European Parliament lifts immunity of four Polish MEPs

The European Parliament has voted to strip immunity from four Polish MEPs, following a request from Poland’s Prosecutor General, paving the way for national legal proceedings.

The decision affects Patryk Jaki and Daniel Obajtek of the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, as well as Grzegorz Braun and Tomasz Buczek from far-right groupings, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The cases involve allegations including defamation, obstruction, false testimony, and assault-related incidents.

Parliament acted on a recommendation from its legal affairs committee, which found the cases to be criminal in nature and not politically motivated.

Parliamentary immunity protects lawmakers from prosecution but can be lifted by a majority vote, allowing national authorities to proceed with investigations.

Patryk Jaki faces a defamation complaint from judge Igor Tuleya over remarks during the 2024 European election campaign concerning alleged Pegasus spyware surveillance. After Tuleya rejected the claim, Jaki suggested the judge lacked awareness of documents he had signed.

Daniel Obajtek, former head of Orlen, is accused of giving false testimony and restricting distribution of the satirical weekly “NIE” at petrol stations over a cover featuring Pope John Paul II.

Grzegorz Braun is accused of blocking a road in Jedwabne during commemorations marking the 84th anniversary of a massacre of its Jewish population. It is the fourth time his immunity has been lifted.

Tomasz Buczek is alleged to have physically confronted a participant during a 2024 campaign event, including taking a megaphone from a critic.

Daniel Obajtek called the decision “repression of political opponents,” adding:

“My immunity was revoked because I dared to defend religious sentiments and Saint John Paul II, and I decided to withdraw one issue of the weekly magazine ‘Nie’ while I was the CEO of Orlen.

“I would make that decision again, and I’m proud of it.”

Patryk Jaki said it was “yet another instance of targeting political rivals,” and reiterated claims about Judge Tuleya and Pegasus surveillance.

He added he previously lost immunity for “liking a video showing real scenes of violence against migrants” and now faces three years in prison.

Tomasz Buczek said before the vote:

“I really won't be crying over this immunity. I wanted to revoke it myself,”

He added: “I found out that there is no such procedure in the European Parliament.”

Grzegorz Braun has not yet responded.

By Aghakazim Guliyev