Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia wrongly identified Katarzyna Sójka, a PiS Member of Parliament and former Health Minister, as participating in the Sejm clash on February 7. Sójka requested a correction and apology from the podium. Hołownia apologized, but when the MP sought to speak again, the discussion was shut down.
In Tuesday afternoon remarks, Hołownia said he would urge the Sejm Presidium to impose the maximum penalty on seven PiS MPs who clashed with the Marshal Guard during attempts to introduce Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik to the Sejm. Later that day, after a Presidium meeting, Vice-President Monika Wielichowska announced the MPs had their parliamentary allowances suspended for three months. The punished MPs were Małgorzata Gosiewska, Katarzyna Sójka, Edward Siarka, Jan Dziedziczak, Antoni Macierewicz, Jacek Bogucki and Jerzy Polaczek.
On Wednesday, before the meeting began, Hołownia said that an error had been made and Sójka had been wrongly identified as involved in the earlier events.
Sójka: I was falsely slandered
At the start of the Sejm session, Sójka referred to Tuesday’s press conference by the Sejm chairman and said she had been wrongly slandered as someone who would take part in any scuffle with the Marshal’s guards.
“I would like you, here in public, to apologize to me, and I also want you to correct widely this false slander circulating in all media. I want you to correct me and say clearly that there was no such situation. Today I officially inform you: I was not involved in any scuffles, pushing or choking anyone”, she said.
She reiterated that she had been falsely slandered by the Sejm chairman.
Hołownia: Once again our sincere apologies
Hołownia explained that on Wednesday morning the commander of the Marshal Guard came to him and the other Sejm Presidium members to say that Sójka had been confused with MP Agnieszka Górska during the identification process. Górska was, as Hołownia stated, a participant in the events before the Sejm, supported by materials collected by the Marshal Guard.
Hołownia added that the commander of the Marshal Guard was obliged to apologize personally to Sójka.
“I have promised to apologize publicly to the Member of Parliament, and I hereby apologize to the Member of Parliament. If our officers and officials make mistakes, it should not reflect on the image of people who should be above suspicion in this situation”, Hołownia said.
He noted that the Presidium had adopted a resolution to lift the financial penalty against Sójka, with Górska’s punishment to be addressed at the next meeting. Hołownia said that each punished PiS MP, if they request dismissal, will be able to review the full video material and the guards’ reports.
“The Marshal’s Guard, and I as the person in charge, sincerely apologize to the MP for this error in identifying the member of parliament. This matter ends here”, he stated.
The marshal apologizes and then denies further discussion
Sójka attempted to speak again but was not satisfied with the explanation and correction. The Marshal of the Sejm ended the discussion and asked Sójka to leave the rostrum.
Hołownia urged her to formally present any other claims. “The MP said what happened and what she expects. The case is closed. Please state formally what you now expect from me, the Presidium, and the Marshal Guard”, he said.
From Sójka’s statement, it was clear that she expected Hołownia to apologize to all media outlets that published false slander about her. “Please leave the stage, Madam President. The information was corrected through the same channel it was provided, and twice”, the marshal added.
“Madam Member of Parliament, please leave the rostrum”, he repeated as the PiS politician pressed to be heard.
READ ALSO: Hołownia will apologize to Sójka because the marshal’s guard confused her with Górska. The marshal also referenced the so-called Pablo Morales case and related hate messages.
End of report.