PiS names Adam Borowski as candidate for Ombudsman

The Law and Justice party (PiS) has put forward Adam Borowski, a prominent figure from the anti-communist opposition during the PRL era and chairman of the Warsaw club of 'Gazeta Polska,' as its candidate for Poland's Ombudsman. Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński announced the nomination, stating his belief that Borowski would significantly enhance the safety of Poles.

Kaczyński acknowledged the political maneuvering required to secure the position, particularly in the Sejm, while admitting the Senate might present greater difficulties. He expressed a strong commitment to supporting Borowski's candidacy, even humorously suggesting the party would go to extreme lengths to ensure his chances.

Borowski, born in 1955, has a long history of activism. He joined the Solidarity trade union in 1980 and organized a strike after the imposition of martial law in 1981. He co-founded the Volumen Publishing House in 1989 and has been involved in various right-wing and independence movements. He also served as the Honorary Consul of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in Poland and has twice unsuccessfully run for the Sejm on the PiS list.

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We will stand on our heads or even, as they say, on our ears, to ensure that in this somewhat crumbling arrangement in the Sejm, he still has some chance; it will be worse with the Senate.

His candidacy comes amid a contentious legal battle with Roman Giertych, whom Borowski accused of collaborating with criminals. Borowski was sentenced to six months for failing to apologize on social media as ordered by a court. A group of 25 anti-communist opposition activists, including notable figures like Czesław Bielecki, Władysław Frasyniuk, and Zbigniew Bujak, have penned an open letter in his defense.

The current Ombudsman, Marcin Wiącek, whose five-year term concludes on July 23, is nearing the end of his tenure. The deadline for submitting candidacies for his successor is June 23. The Ombudsman is appointed by the Sejm with the Senate's consent, initiated by the Sejm Marshal or a group of 35 deputies. Meanwhile, the Civic Coalition party has begun collecting signatures for its candidate, Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram.

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Poles would be much safer than today.