New Ombudsman Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram Takes Office as PiS Lawmakers Walk Out of Parliament

Newly appointed Human Rights Defender Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram took her oath before the Sejm on Wednesday, prompting a walkout by Law and Justice (PiS) deputies who supported another candidate.

The Swearing-In Ceremony

– I solemnly swear that in the performance of the duties entrusted to me as the Human Rights Defender, I shall remain faithful to the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, protect human and citizen liberties and rights, guided by the provisions of law and the principles of community life and justice. I swear that I will perform the duties entrusted to me impartially, with the highest diligence and care, that I will protect the dignity of the office entrusted to me and keep legally protected secrets – swore Gregorczyk-Abram during the Sejm session.

New Human Rights Defender Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram took the oath before the Sejm, while PiS MPs exited the room.

Before Gregorczyk-Abram took the oath, the plenary hall was left by PiS deputies who had supported the candidacy of Adam Borowski.

Reactions from Parliamentary Leaders

– I do not want to be malicious, but I see that all the divisions did not give you reason – commented Sejm Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty on their behavior. After the votes in the Sejm, the new human rights defender will collect the act of appointment to this position from the marshal’s hands.

The behavior of PiS members was also addressed by Tomasz Siemoniak. “PiS MPs who massively left the hall and disrupted the swearing-in of Human Rights Defender Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram do not respect their own state and do not accept the decisions of the democratic majority. Their behavior also has nothing to do with elementary personal culture. Total collapse of PiS!” – wrote the minister coordinator of special services on X.

“Kaczyński and Morawiecki separately. Disrespect – shared. Demonstrative exit during the oath of the new Ombudsman is political smallness” – commented KO MP Paweł Bliźniuk in turn.

Condemnation and Defense of Democratic Standards

“This is exactly how they respect the Constitution and the Ombudsman office. Despite all divisions, one thing remains unchanged: the entire PiS still maintains the level of political rabble” – stated Patryk Jaskulski, Vice-Chairman of the Justice and Human Rights Committee.

“The PiS club walks out of the swearing-in of Ombudsman Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram democratically elected by the Sejm and Senate. This is their contempt for democracy and the state. We were at the swearing-in of President Karol Nawrocki, although our opinion about him remains unchanged. This is a matter of respect for the state, not political sympathy” – noted KO MP Katarzyna Lubnauer.

Background of the New Ombudsman

Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram is an attorney and human rights defender. She is the co-founder of the Free Courts initiative, the Committee for the Defense of Justice, and a board member of the Prof. Zbigniew Hołda Association. In May 2025, she became the chairwoman of the commission to clarify the mechanisms of repression against civil society organizations and social activists in the years 2015-2023, operating at the Ministry of Justice.

Those nominating her candidacy emphasized in the application that advocate Gregorczyk-Abram has experience in conducting strategic proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram replaced Marcin Wiącek.

Statutory Framework and History of the Ombudsman

According to the Ombudsman Act, the defender can be a Polish citizen distinguished by legal knowledge, professional experience, and high authority due to their moral values and social sensitivity.

According to the Ombudsman Act, they stand guard over the freedoms and human and citizen rights specified in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland and in other normative acts, including guarding the implementation of the principle of equal treatment. In cases regarding the protection of human and citizen freedoms and rights, the Ombudsman examines whether, as a result of the action or omission of bodies, organizations, and institutions obliged to observe and implement these freedoms and rights, a violation of the law occurred, as well as the principles of community life and social justice.

The same person cannot be the Ombudsman for more than two terms – each lasting five years. The term of office of the current Ombudsman, Prof. Marcin Wiącek, who took office in 2021, ended on July 23.

The first Ombudsman was Prof. Ewa Łętowska, appointed by the Sejm on November 19, 1987. The function was subsequently held by: Prof. Tadeusz Zieliński, Prof. Adam Zieliński, Prof. Andrzej Zoll, Dr. Janusz Kochanowski, Dr. Habil. Irena Lipowicz, Prof. Adam Bodnar, and Prof. Marcin Wiącek.