Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram was elected by the Sejm as Poland’s new Commissioner for Human Rights, securing the support of 233 MPs. Moments after the vote, the governing coalition’s candidate was questioned by a TV Republika reporter about her role in the “Wejście” (“Entry”) group and the events surrounding the takeover of Poland’s public media in 2023. She declined to answer most of the questions before ending the interview with journalists and walking away.
Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram was elected as the new Commissioner for Human Rights after defeating Adam Borowski, an anti-communist opposition activist from the communist era and head of the Warsaw Gazeta Polska Club. Gregorczyk-Abram, a lawyer nominated by the parliamentary groups of Civic Coalition (KO) and The Left (Lewica), received 233 votes, while Borowski secured 177. The required majority was 213 votes.
As previously reported, Gregorczyk-Abram became widely known for her activities against the Law and Justice (PiS) government through the Free Courts initiative and her advocacy for what she described as the rule of law. In December 2023, Niezalezna revealed the contents of messages exchanged in the well-known “Wejście” WhatsApp group, where discussions allegedly concerned the takeover of Poland’s public media.
Gregorczyk-Abram Again Avoids Questions About the “Wejście” Group
Several days earlier, during a meeting of the Sejm’s Justice and Human Rights Committee, Law and Justice (PiS) MP Sebastian Kaleta asked Gregorczyk-Abram whether she had belonged to the WhatsApp group known as “Wejście,” where participants allegedly discussed the takeover of public media in December 2023.
Kaleta also asked what role she had played in the operation, whether she had consulted documents related to replacing the management of public broadcasters, and whether she was the author of a message stating: “It smells like martial law, but it’s better to have fifty people shouting than proof of the government’s helplessness.” He requested that she identify the author if she had not written it herself.
The MP also questioned her relationship with prosecutor Ewa Wrzosek. Referring to media reports and information from the prosecutor’s office, Kaleta said Wrzosek had allegedly worked through the law firm Clifford Chance on documents concerning the takeover of public media. Gregorczyk-Abram was also said to have cooperated with Clifford Chance. He therefore asked whether she had met Wrzosek at the firm’s office on Lwowska Street, whether those discussions concerned Polish Television (TVP), whether TVP had been a client of the law firm, and whether Gregorczyk-Abram had participated in Clifford Chance’s legal work related to TVP during its liquidation process.
No answers were given. Instead, members of the December 13 coalition attempted to drown out the questions posed by the Law and Justice (PiS) MP.
Questions Repeated After the Vote
Following Thursday’s vote in the Sejm, a TV Republika journalist repeated the same questions as Gregorczyk-Abram left the parliamentary chamber.
“I am very pleased that the Sejm has approved my candidacy. I accept it with great humility and a strong sense of responsibility. We are only at the first stage. The Senate’s decision is still ahead. That is why I approach this process with even greater humility, as it has not yet been concluded,” she told reporters.
A TV Republika reporter then asked: “Are you ashamed of your actions toward Father Jacek Stryczek?”
The government’s candidate for Commissioner for Human Rights replied: “I have never taken any actions against Father Jacek Stryczek.”
The next question was: “What was your role in the ‘Wejście’ group?” This time, no answer followed.
The reporter continued: “What was your role in the unlawful forceful takeover of Polish Television?”
Gregorczyk-Abram responded: “I have answered that question many times. I have never held any authorization to act on behalf of any public media outlet.”
Shortly afterward, she ended the conversation with the media. However, the TV Republika reporter continued asking questions, including: “Were you a member of the ‘Wejście’ group? Citizens have the right to know. Could you once again explain what your role was in the ‘Wejście’ group during the unlawful takeover of Polish Television? Should the Commissioner for Human Rights participate in actions such as the unlawful takeover of a television broadcaster?”