Poland - February 2025

On 27 February, the Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw charged former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who currently serves as deputy leader of the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, with abuse of power over his attempt to organise a presidential election entirely by postal vote during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the previous PiS-led government scrapped plans to hold an election by postal vote following a dispute in the ruling coalition, after spending an estimated PLN 70 million (EUR 17 million). In the same year, an administrative court found Morawiecki had committed a “gross violation of the law”, undermining the authority of the National Electoral Commission as well as voters’ access to the ballot. The Prosecutor’s charges were brought following the recommendation of a parliamentary investigative commission established in 2023. Morawiecki, who claims the case is politically motivated, has waived his parliamentary immunity. The first trial or hearing dates are yet to be publicly announced. 

Sources: Euractiv, X, Notes from Poland (1), Notes from Poland (2), Notes from Poland (3), Balkan Insight, PAP