The European Parliament, during its plenary session held in Strasbourg, officially voted to lift the immunities of Law and Justice (PiS) Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik. This decision followed requests submitted to the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, by Attorney General and Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar at the end of July of the previous year. The prosecutor’s office alleges that both MEPs have failed to comply with a definitive court ruling prohibiting them from occupying public office.
In March, the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament recommended the lifting of their immunities, and it is customary for the Parliament to act on such recommendations during plenary sessions. Hearings conducted by the committee preceded the motions submitted by the Attorney General: Kamiński attended a hearing on January 31, whereas Wąsik was heard on February 18. Kamiński subsequently remarked to journalists that he perceives the case as politically motivated.
Both politicians lost their seats in the Polish Sejm (Parliament) following convictions rendered by a final court judgment. Terminating their immunity in the European Parliament enables the Polish prosecutor’s office to engage in standard procedural activities and potentially prepare charges against both in the future.
