Today, the Sejm elected a new Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman). The two candidates were Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram, a lawyer nominated by the parliamentary groups of Civic Coalition (KO) and The Left (Lewica), and Adam Borowski, a former anti-communist opposition activist during the Polish People’s Republic and head of the Warsaw branch of the Gazeta Polska Club. Gregorczyk-Abram received the larger number of votes – 233 – and was elected to the post.
The Polish Sejm voted today to choose the country’s next Commissioner for Human Rights, who will replace Prof. Marcin Wiącek, whose term of office expires next week.
The two candidates were Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram, nominated by the parliamentary groups of the governing coalition, and Adam Borowski, nominated by the parliamentary group of Law and Justice (PiS).
Earlier this week, both candidates took part in a public hearing held in the Sejm.
Today, PiS MP Mariusz Gosek presented Adam Borowski’s candidacy from the parliamentary podium.
“There are people who speak about freedom, and there are those who paid for freedom with their health, their families’ suffering, and years spent in prison. Mr. Adam Borowski belongs to the latter,” Gosek began.
At the start of Gosek’s speech, Prime Minister Donald Tusk left the chamber.
“Mr. Prime Minister, stay and listen. Shame on you!” Mariusz Gosek said.
Gosek went on to describe what he called numerous abuses of power by the December 13 Coalition, concerning the opposition, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and the media.
“We need a person who is capable of saying ‘no’ to any government whenever citizens’ freedoms and rights are being violated,” the PiS lawmaker said.
“The office of the Commissioner for Human Rights requires not only knowledge but also character. Knowledge can be acquired, but character is shaped over an entire lifetime. Mr. Adam Borowski has demonstrated his character during the most difficult moments in our nation’s history,” he added.
The candidacy of Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram, who was previously associated with the “Free Courts” initiative, was presented by KO MP Katarzyna Piekarska. Since 2025, Gregorczyk-Abram has served as chair of the commission established to investigate the mechanisms of repression against civil society organizations and social activists between 2015 and 2023.
Presenting the opinion of the Justice and Human Rights Committee, Paweł Śliz recommended that the Sejm vote in favor of Gregorczyk-Abram.
The Sejm agreed to hold a brief debate on the candidates before proceeding to the vote.
The vote took place shortly before 11:40 a.m.
Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram received 233 votes, while Adam Borowski received 177. An absolute majority of 213 votes was required for election.