Czarnek, Don’t Lie! Row Over Fuel Prices

28 July 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

PiS staged a tense protest near Lublin over Poland fuel prices, calling for VAT cuts while opponents blame a blocked windfall tax.

PiS politicians staged a heated press conference at a petrol station near Lublin on Tuesday to demand fast laws cutting fuel taxes. Poland fuel prices became the flashpoint and protesters answered with chants and banners.

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What happened at Panieńszczyzna

PiS leaders set the scene at a filling station in Panieńszczyzna, a village near Lublin. Moreover, they argued many forecourts already show diesel above 8 zł per litre. Consequently, Przemysław Czarnek urged MPs to pass a bill this week before the Sejm breaks for summer. However, a group of activists and an MEP from the Civic Coalition confronted him with placards saying ‘Czarnek nie kłam’ and other slogans. Therefore the event turned into a noisy political clash rather than a simple announcement.

Poland fuel prices: PiS demands tax cuts

PiS presented a draft law to cut VAT on fuels from 23 to 8 percent. In addition, the party wants to lower excise duties to the EU minimum. Moreover, Czarnek warned that failure to pass the bill will leave drivers paying the highest pump prices in Polish history. However, he also attacked plans for new levies on oil companies. Consequently, PiS says that tax relief will immediately reduce prices at the pumps.

KO response and the windfall tax dispute

Opponents accused PiS of propaganda and manipulation. Moreover, Civic Coalition MEP Marta Wcisło said the government had proposed a different plan. Therefore she recalled a bill to tax windfall profits of fuel firms. In addition, President Karol Nawrocki sent that windfall tax law to the Constitutional Tribunal for review. Consequently the government says that move stopped about 4 billion zł in planned revenue. Moreover, Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned he may enforce regulated prices briefly if world oil shocks raise costs again. However, he criticised the president for siding with firms, not citizens.

What it means for expats and motorists

For foreign residents the debate matters in three ways. First, personal transport costs may rise quickly, which affects commuting and mobility. Secondly, small companies that use vans will see margins tighten. Moreover, regulated prices or sudden tax cuts can change station behaviour. Therefore expect local price swings and short-term promotional rates. In addition, know that Polish administration uses terms you may not know. For example, ZUS is the social insurance office, NFZ runs public health insurance, mandat means a traffic fine, and PESEL is a national ID number. Consequently, keep documents and receipts handy if you need refunds or tax proof.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: Expats should monitor fuel apps (e.g., lokalne price comparators) and use loyalty apps. Moreover, keep copies of receipts if employers or tax offices ask. If the government introduces regulated prices, expect temporary queues and regional differences. In addition, understand Polish terms: ZUS = social security, NFZ = public health insurer, mandat = fine, PESEL = national ID number. Therefore plan budgets for transport and check local news for sudden changes.

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