Marcin Romanowski, from the previous right-wing coalition government of the United Right, is suspected of misusing public funds during his term in office, by embezzling over 112 million zlotys (€26,1 million) intended to support crime victims.
He was arrested by the Internal Security Agency in July after the Polish parliament approved his pre-trial detention and waived his immunity, but a few days later a Warsaw court refused to approve his arrest, citing his protection under the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) immunity.
The prosecutor’s office appealed the decision, but on September 27, a higher court upheld the ruling.
In September, Polish Attorney General Adam Bodnar sent a request for the waiver of Romanowski’s immunity to PACE. Following a vote in which 85 out of 111 delegates supported the motion, Romanowski's immunity was removed.
Left-wing Senator Magdalena Biejat said that PACE delegates were not judging Romanowski’s guilt but merely allowing Polish courts to determine the outcome.
She dismissed claims that the MP would not receive a fair trial in Poland, pointing out that the court had already respected his PACE immunity in a previous ruling.
Romanowski left Strasbourg after learning of the request to lift his immunity and told the chairwoman of the PACE Rules Committee that he was returning to Poland to prepare for a hearing but ultimately did not attend the session.
PACE’s immunity protections cover delegates from its 46 member states, including Poland’s parliamentarians and senators.
The Council of Europe, headquartered in Strasbourg, focuses on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across Europe, with a broader membership than the European Union.
