Parliament has denied a police request to lift the parliamentary immunity of Confederation leader Sławomir Mentzen, following a failed vote concerning his use of pyrotechnics at the Independence March.
Parliamentary Vote Outcome
Confederation MP Sławomir Mentzen will not face legal action for igniting a flare during last year’s Independence March. The Sejm rejected the motion to strip him of his immunity, prompting an outburst of applause in the chamber.
The motion required an absolute majority of 231 votes to pass. However, only 227 deputies voted in favor, while 210 voted against and two abstained, effectively shielding the opposition leader from prosecution.
Mentzen’s Defense and Justification
Before the vote, Mentzen addressed the chamber, characterizing the police request as a purely political maneuver aimed at suppressing civil liberties. He openly acknowledged his history of using pyrotechnics at such events and publicizing these actions on social media.
The police request stemmed from a breach of the absolute ban on pyrotechnics during the November 11 Independence March in Warsaw. Following his social media post documenting the act, police submitted a request to the Prosecutor General on March 20, which later reached the Sejm Marshal’s office.
Public Stance on Regulations
Mentzen has consistently dismissed the regulations prohibiting the use of flares as unnecessary. He refused to waive his immunity voluntarily, arguing that the legislative process provided an opportunity to spark a formal debate regarding the repeal of these specific restrictions.
