Poland’s President Grants Pardons & Rejects Clemency Requests

Warsaw – On February 2, 2026, Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced decisions on eight requests for clemency, granting pardons to three individuals and denying five others. The decisions were based on positive opinions from the courts and humanitarian considerations, including difficult health or family situations faced by those convicted.

According to a statement released by the President’s office, the courts favorably reviewed the requests for clemency. However, the Prosecutor General recommended against granting clemency in five cases.

Karol Nawrocki Grants Pardons, Requests Further Review of Cases

President Nawrocki also requested files from the Prosecutor General for review in four additional cases, invoking Article 567 § 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This provision allows the President to request the Prosecutor General to submit case files or initiate clemency proceedings at their discretion.

Presidential Spokesman Rafał Leśkiewicz explained that this action allows the President to consider cases further.

The pardons granted today were issued with varying conditions. One individual convicted of unintentionally causing a catastrophic traffic accident resulting in death or serious injury had their prison sentence conditionally suspended. The decision cited the individual’s advanced age, poor health, expression of remorse and a one-time nature of the offense as contributing factors.

Another pardon was granted to an individual convicted of making threats, with the prison sentence fully remitted. This decision considered the individual’s advanced age, the distant time of the offense, and their adherence to the law following the conviction.

The third pardon was granted to a person convicted of fraud, economic crimes in large amounts, and harming creditors. In this case, the President conditionally suspended the prison sentence and placed the individual under the supervision of a probation officer. The decision considered the difficult family situation due to a serious illness of a close family member, the need to provide care, and the individual’s adherence to the law after the conviction.

The President’s office stated that in each case, humanitarian considerations were paramount in the decision-making process.