Who will be the new Ombudsman? Public hearings for candidates begin in parliament

Poland's parliament has begun public hearings for candidates vying to become the next Ombudsman for Human Rights (RPO). The current Ombudsman, Prof. Marcin Wiącek, will end his five-year term on July 23. The position is limited to two five-year terms for any individual.

Two candidates are seeking to succeed Prof. Wiącek. Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram, nominated by the Civic Coalition and The Left parliamentary clubs, is a lawyer and human rights defender. She co-founded initiatives like Wolne Sądy (Free Courts) and the Committee for the Defense of Justice. Her nominators highlighted her experience in strategic cases before the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union, including actions that led to the suspension of the Supreme Court's Disciplinary Chamber.

Adam Borowski, nominated by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, is an opposition activist from the communist era who faced repression under the PRL regime. He studied history at the University of Warsaw and was expelled after the imposition of martial law in 1981. He was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta in 2006 for his role in democratic changes. Borowski has been associated with the PiS milieu and previously chaired the Poland-Chechnya Committee and served as a volunteer advisor on Chechen refugees to the Ombudsman's office.

The hearings are intended to allow candidates to present their experience, qualifications, and vision for the role. The process of appointing an Ombudsman is governed by law, with the current term ending soon and a new candidate set to be selected.