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Opposition MP to sue for being 'illegally' excluded from debate

PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek 23.01.2017 07:39
An opposition deputy, whose 16 December exclusion from debate sparked a parliamentary crisis in Poland, has announced he will take the matter to a top European court.
Civic Platform (PO) MP Michał Szczerba after being excluded from parliamentary debate on 16 December. Photo: Facebook.com/Poseł Michał Szczerba.Civic Platform (PO) MP Michał Szczerba after being excluded from parliamentary debate on 16 December. Photo: Facebook.com/Poseł Michał Szczerba.

"I will sue the Speaker [of Poland's lower house] to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for his decision to illegally exclude me from the session,” the MP, Michał Szczerba, wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

Speaker Marek Kuchciński came under fire when he excluded Szczerba from debate in parliament on 16 December after the MP raised the issue of contentious plans to change media access to the parliamentary building.

Opposition MPs then stormed the rostrum, blocking proceedings, and conducted a sit-in.

After several hours of recess, the debate was moved to an ancillary hall, and a key budget vote was held by a show a hands.

The vote was slammed as illegal by opposition parties, who questioned whether a quorum was met. Some opposition MPs also claim they were denied entry into the ancillary hall and were therefore not allowed to take part in the vote.

Law and Justice denies the charges. (vb)

Source: PAP

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