Polish police arrested two convicted members of the former ruling Law and Justice party on Tuesday evening. This happened in the Presidential Palace, where politicians loyal to President Andrzej Duda were given shelter. This threatened conflict with Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
This concerns former Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski and State Minister Maciej Wasik. A Warsaw court sentenced them to two years in prison on charges of abuse of office.
President Duda, a member of the Law and Justice Party, had already pardoned them in 2015, but the Supreme Court declared this illegal in December last year.
The police were earlier about to arrest the politicians and take them to prison, but it later turned out that they were not at home but in the palace. Kaminsky said in a statement that there was no suspicion of escape. The former minister said: “We are not hiding. Now we are with the Polish president until the evil loses.”
Polish police announced on Tuesday evening that Kaminski and Wasik had been arrested.
“Finish this scene”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused President Duda of sabotage. According to Tusk, Duda tried to prevent the arrest of two convicted members of the former ruling Law and Justice Party.
“Mr. President, my sincere appeal for the well-being of the Polish state: You must put an end to this spectacle. It is leading us to a very dangerous situation,” Tusk warned on Tuesday.
According to Tusk, Duda and PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski will be responsible for subverting the constitution and breaking the law. Disagreements have raged between the political rivals since Tusk's coalition defeated the long-ruling party in elections in October.
-
Conservatieve PiS wint in Polen, maar oppositie lijkt coalitie te kunnen vormen
-
Polen naar stembus: nek-aan-nekrace tussen regeringspartij en liberale oppositie
