Request for the waiver of the immunity of Adam Bielan
This decision concerns a request to waive the parliamentary immunity of Adam Bielan, a Member of the European Parliament. The waiver was requested by a Polish court in connection with criminal proceedings for alleged defamation. The proceedings relate to statements made by Adam Bielan during a radio interview on 10 March 2023. These statements concerned the operation and management of the Polish National Centre for Research and Development. The European Parliament decided to waive Mr. Bielan's immunity because it found no direct and obvious connection between his statements and the performance of his parliamentary duties. The Parliament also found no evidence that the legal proceedings were intended to undermine his political activity. The decision to waive immunity was made on 11 March 2025. The President of the European Parliament will forward this decision to the competent authorities in Poland and to Adam Bielan.
Analysis
A request for the waiver of parliamentary immunity of Adam Bielan was transmitted by the District Court for Warsaw-Śródmieście, Criminal Division V.
What changes
- The European Parliament decides to waive the immunity of Adam Bielan.
- The President of the European Parliament is instructed to forward the decision and the committee's report to the competent authority of Poland and to Adam Bielan.
Expected impact
- The waiver of immunity means that Adam Bielan can be subjected to criminal proceedings in Poland in connection with statements made during a radio interview.
- The decision to waive immunity is based on the assessment that the alleged defamatory statements do not appear to have a direct and obvious connection with Adam Bielan's parliamentary duties.
- The proceedings are related to alleged defamation under Polish law, specifically Article 212(1) and (2) of the Polish Criminal Code.
Limitations
- The document does not contain information on the specific outcome of the criminal proceedings in Poland following the waiver of immunity.
- The document does not detail the exact nature of the 'private indictment' beyond it being related to defamation.
- The document does not provide the full text of the statements made by Adam Bielan that led to the request for waiver of immunity.
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