On Friday, the Sejm declined to lift the immunity of MP Joanna Mucha of Polska2050, following a 2021 request from the Warsaw public prosecutor. The vote underscored the ongoing tension between parliamentary immunity and legal accountability in Poland, a subject watched by observers in Canada and the United States who study how different democracies safeguard public trust.
Additional coverage notes that the case centers on a Madonna concert and questions about immunity. The controversy touches on how public funds are used for high-profile cultural events and where ministerial authority ends.
In the vote, 426 members took part: 178 backed removing immunity, 238 opposed it, and 10 abstained. Among them, 176 MPs from the ruling party supported the move to waive immunity, with one voting against and four abstaining, while seven Confederation MPs abstained. Members of the opposition were against the motion, tallying 148 votes; Polska2050-TD accounted for 31 votes, PSL-TD for 27, the Left for 21, and six Confederation members abstained. The result reflected a clear, party-line division over accountability in parliament, revealing the depth of strategic positioning ahead of the next elections.
The June 2021 request to authorize criminal liability for Joanna Mucha was initially examined by the Rules Committee during the preceding term. It was not brought to a plenary vote then. The current term saw a renewed motion submitted by the Speaker of the Sejm for reconsideration. The Committee on the Rules of Procedure, Deputies’ Affairs and Immunities voted to reject the waiver request, aligning with the broader parliamentary stance at the time.
Legendary Madonna concert
The case centers on a Madonna concert held in Warsaw in 2012. The Prosecutor’s Office asserts that Mucha, then serving as Minister of Sports, approved payment of more than PLN 5.9 million from the ministry’s special reserve for the event. The funds were intended for promoting sports among children and young people and for tasks related to Euro 2012, not for a single concert. The office argues that the arrangement caused a financial loss of about PLN 4.7 million for the Finance Ministry and that the National Stadium brand also depreciated in value. A 2020 expert assessment noted that no sponsor contributed to the event. Prosecutors pursue charges claiming the former minister exceeded her powers in approving the expenditure.
“Hypocrites of the Coalition of Imposters”
After the vote, PiS MP Michał Woś challenged why the coalition did not give Mucha the chance to defend herself in court this time. He argued that those who control immunity often present it as a route to scrutiny, yet did not extend the same opportunity to Mucha regarding the 5 million arrangement for Madonna. The remark appeared amid broader criticisms of the coalition as an electoral alliance that uses immunity selectively.
The remarks circulated widely on social media as Woś framed the debate as a test of fairness and accountability in a political system still perceived as prone to favoritism.
Word spread that Woś maintained his stance, underscoring his view that immunity should not shield friends from legal scrutiny and that public funds should be subject to thorough oversight.
Editorial note.
Editorial note.