Citizens’ Legislative Initiative in Socially Controversial Matters Submitted to the Sejm of the 8th Term

Abstract

The institution of a citizens’ legislative initiative has been functioning in the Polish legal order for over 20 years now. It is a very important instrument co-creating civil society because it is one of the forms enabling citizens to express themselves in topics that are of relevance for them. The subject of this article is to present parliamentary works in the field of socially controversial projects that were submitted to the Sejm of the 8th term. It is the citizens’ bill amending the act on prevention and combating infections and infectious diseases in humans, as submitted by the “STOP NOP” Committee for Citizens’ Initiative. This project had already aroused huge controversy and discussion at the stage of collecting signatures among eligible citizens. Also in the Sejm, during parliamentary work, he shared the political scene and experts who have been appointed by both, supporters and opponents of the anti-vaccine movement. The MPs of the majority party in the parliament advocated the necessity to proceed with the civic project, due to the need to appreciate and respect due to every initiative of the citizens.