Interventions

Together with other organizations, we appealed to, among others, the Speakers of the Sejm and Senate as well as parliamentary groups and circles, for the swift disclosure of information about the candidates for the position of President of the Supreme Audit Office (the highest state audit body in Poland) and for the organization of a public hearing. The Speaker of the Sejm has responded to our letter.

In a letter dated August 8, 2025, the Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, informed us that the public hearing of candidates for the position of President of the Supreme Audit Office will take place on September 8 at 2:00 p.m. Together with other organizations, we also appealed to Minister Jan Grabiec to involve civil society in the process of selecting the new President of the Office of Electronic Communications (the regulatory authority for the telecommunications and postal services market). In this parliamentary term, the role of this office will change due to new responsibilities that are significant from the perspective of digital human rights.

At the local level

Watchdog Poland strongly criticizes the proposal to abolish the two-term limit for mayors and city presidents (provisions proposed by one of the government’s coalition partners). The organization stresses that maintaining this limit supports local democracy, prevents monopolization of power, and ensures greater rotation in local authorities.

While longer service may provide experience and continuity, in practice it often leads to stagnation, clientelism, and weakened oversight mechanisms.

Watchdog calls for the rejection of the bill lifting the two-term limit and points instead to other measures that could strengthen local democracy – such as greater transparency, stronger municipal councils, restrictions on holding multiple offices, and support for civic engagement.

Daily life at Watchdog Poland

 From April to June, we traveled across Poland to talk with residents about transparency as part of our project “Transparency on the Road”. Before the summer break, we visited a total of 24 towns, and in September we will return to local meetings. During the summer break, at the invitation of our members, we visited Hajnówka (a town in the Podlaskie region of Poland). The meeting was co-organized by the mayor of the Hajnówka municipality, Lucyna Grygoruk-Smoktunowicz.