The Polish police detained the former interior minister and deputy interior minister in a dramatic event at the presidential palace in Warsaw. Mariusz Kaminski and Maciej Wasik were sentenced to two years in jail for abuse of power during their tenure in 2007. The arrests underscore the ongoing political tension between the Law and Justice (PiS) party and the new pro-EU coalition. Despite being elected as PiS MPs, they refused to accept the court’s decision, citing a pardon issued by President Andrzej Duda, an ally of PiS, in 2015.
President Duda expressed dismay at their imprisonment, insisting they were honest individuals. Despite being stripped of their parliamentary mandates, they maintain they are legally elected MPs due to the pardon. Their arrest at the palace coincided with a ceremony attended by President Duda, creating a spectacle of political upheaval. Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized Duda’s actions, urging respect for the court’s ruling.
Following the arrests, PiS supporters protested outside the palace. Kaminski announced a hunger strike as a form of protest. The validity of Duda’s pardon remains disputed, adding complexity to the situation. The new coalition government aims to undo PiS’s changes to state institutions, including public media. However, their methods have raised concerns about democratic standards.
Former PiS prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused Tusk’s government of undemocratic actions, highlighting the ongoing power struggle in Polish politics.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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