Several posts have appeared on social media suggesting that the Ministry of Justice intends to allow foreigners to serve as judges and prosecutors in Poland. One of the materials being shared includes the headline: “The Ministry of Justice wants to allow foreigners to take up the office of judge and prosecutor.”
Posts based on this slogan have sparked a wave of outrage, especially in groups geared toward amplifying fear and distrust toward people from abroad. However, the problem is not that the headline is false, but that it has been taken out of context, stripped of basic information, and presented in a way that encourages manipulation. In the article below, we analyze what the source actually says, how the misunderstanding arose, and why it is worth being cautious toward simplified and emotional messaging.
“The Ministry of Justice wants to allow foreigners to take up the office of judge and prosecutor” — this headline alone was enough to ignite outrage in an anti-Ukrainian group and fuel a narrative of “betrayal.” Hundreds of reactions appeared despite the absence of basic information that completely changes the meaning of the message.
The problem, however, is not that the information is false. The problem is how it was presented. Namely: without any excerpt from the article, without legal context, without explaining what cases it concerns, and without indicating that it does not refer to “any foreigners,” but specifically to people with dual citizenship who, by definition, are also citizens of Poland.
This is a classic example of a message which—although based on a real headline—was used manipulatively, leading to incorrect interpretations and provoking strong emotions.
What does the article from which the headline comes actually say?
The source referred to in the post is, among others, Kresy.pl. In reality, the text explains that the Ministry of Justice is working on returning to the principle that existed before the PiS government, according to which a Polish citizen who holds a second citizenship could serve as a judge or prosecutor.
It is therefore not about allowing a foreigner without Polish citizenship to become a judge, nor about letting someone from abroad enter the Polish judiciary without language proficiency, nor about citizens of other states taking over public offices.
It concerns exclusively people who hold Polish citizenship, who additionally possess a second citizenship (e.g., Polish-German, Polish-Ukrainian, Polish-French), and who—before the 2018 changes—were allowed to perform these professions without obstacles.
Why does the headline taken out of context mislead?
The headline itself is technically correct, but:
- It does not say that it concerns Polish citizens with an additional citizenship.
The word foreigners suggests people from outside Poland who have no connection to the state, language, constitution, or oath of office. - It does not explain that the change concerns returning to the legal state from before 2018.
So this is not some new concept, but a reversal of an irregular restriction. - It does not provide any legal arguments or reasons for the change.
Without this, the reader fills in the gaps with assumptions about what is “definitely” going to happen. - It was published in a group whose aim is to stir fear of Ukraine.
The headline fits perfectly into a narrative of external threat, which is why emotions dominate over facts.
How did readers react – emotions over knowledge
The comments below the post show how dangerous context-free communication can be. Among them were (original spelling):
“high treason”
“They will lead to the 4th partition of Poland”
“they’re selling out Poland!!!”
“Never, how many Polish judges rule in Germany??”
These are typical reactions driven by impulse, not analysis. The comments show rising hostility toward foreigners.
This case shows how true information can be manipulated by removing the context. The headline about “foreigners” in reality concerns only Polish citizens with a second citizenship, who previously could perform these functions. The lack of context and publication in a fear-oriented group triggered emotional and incorrect reactions.
It is worth remembering that headlines never replace the full article, and content published in groups focused on stoking fear is often selectively chosen. People with dual citizenship are full citizens of Poland and have the same rights as everyone else. Therefore, before reacting emotionally to such a piece of content, it is wise to click the source and check the entire text.