Sejm Votes on Lifting Parliamentary Immunity for KO MP Wojciech Król Following European Public Prosecutor’s Requests

The Polish Sejm has conducted votes regarding the waiver of parliamentary immunity for Civic Coalition MP Wojciech Król after the European Public Prosecutor’s Office targeted him in an investigation.

Immunity Votes and Detention Request

Regarding MP Król, the Sejm conducted three separate votes. Twice, deputies voted on the motion to consent to lifting the immunity of the KO politician because the European Chief Prosecutor accuses him of committing two prohibited acts.

In the first vote, 436 deputies voted in favor, 2 against, and 3 abstained. In the second vote, 437 deputies were in favor, 2 against, and 3 abstained. Subsequently, the Sejm decided on the motion for the detention and temporary arrest of MP Król, with 181 deputies voting in favor, 251 against, and 5 abstaining.

Committee Session and European Prosecutor Statements

Such a vote was recommended to the Sejm on Wednesday by the regulatory committee. Present at its Wednesday session was European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi, who stated that the EPPO’s request to lift Król’s immunity is a necessary procedural stage required by both EU and Polish legislation.

Kovesi stated that the EPPO opened an investigation concerning a complex corruption process that negatively affected EU interests. The proceedings involve several suspects connected to the management of funds intended for EU projects, focusing on corruption and interference in public procurement processes.

During the committee meeting, Paweł Śliz of Polska 2050—chosen as Król’s defense counsel from among the deputies—argued that the request to lift immunity contained formal errors and flaws, and presented no evidence of Król’s guilt.

MP Król’s Defense and Criticisms

The KO MP himself also criticized the EPPO request, arguing it contained errors, such as stating he promised someone a director’s position in 2023 when that person had already held the role since 2021. He also said the request submitted to the Sejm did not charge him with the actions that appeared in the official EPPO press release, feeling he was tainted by context.

He also spoke at length about the searches of his home, the associated stress, and family consequences. He noted that his home was entered while he was at the Sejm and services were aware of it. Additionally, he argued that he is the chairman of the National Media Council and holds an inviolable term of office.

Ewa Ivanova wrote on Wyborcza.pl that this is a test for those in power regarding loyalty to an EU institution or solidarity with MP Król, a party colleague from KO.

Background of the EPPO Investigation

At the beginning of May, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office announced it had filed a request to lift the immunity of an active member of the Sejm without naming them at the time. They indicated the request was filed in connection with suspicion of trading in influence within an investigation related to the modernization of tram infrastructure in the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis. It later emerged the request concerned MP Król.

On June 25, Król stated that the content of the request had absolutely nothing to do with official, sensational prosecutor’s announcements, lacking any connection to the corruption scandal in Tramwaje Śląskie reported by media in recent weeks. Later, he told PAP that prosecutors wanted to charge him with trading in influence regarding tenders for modernization at Tramwaje Śląskie, though the request did not concern that.

The Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) stated in announcements describing the Tramwaje Śląskie scandal that investigation findings showed financial benefits were handed to an MP in several cases. In July, MP Król’s legal representatives called on the CBA to issue a retraction and apology, arguing their client was improperly linked in media to the corruption scandal. The CBA responded that their announcements were consulted with the EPPO, prompting the legal representatives to also call on the EPPO for a retraction and apology.

Lawyer Marta Smołka stated that the EPPO’s published communications suggested her client participated in the described corruption mechanism regarding tram infrastructure modernization despite such a scope not stemming from charges or procedural documents. She called on Laura Kovesi to immediately cease violating Król’s personal rights and remove the effects of the violations.

The EPPO stated its investigation concerns suspicions of fraud and corruption in procurement regarding the modernization of tram infrastructure within the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis, backed by EU funding of PLN 1.9 billion for 2021–2027.