Polish MEP Jacek Ozdoba was silenced in the European Parliament after accusing Justice Minister Adam Bodnar of breaking the rule of law. The political clash highlights growing tensions over Poland’s legal crisis.
Adam Bodnar Faces Accusations While PiS MEP Jacek Ozdoba Loses His Voice in LIBE Committee
In a heated session of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE), Polish Justice Minister Adam Bodnar faced accusations from PiS MEP Jacek Ozdoba regarding the ongoing legal and political crisis in Poland. However, Ozdoba was swiftly silenced by the committee’s chair, sparking controversy over the freedom of debate within the European Parliament.
Ozdoba’s Accusations Against Bodnar Cut Short
Jacek Ozdoba, representing the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, attempted to raise the issue of the ongoing investigation into an alleged coup d’état in Poland, in which Adam Bodnar and members of the current Polish government are accused. As Ozdoba took the floor, he stated:
“A person who violates the rule of law cannot speak about the rule of law. Let us remember that you are suspected of a coup d’état in Poland. You are facing up to 10 years in prison. Let us also remember that the Constitutional Tribunal in Poland is not functioning…”
Before he could continue, the session’s chair, Spanish MEP Javier Zarzalejos, intervened and switched off Ozdoba’s microphone.
“No, no, no, no. […] Such accusations cannot be made in this committee,” Zarzalejos stated firmly.
Despite Ozdoba’s attempts to continue speaking, his microphone was repeatedly cut off. Meanwhile, French MEP Fabienne Keller took the floor and thanked Minister Bodnar for his engagement, shifting the discussion in a completely different direction.
Bodnar Avoids Questions Outside the Debate
Following the heated exchange in the parliamentary chamber, Jacek Ozdoba attempted to question Bodnar during a press conference. However, according to Ozdoba, the Justice Minister avoided any confrontation.
“I didn’t even get to fully express my point or address yesterday’s topic. As soon as I started asking questions, the button to cut off my microphone was pressed. I was allegedly disrupting the proceedings,” Ozdoba told Republika TV.
He further elaborated:
“I didn’t violate any standards or regulations. I told the chair that this was my time, not his. Later, at the press conference, I wanted to ask questions, but when I approached Bodnar, he ran away from me. We live in a country where the Prosecutor General flees from MEPs and their questions.”
Political Tensions Over Rule of Law Debate
The debate surrounding Poland’s rule of law crisis remains one of the most contentious issues in the European Parliament. While the ruling coalition, led by Donald Tusk, insists on restoring legal order, PiS representatives claim that the current government is undermining Poland’s legal system. The accusations of a “coup d’état,” filed by Bogdan Święczkowski, the head of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, have further deepened the divide.
The incident in the LIBE committee highlights the growing tensions between Polish representatives in Brussels and raises questions about the limits of free speech in European parliamentary debates.