The Sejm’s Committee on Rules and Members’ Affairs has voted to recommend stripping opposition MP Zbigniew Ziobro of his parliamentary immunity following a private indictment for defamation filed by National Prosecutor Dariusz Korneluk.
The Committee’s Decision
On Wednesday, the Committee on Rules and Members’ Affairs, chaired by Jarosław Urbaniak (KO), decided to propose that the Sejm approve a private prosecutor’s request dated March 30, 2026, to hold MP Zbigniew Ziobro criminally accountable.
The move stems from a private indictment for defamation and insult filed by Dariusz Korneluk against the former Minister of Justice, who is currently an MP for the Law and Justice (PiS) party. Korneluk is seeking an apology and a suspended prison sentence.
Ziobro’s Alleged Defamation
Legal representative Jarosław Kaczmarek explained that the case concerns remarks made by Ziobro in December 2025. Ziobro claimed Korneluk was appointed as National Prosecutor to subordinate the prosecutor’s office to the ruling party, alleging the office was tasked with dropping cases involving corruption among Donald Tusk’s associates while pursuing political opponents.
Korneluk announced the filing of the indictment in late March, stating that Ziobro had insulted and defamed him personally, as well as many other prosecutors. In response on the X platform, Ziobro doubled down, stating that calling Korneluk a “party activist” was an understatement, as he is, in his view, a member of an “organized criminal group” that illegally seized control of the National Prosecutor’s Office.
Dispute Over the National Prosecutor’s Legitimacy
The current legal status of the National Prosecutor follows a process initiated by Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar in early 2024. Bodnar determined that predecessor Dariusz Barski was improperly restored to active service in 2022 under expired regulations, rendering his appointment invalid.
Following an open competition, Dariusz Korneluk assumed the role after receiving a recommendation from a competition panel. While PiS and associated judges argue that Barski remains the only legitimate prosecutor due to a lack of presidential consent for his removal, the District Court in Warsaw issued a final ruling in January 2026, confirming that Barski never legally held the office and lacked the authority to issue personnel or administrative decisions.
