Adam Borowski named PiS candidate for Polish Ombudsman

Poland's ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) has announced that former anti‑communist opposition activist Adam Borowski will be its candidate for the office of Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich (Ombudsman). Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński told TV Republika the party would "stand on its head" to secure Borowski’s election, noting that the candidate may have a better chance in the Sejm than in the Senate.

Borowski, born in 1955, chairs the Warsaw club of the weekly "Gazeta Polska" and has a history of underground press work and solidarity activism. The current Ombudsman, Prof. Marcin Wiącek, sees his five‑year term end on 23 July, with the deadline for submitting nominations set for 23 June. While PiS backs Borowski, the opposition Civic Coalition (KO) has begun collecting signatures to support its own nominee, MP Sylwia Gregorczyk‑Abram.

The nomination process requires the Sejm, with Senate consent, to appoint the Ombudsman on the motion of the Sejm Marshal or a group of at least 35 deputies. An individual may serve no more than two terms.