Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek was asked to leave the Sejm chamber by Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty while preparing for a TV interview.
Sejm Ejection and Broadcast Interruption
Speaker of the Sejm, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, requested Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek to cease giving interviews within the parliamentary chamber, prompting applause from lawmakers. Czarzasty directed Żurek to leave the Sejm building.
Minister Żurek was preparing to be interviewed by Karolina Opolska from TVP Info when the incident occurred. During Czarzasty’s intervention, a live broadcast from the Sejm was underway.
Opolska began her report stating the atmosphere was “loud and emotional,” but Żurek interrupted her. She then informed viewers they would continue the interview with Żurek outside the Sejm due to a reprimand from the Speaker.
Presidential Veto Not Overridden
The Sejm failed to override President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of a comprehensive amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure and related legislation.
244 deputies voted against overturning the veto, including all members of the Civic Coalition (KO), Polish People’s Party-Third Way (PSL-TD), The Left (Lewica), Centre, and Poland 2050. Overriding the veto required 264 votes, a three-fifths majority of those present.
180 deputies voted to uphold the veto, including 175 of the 177 present members of the Law and Justice (PiS) party. Sixteen deputies abstained from the vote.
Presidential Concerns and Proposed Alternative
President Nawrocki vetoed the amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure on March 13th, citing concerns for citizen safety and the state’s ability to combat serious crime. The veto’s justification pointed to ambiguities and systemic inconsistencies in the new provisions.
Prior to the vote, Zbigniew Bogucki, Head of the Presidential Chancellery, announced that the President would submit his own draft amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure. Bogucki stated the draft would address the President’s opposition to prolonged pre-trial detention.
Minister Żurek Criticizes Previous Legislation
During the Sejm debate preceding the vote, Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek argued that the proposed amendment was the result of work by the Criminal Law Codification Commission, comprised of leading Polish legal experts and practitioners.
Żurek criticized legislation enacted during the tenure of former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, stating it had “very negative consequences,” including extended pre-trial detention and the ease with which such measures were applied.
He further stated that the desire to keep everyone in detention was a characteristic of a totalitarian state.
