Sejm Speaker Szymon Hołownia said he had spoken with Prime Minister Donald Tusk about next year's presidential elections and whether there could be a joint candidate for the ruling coalition. “We decided that such a date, which is hard to miss due to political dynamics, is probably late December before Christmas,” he said. He added that by then this discussion “should be somehow concluded.”
The Speaker of the Sejm was asked at a press conference whether he had made a decision about running in next year's presidential elections and whether it was possible that there would be a joint candidate of the entire government coalition.
– We also talked about this with the Prime Minister. Donald Tusk during our last meeting, wondering together where the moment would be when we could, as coalition parties, but also as a coalition, say what we decide – whether one candidate is running, which one of us will be it, because today it is not a foregone conclusion whether everyone will choose their own candidate or not.
– And we jointly decided that such a date, which is hard to miss due to political dynamics, is probably late December before Christmas. By then these talks should take place, by then this discussion should be somehow concluded – he said.
– There will be time to talk about candidates, about one or many, and we still have a few months for that. We will probably have to make these decisions by Christmas, both in coalition and individually – he added.
– I am seriously thinking about running, but I haven't made a decision because I don't know yet where we will be in three or four months, where Poland will be, where its needs will be – he added.
Hołownia: seven candidates were nominated for the commission on paedophilia
Hołownia also reported that seven candidates had been submitted to the state commission on paedophilia. He said that he did not rule out that there would be a public hearing for these candidates. – I was very surprised and pleased that as many as seven candidates had been submitted to the state commission on paedophilia by various political groups on time – said the Speaker of the Sejm.
He added that it is possible that public hearings of these candidates will be held. – Everyone will be able to familiarize themselves with their achievements. Everyone will be able to find out what they represent. This works for us, these public hearings of candidates for various institutions, (…). I think that this may be a significant step forward in the activities of this committee, which we need so much – said the marshal.
Szymon HolowniaTVN24
Hołownia: the president is the main brake on change
Hołownia also commented on the president's decision Andrzej Duda regarding the act on the National Council of the Judiciary. The President referred it to the Constitutional Tribunal in the preventive control procedure. According to Andrzej Duda, the provisions of the amendment raise constitutional doubts in the scope of: the passive electoral right of judges to the National Council of the Judiciary, questioning the prerogative of the president to appoint judges and interrupting the term of office of the current composition of the Council. Hołownia assessed that “it is sad that the president consistently plays the role of the main brake on changes in the Republic of Poland at the end of his term”. – I do not know how it is possible to delay and do nothing with the subject of the National Council of the Judiciary in a situation where in some courts there is no one left to adjudicate due to doubts regarding the status of judges – he assessed. The Speaker of the Sejm said that “the current mess does not serve Poland, it destroys it, bringing all Poles to the edge of a legal abyss”. – This march must be stopped as soon as possible – he added.
Hołownia also announced that a conference with the participation of politicians and experts will be organized in the parliament at the beginning of September, devoted to the Constitutional Tribunal. The idea is to “think about what's next for the Constitutional Tribunal”. – I think that today we really need such a plan, such a road map in the face of this cascading crisis that we have in the Tribunal – added Hołownia.
Hołownia: the issue of withdrawing Romanowski's delegation does not exist at the moment
The Marshal of the Sejm was also asked whether he was considering recalling the delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe of Marcin Romanowski, who avoided arrest due to immunity.
Hołownia said that there is no custom or specific regulations regarding the recall of a member of the delegation to the European Parliament. In his opinion, in the case of Romanowski, “a considerable exchange of correspondence awaits him” with the chairman of the European Parliament Theodoros Rousopoulos. In the opinion of the Speaker, the European Parliament will “very strongly defend its area of competence”. – We would not like to be recognized as someone who violates the competences of a body that we voluntarily joined, and also be accused of doing so for some political reasons. This must take place on a purely legal basis – emphasized Hołownia. He noted that the case will be analyzed in the coming weeks, while “the topic of withdrawing Mr. Romanowski's delegation does not exist at the moment”.
Hołownia also said that he had received another pool of candidates for members of the delegation to the European Parliament. He also recalled the procedure for electing members of the delegation to the European Parliament – the Sejm presidium determines how many members there are per club, after approving the parity, the clubs submit candidates, and the Speaker signs the authorization for the European Parliament.
– I asked as a precaution. Ministry of Justicewhether in the case of any of them there are any open proceedings, there are any doubts whether any of these people who are now to be reported are in the interest of any justice. I received the answer that no. In connection with the above, I signed such a delegation – he informed.
Main image source: TVN24