Poland’s PACE Delegation: Hołownia Powers for 2025 and the Romanowski Question

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The Marshal of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, signed powers of attorney for 2025 for members of Poland’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, but did not grant similar authority to PiS member Marcin Romanowski, a decision announced by the Sejm Chancellery today. The PiS club had previously raised the issue with ZPRE. Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of PiS, stated that there was no reason not to send Romanowski to the Council of Europe and that the party does not intend to nominate another candidate.

An official note from the Sejm Chancellery explains that Hołownia’s signature covers the 2025 delegation to participate in PACE work. The composition of the Polish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe includes both permanent representatives and deputies, with seats allocated to members from PiS, KO, PSL, Poland 2050 and other groups, reflecting the current party distribution in the Sejm and Senate.

Composition of the Polish delegation

The Sejm Chancellery outlined the Sejm portion of the delegation as follows: Permanent Representatives – Paweł Jabłoński (PiS), Danuta Jazłowiecka (KO), Daniel Milewski (PiS), Wanda Nowicka (left), Mirosław Adam Orliński (PSL), Ryszard Petru (Poland 2050), Agnieszka Pomaska (KO), Katarzyna Sójka (PiS), Krzysztof Truskolaski (KO).

The deputies of the permanent representatives are listed as follows: Iwona Arent (PiS), Krzysztof Bosak (Confederation), Konrad Frysztak (KO), Patryk Jaskulski (KO), Jan Kanthak (PiS), Michał Krawczyk (KO), Aleksandra Leo (Polska 2050), Kacper Płażyński (PiS).

The Chancellery also noted a vacancy for a PiS politician and added that the Marshal did not grant MP Romanowski full powers to work in PACE.

Additionally, a KO MP and Vice-President of PACE announced on the X platform that a meeting of the Polish delegation would be held on January 23. The KO member emphasized the ongoing process of preparing the delegation for its duties in the Assembly.

The PiS club again nominated MP Romanowski for PACE, the same individual whose immunity was previously lifted by the European Council and who was reported to have left for Budapest amid an arrest warrant. Pomaska commented that this raises questions about the party’s approach to justice and accountability.

Pomaska wrote that the situation involves a candidate with a controversial past and asked why PiS would pursue a path that could be perceived as circumventing legal norms.

Kaczyński interrupts the discussion

In response to questions about the case during a press briefing, Jarosław Kaczyński argued that Romanowski’s stay in Hungary is fully justified under both Polish and international law. He asserted that there are no guarantees of an impartial trial within Poland at present, calling out perceived gaps in the system and highlighting the need for a clear position on the matter.

He stressed that there is no reason to oppose sending the member to the Council of Europe, advocating for continued engagement with the Assembly.

When asked if PiS would nominate another candidate to the Council of Europe, Kaczyński replied that there would be no further nomination and suggested there is little legal grounds for the Marshal to approve or reject any alternative.

According to the Rules of Procedure of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, powers granted to national delegations are ratified by Assembly members during plenary sessions. The terms of office for representatives and alternates begin with ratification and end at the opening of the next annual ordinary session.

The article omits further material and the discussion continues to focus on procedural steps rather than additional nominations.

— This summary is based on reporting from wPolityce.

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