The issue of waiving the immunity of Mr Zbigniew Ziobrze, erstwhile Minister of Justice, has sparked increasing controversy in the Polish political scene. The head of the PiS club, Mariusz Błaszczak, directed a letter to the talker of the Sejm Simon Holownia, in which he demands that the application of the Pegasus committee of enquiry be suspended. The proposal concerns the anticipation of arresting a associate for 30 days.
Request from the lawyer General and the PiS response
In early February, lawyer General Adam Bodnar made a request to the talker of the Sejm to waive Ziobrze's immunity. It is simply a substance of applying a detention order to him for up to 30 days. The proposal was accepted by the Pegasus investigation committee after Ziobro was forced by the police to the Sejm. The MP was brought before the committee's gathering area after its gathering had ended.
– The president of the PiS club Mariusz Błaszczak decided to talk in writing to the talker of the Sejm, Simon Holownia, to halt the motion to waive the immunity of Zbigniew Ziobro.
A decency test for Marshal Holownia?
Mr Wójcik stressed that the current situation is simply a "test of decency" for Marshal Holownia. "We anticipate the marshal to make a decision to halt the full proceeding with this proposal," he said. Wójcik besides pointed out that there is no constitutional anticipation of waiving parliamentary immunity in order to arrest him in connection with questioning as a witness.
Ziobro accuses Tusk of desperation
Zbigniew Ziobro himself besides spoke during the press conference. “What must be the desperation of Donald Tusk if he reaches out for this kind of method to accomplish his own goals,” he argued. Ziobro stated that the Prime Minister's actions discredit his party.
– It can be said that specified a foamed Donald Tusk against facts, contrary to evidence, contrary to movie material, is striving to lock me up for a month," Ziobro said. The MP suggested that Tusk's actions may be related to his proposals for a presidential candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, in connection with the suspicion of "mafiial arrangements" and the removal of money on the occasion of the construction of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw.
Case law and position of the Ziobra
Ziobro besides referred to the case law of the General Assembly of ultimate Court Judges from the time erstwhile the president of the SN was Margaret Gersdorf. "The General Assembly of ultimate Court Judges has taken a clear view that the judgement of the Constitutional Court, which is announced at the hearing, breaks the constitutionality rule of the provision which has been challenged," he said.
The MP stressed that the Pegasus Investigative Committee was illegal, which is due to the judgement of the Constitutional Court of September 2024. “Therefore, I could not – respecting Polish law, the Polish constitution – voluntarily appear before this committee, although I would very much like to, due to the fact that it is not a peculiarly demanding committee and is not a large challenge”, Ziobro added.
What's next with the Pegasus investigation commission?
The Pegasus Investigative Commission examines the legality, regularity and intent of the actions undertaken utilizing this software by the government, peculiar services and police from 2015 to 2023. Its task is besides to find who was liable for buying Pegasus and akin tools for Polish authorities.
The substance of waiving the immunity of Ziobra is to be dealt with at the next session of the Sejm, which begins on Thursday. The decision of Marshal Holownia on this substance will be crucial for the continuation of proceedings.
Read more:
Ziobra Immunity dispute: PiS calls for halting arrest application
