– If the president of the Institute of National Remembrance, Karol Nawrocki, gets involved in the campaign, and it is obvious to me that he will have to, he will face various accusations – said Wojciech Hermeliński, former chairman of the National Electoral Commission, in “Tak jest”. In his opinion, the PiS candidate for president will have to engage in “trials or arguments” during the campaign. – This will probably not be compatible with the dignity of the office he holds – said Hermeliński. He referred to the discussion about whether, under the law, the head of the Institute of National Remembrance can run for the presidency without resigning from his position.
Wojciech Hermeliński, retired judge of the Constitutional Tribunal, former chairman NECreferred to various opinions regarding the candidate in “Tak jest” on TVN24 PIS for president Karol Nawrocki. The subject of discussion is whether Nawrocki should resign as president of the Institute of National Remembrance in connection with running in the elections.
According to some politicians and experts, this results from the Act on Institute of National Remembrancewhich in Art. 11 pairs 7. states that the president of this institution “may not belong to a political party, trade union or conduct public activities incompatible with the dignity of his office.” Nawrocki himself declared on Friday that as of the day the Speaker of the Sejm ordered the presidential elections will go on leave from the Institute.
“I'm afraid the leave may not be enough”
Hermeliński was asked on TVN24 whether, in his opinion, leave is enough in this case or whether resignation is necessary.
“I'm afraid the leave may not be enough,” he replied. He argued that “the function Mr. Nawrocki performs is a special one.”
– The institution where he works is an extremely apolitical institution. And the president of the Institute is also an extremely apolitical person. All the more so because Article 11 of the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance clearly states that he cannot belong to a political party, cannot be a member of a trade union and, most importantly, the last part of this provision states that the President of the Institute of National Remembrance cannot perform a function that would not be possible be reconciled with the dignity of his office, he continued.
In his opinion, “if the president of the Institute of National Remembrance gets involved in this campaign, and it is obvious to me that he will have to participate in it, he will face various accusations.” – Will this be easily reconciled with the dignity of the office he represents? – he asked.
– Of course, I cannot suggest or recommend anything here, because I am only expressing such an opinion or suspicion – he reserved.
Hermeliński: This will probably be incompatible with the dignity of the office
He also referred to an analysis that – as he said – was once conducted by Judge Jacek Sobczak, currently a retired judge of the Supreme Court.
– He analyzed a number of files from the election times, files of electoral processes, where there were statements such that I would be ashamed to quote them. And I am afraid that such statements will be made. They will be directed at candidates and opponents. (…) Probably also addressed to Mr. Nawrocki. He will have to respond to this, he will have to engage in these kinds of lawsuits or such arguments. This will probably not be compatible with the dignity of the office he holds. So there may be a problem here when it comes to the third premise of Article 11 – explained Hermeliński.
Main photo source: PAP/Tomasz Golla