The European Parliament’s legal affairs committee on Thursday voted to lift the immunity of four Polish MEPs facing various legal challenges in Poland.
EU Committee Recommends Immunity Removal
The European Parliament’s JURI legal committee on Thursday recommended lifting the immunity of Polish MEPs: Daniel Obajtek and Patryk Jaki of PiS, as well as Grzegorz Braun and Tomasz Buczek.
The committee’s recommendation will now go to a vote before the entire European Parliament.
Committee: “Green Light” for Prosecution
Members of the JURI committee reportedly reached a unanimous decision, signaling a clear path for Polish prosecutors to proceed with investigations.
Charges Against Polish Politicians Varied
The accusations against the politicians range from obstructing the distribution of a weekly publication (Obajtek) to blocking a road during a commemoration event in Jedwabne (Braun). Patryk Jaki faces a private indictment filed by a judge, while Tomasz Buczek is accused of violating the bodily integrity of a demonstrator.
Committee member Krzysztof Śmiszek emphasized that politicians making strong statements against the judiciary must be prepared for legal consequences.
Procedure in Strasbourg: What Awaits MEPs?
Each request to lift immunity follows a strict parliamentary procedure. After the JURI committee’s report, the document goes to a plenary session of the entire European Parliament, where a simple majority vote will determine the final decision.
Immunity Waiver Does Not Imply Guilt
It is important to note that lifting immunity by the European Parliament does not equate to a finding of guilt. It is a technical and legal procedure that removes parliamentary protection, allowing national authorities – prosecutors and courts – to conduct a standard investigation or trial.
Ultimately, the Polish justice system will decide on the potential guilt or innocence of the MEPs.
