One of the commanders at the military unit in Czarne allegedly pressured his subordinate soldiers to sign in support of Rafał Trzaskowski’s presidential candidacy, according to information obtained by the portal Niezależna .pl. This constitutes a breach of the law and a violation of the Armed Forces’ political neutrality. The matter is currently under investigation by the Military Police and the public prosecutor’s office.
According to sources within the unit cited by Niezależna, a lieutenant in a battalion stationed in Czarne (Pomeranian Voivodeship) coerced his subordinates into signing the petition for Rafał Trzaskowski’s candidacy. He reportedly collected their national ID (PESEL) numbers and applied “blunt pressure” to have them sign the support lists. It is alleged that he even promised one soldier could take days off in exchange for the signature.
Prosecutorial Action
The preparatory proceedings are being conducted under the supervision of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Gdynia. The case concerns “the collection of signatures by a soldier holding the rank of lieutenant, on behalf of a presidential candidate, within the premises of the military unit in Czarne.” It was initiated on February 27, 2025, by the Military Police Unit in Oleszno and pertains to suspected violations under Articles 497 §2 and 497 §1 of the Electoral Code.
These provisions prohibit the collection of support signatures through coercion, in unauthorized locations, or in exchange for benefits. Anyone collecting such signatures within military units or other organizational entities subordinate to the Minister of National Defence is subject to a fine ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 PLN.
Moreover, Article 26 of the Polish Constitution stipulates that “The Armed Forces shall remain neutral in political matters.” A professional soldier is strictly forbidden from engaging in any form of political activity.
There Are Witnesses
As the Niezależna .pl portal found out, the proceedings are ongoing, which means that so far no one has been charged. To date, the Military Police Department in Oleszno has questioned some of the witnesses to the incident.
“Further witness interviews are planned as the investigation continues. Additionally, efforts are underway to obtain the lists on which the signatures in support of the presidential candidate were allegedly collected. The goal is to determine beyond any reasonable doubt whether a crime was committed and to identify the full range of individuals who witnessed the events. The investigation is ongoing,”
the prosecutor’s office informed Niezależna.