025. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel/File Photo
WARSAW - Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a bill meant to ease rules for building onshore wind farms on Thursday, saying that a government decision to bundle it together with a freeze on energy prices amounted to "blackmail".
The accusation is the latest salvo in a battle with the centrist government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, an arch rival of the president's allies in the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party.
The bill would have cut the distance required between planned installations and residential locations, while keeping permitting more restrictive for projects close to protected natural areas. It included incentives for municipalities and homeowners in areas located close to new wind farms.
It also included a clause that would have frozen energy prices for households until the end of the year.
Nawrocki, who opposes easing the wind farm regulations but is in favour of an energy price freeze, objected to the two elements being combined in one bill.
"There is one bill that I have ... unequivocally decided to veto," Nawrocki told a news conference.
"The wind farm bill ... is a form of blackmail by the parliamentary majority and the government, not only against the President of the Republic of Poland, but also against society," he said.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Singapore Parliament releases seating plan for 15th term: Find out who is sitting where
Singapore Courier tip-off leads to HSA seizure of Kpods, drugs in Tampines and Grange Road raids
Singapore Large flocks of parakeets a spectacle in Choa Chu Kang, but they may affect native species
Singapore Singapore students shine in Paris with record medal haul at history Olympiad
Business Changi Travel Services cuts 30 staff amid market shifts
Singapore Teacher charged over allegedly making student undress in video call, sending her his nude photo
Singapore District judge signals sterner penalties for vaping offences, cites public concern
Singapore Alleged vape seller faces new charge after he was found with more than 190 Kpods
Nawrocki said he would propose a new bill that would copy the price freeze section of the vetoed legislation while dropping the wind farm elements.
Energy Minister Milosz Motyka responded to the veto, writing on X that Poland needed to unlock "the potential offered by cheap energy sources."
"President Nawrocki's veto of the law guaranteeing low energy prices is a blow to Polish families, industry, energy security, and the entire economy," he wrote. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
20 minutes ago
- Straits Times
US issues more Iran-related sanctions
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: U.S. and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo WASHINGTON - The Trump administration on Thursday issued more Iran-related sanctions, targeting 13 entities based in Hong Kong, China, the United Arab Emirates and the Marshall Islands, as well as eight vessels, the U.S. Treasury Department said. The measures cover Greek national Antonios Margaritis and his network of companies and vessels that Treasury said was involved in transporting Iranian oil exports in violation of sanctions. Treasury also designated Ares Shipping Limited in Hong Kong, Comford Management in the Marshall Islands and Hong Kong Hangshun Shipping Limited in Hong Kong. Designated crude oil tankers include Panama-flagged vessels Adeline G and Kongm, and Lafit under the flag of Sao Tome and Principe. The State Department separately said it imposed sanctions on two China-based operators of oil-related terminals and storage. It said they handled imports of Iranian oil aboard tankers previously targeted by U.S. sanctions. Iran suspended talks with Washington aimed at curbing the Islamic Republic's nuclear ambitions after the U.S. and Israel struck its nuclear sites in June. Iran denies any intent to develop atomic bombs. Iran's top diplomat said on Wednesday that the moment for "effective" nuclear talks with the United States has not yet arrived, adding that Iran would not completely cut off cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Netanyahu says Israel to begin Gaza ceasefire negotiations to end war, release hostages
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the U.S. Independence Day reception, known as the annual \"Fourth of July\" celebration, hosted by Newsmax, in Jerusalem August 13, 2025. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/Pool/File Photo Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel will begin immediate negotiations for the release of all hostages held in Gaza and an end to the nearly two-year-old war on terms acceptable to Israel. Speaking to soldiers serving in Gaza, Netanyahu said he was meeting commanders to approve plans for capturing Gaza City and defeating Hamas. "At the same time I have issued instructions to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and an end to the war on terms acceptable to Israel," he said, adding: "We are in the decision-making phase." The Israeli military maintained its pressure on Gaza City into Thursday. On Wednesday, the military called up 60,000 reservists in a sign that the government was pressing ahead with the plan, despite international condemnation. Calling up tens of thousands of reservists is likely to take weeks, giving time for mediators to attempt to bridge gaps over a new temporary ceasefire proposal that Hamas has accepted, but the Israeli government has yet to officially respond to. The proposal calls for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas militants and of 18 bodies. In turn, Israel would release about 200 long-serving Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The Israeli government has stated that all of the remaining 50 hostages held by militants in Gaza must be released at once. Israeli officials believe that around 20 of them are still alive. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Sweden picks mini-reactors for first nuclear expansion in 50 years
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Three or five of the next-generation SMR reactors will be built at the Ringhals plant in southwestern Sweden. STOCKHOLM - Sweden said on Aug 21 that it had selected so-called small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) for its first nuclear power expansion in a half-century. The government said three or five of the next-generation reactors would be built at the Ringhals plant in southwestern Sweden, providing around 1,500 megawatts – the equivalent of two classic reactors. 'For the first time in 50 years, new nuclear power will be built in Sweden,' Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a press conference. The Scandinavian country voted in a non-binding 1980 referendum to phase out nuclear power, and since then has shut down six of its 12 ageing reactors. But a political majority is now in favour of extending nuclear power, along with renewable energy sources, to reduce its use of fossil fuels. Sweden's state energy utility Vattenfall, which had also been considering classic reactor technology, said either British group Rolls-Royce or American group GE Vernova would be selected as the supplier. Chief executive Anna Borg said the cost of the project 'was still a matter of negotiation', adding that Vattenfall aimed to have the new reactors built by around 2035. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Courier tip-off leads to HSA seizure of Kpods, drugs in Tampines and Grange Road raids Singapore Large flocks of parakeets a spectacle in Choa Chu Kang, but they may affect native species Singapore Singapore students shine in Paris with record medal haul at history Olympiad Singapore Teacher charged over allegedly making student undress in video call, sending her his nude photo Singapore Painting by police NSF presented to Shanmugam to commemorate 50 years of Police National Service Business 8 more active ETFs by JPMorgan Asset Management available to Singapore investors Business Changi Travel Services cuts 30 staff amid market shifts Asia HK water scandal: How distrust over China bottled water sparked a probe into govt contract In addition, she said the company was 'already looking at the next step to build additional reactors where Ringhals 1 and 2 are currently located'. Sweden's six active reactors currently generate about 30 per cent of its electricity needs. SMRs are potentially relatively simple to build, making them more affordable than large power reactors. However, the technology is still experimental and only a handful of units have been built anywhere in the world. Environmental group Greenpeace criticised the right-wing government's plan as vague, citing the lack of a budget, timeline and construction permits. In a statement, it said the government was 'trying to trick the Swedish people into believing that new nuclear power would lead to cheap and green electricity'. 'New nuclear power will require some of the biggest state subsidies in Sweden's history, will increase emissions and delay the electrification of industry,' it said. AFP
