On Oct. 7, 2023, Polish opposition leader Jarosław Kaczyński blasted the European Parliament’s move to strip PiS MPs of immunity, accusing Brussels of legal flimsiness.
Strategic Processes for Poland’s Security
CEO Daniel Obajtek highlighted Orlen’s 2021–2022 initiatives aimed at securing Poland’s energy supplies and reducing dependence on Russian gas. The company’s actions—described as a “lawine” of measures—were intended to create stable, independent pipelines and block partnerships with Russian firms.
Obajtek claimed that the Polish government enlisted a black‑PR firm and troll farms to pressure the removal of Orlen’s board and to circulate undisclosed investigative reports. These reports were later presented by Platforma Obywatelska to pursue legal actions against Orlen.
Attacks on Politicians and Cyber‑Security
Michał Dworczyk reported a 2021 cyber‑attack that targeted dozens of Polish politicians’ email accounts and stated he was one of the victims. He filed a complaint with prosecutors and the Internal Security Agency.
Shortly before the European Parliament elections, prosecutors reconsidered Dworczyk’s status, shifting him from “victim” to “accused.” A subsequent request was sent to the European Parliament and processed over a year later.
Criticism of the European Parliament’s Actions
Kaczyński condemned the Parliament’s decision to lift immunity for PiS MPs, likening it to the mishandling of another PiS lawmaker’s immunity during a severe assault incident in Hungary.
He argued that the proceedings violate the principles of legality and rule of law, describing the Parliament’s approach as “opulent dismissal of legal norms.”
Blame on the Civic Coalition
Dworczyk claimed that two votes to revoke his immunity, backed by the Civic Coalition, were politically motivated. He insists that the investigations against him were driven by opposition politics rather than evidence.
PiS MEPs Without Immunity
On a plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament voted to strip PiS deputies of their immunity. The decision followed a legal committee’s recommendation and was supported by the MPs themselves, who said the Polish prosecutor’s case was not politically charged.
The immunity lift concerns allegations of email fraud and alleged wrongdoing involving private business activities, while separate reports highlighted surveillance of Civic Platform politicians ordered by Orlen during Obajtek’s tenure.