“There needs to be change in flawed law, but not at the expense of children,” wrote fans of Górnik Zabrze, referring to the veto by President Karol Nawrocki on amendments to the criminal procedure code. The supporters acknowledged that the president was right.
The Sejm did not agree to override President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of the extensive reform of criminal procedure, meaning the bill was not passed again. The reform concerned, among other things, a ban on the use of illegally obtained evidence and limitations on pre-trial detention. Twenty votes were missing to overturn the presidential veto. The head of the Presidential Chancellery, Zbigniew Bogucki, said in the Sejm that Karol Nawrocki does not agree to prolonged pre-trial detentions, but also does not agree “to protecting paedophiles.”
The provisions that were to come into force undermined the protection of minors, as was also highlighted in publications by Niezalezna.pl. Legal circles also appealed for a veto. The bill assumed that law enforcement authorities would not be able to apply pre-trial detention in cases under Article 200a §2, that is:
“Whoever, via an ICT system or telecommunications network, proposes to a minor under the age of 15 sexual intercourse, submitting to or performing another sexual act, or participation in the production or recording of pornographic content, and seeks to carry it out, shall be subject to a fine, restriction of liberty, or imprisonment for up to 2 years.”
“This shows how underdeveloped these provisions were and why the President vetoed this law,” Bogucki stated.
After the veto, many groups of supporters displayed banners in stadiums, which were interpreted as protests against the president’s decision. However, after calmly analyzing the arguments presented by the president’s circle, fans now admit that Karol Nawrocki was right. During the Holy Saturday match against Cracovia (3:0), Górnik Zabrze supporters displayed a telling banner.
“Article 60 is a privilege for the biggest whores and scum – there needs to be change in flawed law, but not at the expense of children,” wrote Górnik fans bluntly.