Bąkiewicz's pardon: Duda warms Poland to the red at the end of the term

On 15 July 2025, Warsaw – Andrzej Duda, a fewer weeks before the end of his second term, signed an act of grace towards Robert Bąkiewicz – a nationalist activist and erstwhile leader of the independency March. The pardon only concerns the remission of the punishment of restrictions on freedom in the form of social work. The another elements of the judgement – including PLN 10 1000 in attachment and the work to print the judgement – stay in force. The decision sparked a wave of outrage, fierce political criticism and emotional reactions to public opinion.

Photo screen shot / youtube

Convicts and proceedings

Bąkiewicz was sentenced validly in November 2023 for violating the bodily integrity of Catherine Augustinek, known as “Grandmother of Kasia”, during the 2020 Women's Strike demonstration. The judgement included, among others, a year of restrictions on freedom, fines and costs of proceedings. Until the pardon, no of the penalties were executed.

The decision to pardon Duda was signed on 11 July, as confirmed by Advocate General Anna Adamiak. The President's office justified it with "positive environmental opinion" and "a unchangeable lifestyle". However, no details of the proceeding were disclosed, covering itself with its secrecy.

Criticism, anger, accusations

Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote: “This is simply a political signal that this team, together with Nawrock, Kaczyński and Braun, will not back distant from anything to regain power.”

Bąkiewicz's pardon by president Duda is not only a scandal in the human moral dimension. It is besides a political signal that this full team, together with Nawrock, Kaczyński and Braun, will not back distant from anything to regain power. It's time everyone understood.

Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk (Levice) talked about “Strengthening the bonds of the right hand with the Law” and suggested the inspiration of Jarosław Kaczyński. Adam Bodnar, lawyer General, assessed that the president "defiled the social sense of justice"."The president of Poland has a constitutional right of grace and must be respected.“– Bodnar wrote – "I believe, however, that the pardon of R. Bąkiewicz, guilty of carrying out a scandalous crime – as the courts of both instances stated – compromises the social sense of justice. Especially with respect to the actions and statements of the convicted person, which we have besides observed in fresh days.This is another motion by the president showing his actual face as a individual who, alternatively of being in charge of the Constitution of the Republic, regularly undermines its fundamental values.It is only a waste of many months of work and engagement of prosecutors and judges who have led to proof of guilt and in effect – conviction of R. Bąkiewicz.” – added

The president of Poland has a constitutional right of grace and must be respected.

I believe, however, that the pardon of R. Bąkiewicz, guilty of carrying out a scandalous crime – as the courts of both instances stated – compromises the social sense of justice. Especially against the background of actions and statements...

Other politicians and commentators spoke equally harshly. Gen. Stanisław Koziej in an interview with Polsat News assessed that the president "compromised the institution of the law of grace, utilizing it for political purposes". Joanna Scheering-Wielgus named Robert Bąkiewicz in a speech for ZET Radio "criminalist throwing women down stairs", and Maciej Nejny (Together) in a conversation with OKO.press described the pardon as ‘symbol of partying and shame’.

In turn, alone Bąkiewicz introduced himself as a victim of political courts, thanking the president for ‘defence of order and principlesIt’s okay. ” His supporters on social media talked about "political persecution", opponents — o "the disgraceful end of a miserable presidency".

Political and public context

The pardon forms part of a series of controversial gestures made by president Duda in fresh months of office – specified as the pardon of Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik. In the opinion of commentators, it is an effort to mobilise the extremist electorate of the right and a political tribute made to the most extremist environments.

The deficiency of transparency of the proceedings, the deficiency of remorse on the part of Bąkiewicz, and the gross nature of the crime (violence against an older female during the demonstration) make the issue resonate highly strongly, besides outside conventional organization divisions.

Polarisation and consequences

The pardon of Robert Bąkiewicz becomes a symbol of politicization of the law of grace and its separation from the thought of justice. Critics are talking about the end of the presidency's authority as an institution to uphold constitutional order.

For any of the public, this is further proof of the instrumental treatment of the law – and that there are different standards for people close to power. For supporters – a motion of courage towards "political hunting of patriots".

The President's decision is not over. The pardon of Bąkiewicz already shapes the political scenery – it will return in public debates, election campaigns and analyses of the future of the institutions of presidency in Poland.

DF, thefad.pl / Source: PAP, Onet, Polsat News