Speaking to private broadcaster Polsat News on Friday, Hołownia said he had been "repeatedly" urged to delay or refuse to convene the National Assembly, a joint session of both houses of parliament that formally inaugurates a president.
He said the pressure came from those who opposed the results of the presidential election.
'I call that a coup d’état'
"It was suggested, recommended, and I was asked whether I was ready to launch a coup—because that's what it boils down to," Hołownia told Polsat News.
"I call that a coup d’état," he added.
He clarified that his use of the term was not meant in a legal sense. "Of course, it doesn't meet the legal definition," he said. "But when a president has been elected and I say, 'I don’t like this president, so maybe I won’t swear him in,' that’s a coup in the political sense."
'Political diagnosis'
Facing intense political backlash, Hołownia took to social media on Saturday to further explain his remarks, emphasising that his "coup d’état" reference was intended as "a political diagnosis," not a legal accusation.
"I urge everyone not to see conspiracies where there are none," he said, reaffirming the legitimacy of the election and pledging to uphold democratic norms.
"I did not vote for Karol Nawrocki; he was not my candidate,” Hołownia said. "But as Speaker, I am obligated to respect the will of the voters, receive the oath from the president, ensure continuity of command over the armed forces, and engage with the president, even if we differ on many issues."
Calls for names, investigation
When asked to name those who allegedly approached him, Hołownia—who serves as Speaker of the lower house, the Sejm, and is a key figure in the governing coalition—declined, but hinted that "the time will come" when he might reveal their identities, possibly in future memoirs.
Opposition leaders, including members of the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, seized on the remarks, calling them serious enough to warrant a formal investigation.
Some accused Hołownia of political theatre, while others said the allegations, if true, would amount to a threat to Poland’s constitutional order and democracy.
Małgorzata Paprocka, a senior aide to outgoing President Andrzej Duda, said over the weekend she had spoken with Hołownia at Duda’s request. She said Hołownia confirmed during their conversation that the National Assembly would be convened on August 6 for Nawrocki's oath of office.
She also announced that Duda, a PiS ally, and Hołownia would meet for broader talks in early August.
'It's a very serious situation'
Meanwhile, presidential advisor Łukasz Rzepecki called on Hołownia to name those who allegedly pressured him, saying he should do so immediately "for the good of the country."
Rzepecki told broadcaster Tok FM on Monday that "Hołownia's words are very serious, especially as they come from the second most important man in the country, who spoke publicly."
"This must be investigated by prosecutors," Rzepecki said in an interview with Tok FM's Dominika Wielowieyska. "It's a very serious situation, and all the circumstances must be fully established."
Former right-wing Prime Minister Beata Szydło wrote on X, addressing Hołownia: "Having knowledge of a planned coup is not something to be written about in memoirs. The issue of pressure exerted on you must be fully disclosed and explained as soon as possible."
Opposition MP Sebastian Kaleta, a former deputy justice minister, warned that "inciting a coup d’état is punishable under Polish law in the same way as committing it," and said Hołownia had "publicly admitted" to being urged to commit a crime.
Bartosz Lewandowski, a lawyer aligned with the opposition, said he had filed a motion with prosecutors, requesting that Hołownia be questioned as a witness and compelled to name those involved.
Loose lips sink ships, PM warns
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, meanwhile, criticised Hołownia for irresponsible behaviour, warning of the damage careless language can cause.
With mentioning Hołownia by name, he said that "frivolous and immature" conduct can sometimes have "very serious consequences for individuals and entire countries."
Speaking at a meeting with voters in the central town of Pabianice on Saturday, he appealed to "everyone" to "get their act together and understand that politics is a serious game."
"When we send children on vacation, we tell them, 'Don’t do stupid things, because stupid things can turn into drama.' It’s the same in politics," Tusk said.
Nawrocki, a conservative historian backed by PiS and endorsed by US President Donald Trump, won Poland’s presidential runoff on June 1 with 50.89 percent of the vote. His rival, centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, garnered 49.11 percent.
The National Assembly is officially scheduled to convene on August 6 for Nawrocki’s inauguration. He will succeed President Andrzej Duda, whose second five-year term ends that day.
Earlier this month, Hołownia denied planning to form a new ruling coalition with the opposition, following a secret meeting that raised concerns within the governing camp.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Polsat News, TVN24, Tok FM