Polish lawmakers trade barbs and animal noises in heated Sejm judicial vote

Disruption during ministerial speech

During the 4 September 2026 parliamentary sitting, proceedings in the Polish Sejm turned chaotic when opposition deputies emitted barking sounds from the floor. The noises erupted from benches occupied by Law and Justice (PiS) parliamentarians as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz addressed the chamber. Polish People's Party (PSL) leader Kosiniak-Kamysz was speaking in response to objections raised against judicial nominations when multiple lawmakers interrupted him with dog impressions, with one deputy shouting the word "little dog." Jakub Stefaniak, the deputy head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, recorded the incident on video and published it on social media. Video footage also captured former culture minister and current PiS deputy Dominika Chorosińska making barking noises during the address.

Clash over Constitutional Tribunal nomination

The confrontation occurred during debate preceding the parliamentary vote on appointing former government minister Maciej Berek to the Constitutional Tribunal. Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, had taken the rostrum to urge lawmakers to reject the candidacy. Bogucki claimed that Berek had not proved ten years of actual practice as a legal counsel, rather than mere registration on the bar list. Kosiniak-Kamysz responded directly to Bogucki from the podium, calling the presidential intervention an effort by the head of state's office to influence the sovereign legislature on judicial appointments.

Eight years they ruled the country. Today their contribution to the constitutional debate is barking from the parliamentary benches. It is hard to find a more telling picture of political degradation and the collapse of the entire Law and Justice party.

Voting results and coalition dissent

Despite the chaotic debate and floor protests, the Sejm formally approved Berek as a Constitutional Tribunal judge. Out of 437 deputies participating in the vote, Berek received 226 votes in favor, exceeding the absolute majority threshold of 219 votes. The vote revealed divisions within the ruling coalition, as several coalition parliamentarians broke ranks to vote against the government-backed candidate. Opposing votes came from Klaudia Jachira of Civic Coalition, Paweł Śliz of Polska 2050, Rafał Komarewicz of Centrum, and Sejm Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty of the New Left party, who had previously indicated he would align with his party majority.

Government reaction and parliamentary decorum

The behaviour of opposition deputies drew sharp condemnation from cabinet members and parliamentary leaders. Speaking later from the rostrum during debates touching on the Zondacrypto affair and presidential vetoes, Prime Minister Donald Tusk cited the barking incident alongside past insults by opposition deputies. Minister of Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński noted the unusual nature of the protest, stating that he had never seen such practices in his time in parliament. Head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery Jan Grabiec described the inarticulate shouts as evidence of deep agitation among opposition members facing ongoing prosecutorial investigations.

Because when someone barks and imitates a dog in the parliamentary chamber, it means that thought has fled from this parliamentary hall. Moreover, I notice that the moment a serious conversation begins on various issues, without offending anyone, of course, the right side often runs away from this parliamentary reason.