In Poland, the newly formed Commission of Inquiry, tasked with examining the legality, regularity, and purpose of actions taken during the 2020 presidential elections, elected Dariusz Joński of the Civic Platform as its chair in a postal vote conducted at the outset of 2020. Joński proposed the first substantive gathering of the committee for Friday, December 22, at 9:00 a.m.
The inaugural session of the envelope-elections committee
Opening the committee’s proceedings, the deputy speaker of the Sejm, Włodzimierz Czarzasty of the New Left, presided briefly as the presidency was formed. Dariusz Joński then assumed the role of chair, with deputies named: Waldemar Buda from PiS, Jacek Karnowski from PO, and Bartosz Romowicz (PL2050-TD).
The chair outlined a vision for reliable, effective, and professional work under his leadership. He stressed that the committee would strive to determine whether state authorities violated the law during the organization of the mail-in ballot process. Should violations be found, accountability would follow and appropriate consequences would be outlined. The aim, he said, was to uncover the truth and identify any perpetrators of legal breaches.
Joński reiterated the plan to hold the first substantive session on Friday, December 22 at 9:00 a.m.
Several agenda items were noted. First, a decision on a statement covering every MP on the inquiry committee or on the circumstances described in article 4—given information suggesting a potential conflict of interest. He also mentioned a resolution on the number of permanent advisers, ensuring parity: each party represented on the committee would be matched by an equivalent number of permanent advisers.
The meeting would present the committee’s work plan and identify the initial witnesses to be invited for hearings. Joński called for early requests for evidence, signaling an emphasis on timely fact-finding.
“We must act quickly but with precision. I expect this committee to demonstrate that its work can proceed without unnecessary delays, unlike past processes. The public expects accountability for the very purpose this committee was created. We will invite witnesses who can illuminate the case”, Joński stated.
– Joński added.
PiS proposes the first witnesses
Representatives from PiS have already proposed calling the first witnesses: Rafał Trzaskowski, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, and Tomasz Grodzki.
“We want to clarify who blocked the organization of the elections”, Waldemar Buda commented.
There was a sense of urgency to move forward. Buda proposed presenting witness nominations immediately, mentioning Kidawa-Błońska, Trzaskowski, and Grodzki as figures who publicly claimed to have impeded the election. The committee would seek to question their stated aims and assess the basis of those claims, grounded in media appearances.
Paweł Jabłoński, a committee member, was asked to submit an application for supporting documents as part of this process.
New developments included the termination of the postal-elections procedure, which added a fresh dimension to the ongoing inquiry. The request was to incorporate these new files into the committee’s work and to keep the focus sharp. The proposal was clear: avoid unnecessary delays, and push forward with witness proposals on the day of the meeting.
– Buda emphasized.
Joński signals a brisk pace
Joński indicated that initial decisions would be laid out at the Friday session. PiS members—Prof. Przemysław Czarnek, Mariusz Krystian, and Paweł Jabłoński—expressed readiness to work, arguing there was no reason to delay. Jacek Karnowski added that the current session should be limited to appointing the chair and vice chairs, with Friday’s meeting viewed as a procedural step.
“You’re off to a poor start, Mr. President. Tone it down, show more personal respect, and avoid hasty judgments about colleagues on the committee. If you remain overly formal, the question becomes: what has been accomplished since Czarzasty left the room? The session is about electing the Presidium, yet it seems to be dragging on. The rules exist to enable the committee to function. If necessary, another meeting can be convened in an hour”, argued Prof. Czarnek.
Czarnek also noted that the investigative mandate covers whether funds allocated for the elections were spent wisely. “How can the committee evaluate this if it cannot identify or question those who blocked the May 10 elections? If the money went to no purpose, the exercise loses meaning. We should be allowed to request evidence and proceed accordingly”, he added.
Joński closed the initial session by confirming that the next meeting would start on Friday, December 22 at 9:00 a.m.
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WKT
Note: This article is a synthesis of proceedings and public statements related to the inquiry process. All assertions reflect reported remarks and official positions as publicly stated by participants at the time.