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Former Polish PM Morawiecki waives immunity amid 2020 postal voting scandal

24.01.2025 13:55
Mateusz Morawiecki, the former head of Poland's PiS government, waived his parliamentary immunity as prosecutors seek to charge him with abusing his power during the controversial 2020 postal election preparations. 
Former Polish PM Morawiecki, who waived his parliamentary immunity over 2020 postal election abuse allegations, denies the charges. He is seen in the Sejm chamber on January 24, 2025, during a vote on changes to parliamentary mandate laws and the Supreme Courts role in presidential election cases.
Former Polish PM Morawiecki, who waived his parliamentary immunity over 2020 postal election abuse allegations, denies the charges. He is seen in the Sejm chamber on January 24, 2025, during a vote on changes to parliamentary mandate laws and the Supreme Court’s role in presidential election cases.Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell/X/@MorawieckiM

The accusation stems from Morawiecki’s attempts to organize the presidential election by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which courts have ruled violated the law.

Morawiecki, now an opposition MP for PiS, denies the charges, insisting his actions were constitutional and in the public interest, while labeling the accusations as politically motivated and expressing confidence that "truth, law, and justice will prevail." Critics argue the waiver is unnecessary, as parliament would have lifted his immunity anyway.

Despite the failed postal election, which was criticized for being politically driven and illegal, Morawiecki insists his decisions were made in line with Poland’s constitution and with the country's best interests in mind.

On Friday, the parliamentary regulations committee confirmed that PiS MP Mateusz Morawiecki's statement to waive his immunity is formally correct, and the decision will be forwarded to the Speaker of the Sejm (the Polish lower house of parliament), who will notify prosecutors that the former prime minister is no longer protected by parliamentary immunity.

Sejm Speaker Hołownia responds to Morawiecki’s move

Szymon Hołownia, the Speaker of the Sejm, responded to Morawiecki's decision to waive his immunity by expressing sarcasm, stating that he "greatly feared" Morawiecki's planned exposure of government actions, adding that the opposition had 14 months to file such complaints but had not done so.

Hołownia emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, calling the suspected manipulation of the 2020 presidential election a "very serious matter" and argued that Morawiecki should focus on explaining his actions rather than fantasizing about exposing others.

Source: IAR/PAP/X/@MorawieckiM/@szymon_holownia

(m p)