Law and Justice MP Bartłomiej Wróblewski announced that he decided to run for Commissioner for Human Rights. ‘I am prepared for this function because of my education, because of my professional work and because of my social experience, serving other people,’ he said.
‘I have decided to run for the position of Commissioner for Human Rights. It is an important function, a big responsibility, a responsibility for – according to Article 208 of the Constitution – guarding the rights and freedoms of man, a citizen in the situation of their violation by public authorities. I am prepared for this function due to my education, professional work and social experience, serving other people,’ said Wróblewski at a conference at the Polish Parliament.
He stressed that he was known for his parliamentary work.
‘I am a hardworking, consistent, independent thinking person,’ he assured. He recalled that he has a law degree.
The Commissioner for Human Rights is appointed by the Polish Parliament with the consent of the Senate on a motion of the Speaker of the Polish Parliament or a group of 35 deputies. If the Senate refuses to consent to the appointment of the Commissioner for Human Rights, the Polish Parliament shall appoint another person to that position. Candidates for the position of the Commissioner for Human Rights can again be submitted to the Polish Parliament until 19 March.
Parliament has already tried three times to elect a successor to Adam Bodnar as Commissioner for Human Rights. Twice the only candidate was lawyer Zuzanna Rudzińska-Bluszcz, who was a joint candidate of Civic Coalition, the Left and Poland 2050 Szymon Hołownia, however, did not obtain the support of the Polish Parliament. The third time, the Polish Parliament appointed Law and Justice candidate Piotr Wawrzyk, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the Commissioner for Human Rights, but the Senate did not consent to this nomination.
Adam Bodnar’s term of the office ended on 9 September 2020, but according to the law on the Commissioner for Human Rights, he remains in office until Parliament elects his successor.