On 6 May 2025, the European Parliament voted to waive the parliamentary immunity of Grzegorz Braun, a Polish MEP. This means that the Polish judicial authorities can now bring criminal proceedings against him for acts committed before his European mandate.
Grzegorz Braun, elected as an MEP in 2024, is the subject of a request to waive immunity from the Polish authorities. This request concerns acts he allegedly committed before taking office in the European Parliament. As an MEP, he enjoys immunity that protects him from prosecution, unless Parliament decides to waive it. The Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) examined the request and concluded that there was no fumus persecutionis (indication of political persecution), meaning that the request was not politically motivated.
The European Parliament voted in favour of waiving Grzegorz Braun's immunity. In practical terms, this allows the Polish judicial authorities to prosecute him for the acts mentioned in the request. Parliament's decision does not prejudge Mr Braun's guilt or innocence; it merely removes a procedural obstacle so that justice can take its course.
The vote was taken by a show of hands, without the exact number of votes for or against being recorded. The proposal was adopted, indicating a clear majority in favour of waiving immunity.
This decision shows that MEPs are not above national laws. Parliamentary immunity exists to protect elected representatives from abusive prosecution, but it is not absolute. When a Member State's judiciary requests a waiver of immunity for serious acts, Parliament can grant it, thus allowing the judicial process to proceed normally. For citizens, this means that MEPs remain subject to the law and that the European Parliament cooperates with national authorities to uphold the rule of law.
Approximate match via declared fields of interest. This does not prove influence on this vote.
