Left wants to take PM to State Tribunal

Poland's Left (Lewica) political grouping wants to take Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to the State Tribunal after the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw ruled that he broke the law over an April decision on a postal presidential ballot.

Morawiecki's April decision obliged the Polish Post Office (Poczta Polska) to prepare a postal vote for the presidency. The court ruled that the PM's decision was invalid.

"The law provides two grounds for annulment: when it grossly violates the law, or was issued without grounds. In the court's opinion, both of these grounds existed in this case," the Warsaw court ruled.

"The Warsaw Administrative Court's verdict shows that the Polish prime minister broke the law, which gives a basis for us to talk about the State Tribunal in the future of the Polish prime minister," the leader of the Left's parliamentary club, Krzysztof Gawkowski, said. "A few months ago, we heard that everything was in line with the law. The court refuted that. PiS (the ruling Law and Justice party - PAP) has always defended the decision and the impunity law was to get rid of the problem."

The Left leader went on to say that in his grouping's opinion, "the matter cannot be forgotten and we cannot sweep it under the rug."

"We are starting talks today and we will want the opposition to talk jointly about a motion on the subject of the State Tribunal for PM Mateusz Morawiecki," Gawkowski said, adding that it should be a joint decision, which would be a "milestone in opposition relations."

Gawkowski said the Civic Coalition (KO) bloc as well as the Polish People's Party (PSL) and Confederation (Konfederacja) would receive an official letter from the Left inviting them to talks on taking Morawiecki to the State Tribunal, which judges offences by state officials.