Patryk Jaki

Patryk Jaki (born 11 May 1985 in Opole) is a Polish politician affiliated with the Law and Justice (PiS) party, who has served as a Member of the European Parliament since 2019 and co-chairs the European Conservatives and Reformists Group. Previously, he held the position of Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Justice from 2015 to 2019, with a focus on penitentiary systems and criminology, including founding the Polish Institute of Criminology and the Academy for Criminology and Penitentiary Study. Jaki is recognized for his involvement in conservative politics and national justice reforms, such as initiatives addressing historical narratives and penal policy. A political scientist with a doctorate in security studies, he has also engaged in local electoral campaigns and parliamentary activities emphasizing reformist and Eurosceptic positions within the ECR framework.

Early life and education

Upbringing and early influences

Patryk Jaki was born on 11 May 1985 in Opole, Poland.

He grew up in the Opole region, where local community dynamics and regional issues contributed to his formative experiences.

Academic background and initial career

Jaki graduated from the University of Wrocław with a master's degree in political science in 2010.

He later earned a PhD in safety sciences.

National political career

Sejm membership

Patryk Jaki was elected to the Sejm in the 2011 parliamentary elections as a representative of the Law and Justice party from the Opole constituency (district 21), serving in the seventh term from 2011 to 2015. He secured re-election in 2015 for the eighth term, continuing his representation of Opole until 2019.

These roles involved initiatives to enhance penitentiary operations and social readaptation programs for convicts.

Jaki advanced legislative efforts in criminal justice and emphasized reforms to the penitentiary system.

Ministry of Justice roles

Patryk Jaki was appointed Undersecretary of State in the Polish Ministry of Justice in November 2015, following the Law and Justice (PiS) party's formation of government after the parliamentary elections. In this role, he focused on executive responsibilities within the justice system under Minister Zbigniew Ziobro.

Jaki oversaw the Polish penitentiary system for nearly four years, from 2015 to 2019, serving as chairman of the Polish Council of Penitentiary Policy.

He led efforts in prison reform, authoring legislation that modernized the prison service for the first time since 1989, including the “‘Work for Prisoners’ programme” to promote inmate rehabilitation through employment. Jaki also directed teams responsible for amendments to the Code of Penal Execution, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and penal policies.

European Parliament career

2019 election and entry

Patryk Jaki stood as a candidate for the European Parliament in the 2019 elections on the Law and Justice (PiS) party list, securing a seat in constituency no. 10 (Kraków). He officially took office as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) on 2 July 2019.

Upon entry, Jaki affiliated with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group, serving as a member from the outset of the 9th parliamentary term. This alignment positioned him within a political group emphasizing conservative and reformist principles in the Parliament.

Jaki's initial integration involved adapting to European Parliament procedures, including participation in group briefings and early legislative activities aligned with ECR priorities. His national experience in justice reforms provided a foundation for engaging in EP debates on related matters.

Leadership positions and committees

Upon his election to the European Parliament in 2019, Patryk Jaki has held key leadership roles within the institution. He was elected Co-Chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group in December 2024, a position assumed to guide the group's conservative agenda.

In the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO), Jaki serves as Coordinator for the ECR Group, overseeing the group's contributions to debates on EU treaties, institutional reforms, and parliamentary procedures.

Jaki also participates as a substitute member in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), focusing on related policy areas such as energy policy and technological innovation.

Political positions and activities

Domestic policy stances

Jaki has advocated for conservative reforms in Poland's justice system, emphasizing modernization and efficiency during his tenure as Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice. As deputy minister, he supported measures to discipline judges involved in political activities or public criticism of government reforms, framing such actions as necessary to maintain judicial professionalism and impartiality.

In the penitentiary domain, Jaki authored key legislation reforming the prison system, marking the first comprehensive update since 1989, which included the "Work for Convicts" program aimed at increasing prisoner employment and rehabilitation through labor. This initiative reportedly boosted employment rates among inmates by 50%, aligning with broader goals of reducing recidivism and promoting self-sufficiency within correctional facilities.

His stances reflect strong alignment with the Law and Justice (PiS) party's domestic priorities, particularly on law and order, where he has endorsed policies strengthening state authority over judicial and penal institutions to combat perceived inefficiencies inherited from previous administrations. As PiS vice-president, Jaki has contributed to the party's internal cohesion by promoting these reformist positions, which prioritize national sovereignty in legal matters and conservative values in governance.

Views on European issues

Patryk Jaki has consistently advocated for prioritizing national sovereignty over deeper EU integration, warning that excessive supranational authority erodes member states' autonomy and competitiveness. He argues that the EU's current trajectory diminishes Europe's global standing, as evidenced by the bloc's significantly declined share of world GDP over two decades due to overregulation and centralized policies.

In critiquing EU federalism, Jaki promotes a reformist conservative vision that emphasizes returning to principles of freedom, competition, and reduced bureaucratic burdens rather than expanding federal powers. He has opposed initiatives perceived as advancing federalist agendas, such as unequal trade deals and overreaching environmental regulations like the Green Deal, which he views as threats to national economic resilience and sovereignty.

As coordinator for the ECR Group in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Jaki engages in European Parliament debates on constitutional matters and civil liberties, often from a perspective safeguarding national interests against perceived encroachments like censorship of dissenting rhetoric. He has called for urgent plenary discussions to defend democratic freedoms, positioning such interventions as essential to counter federalist overreach that could undermine citizen rights at the national level.