In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing struggle to restore the rule of law in Poland, police entered the country’s presidential palace on Tuesday evening to detain two Members of Parliament who were seeking refuge under the protection of President Andrzej Duda. These MPs, Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik, were hiding after being sentenced to prison terms for abuse of power.
The arrests, a critical development in the power struggle between President Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, underscore the broader conflict aimed at undoing eight years of rule by the nationalist, conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS). Tusk’s administration, victorious in the October elections, is striving to realign Poland with the EU’s democratic principles, unlocking frozen EU funds and repositioning Warsaw as a significant European player.
The case of the two convicted PiS lawmakers, who were enjoying presidential protection, has become a defining battle between the two political camps. The police intervention followed the court’s order, marking a significant moment in the ongoing battle over the country’s justice system.
President Duda, aligned with PiS, maintains that he pardoned the two MPs in 2015 during their trial. However, Poland’s Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that the pardon was ineffective as it was granted before a final verdict in the case. Despite the court’s ruling, Kamiński and Wąsik refused to acknowledge the verdict, declaring it as “total lawlessness.”
The situation has prompted Szymon Hołownia, the speaker of parliament, to describe it as a “deep constitutional crisis.” Tusk, reciting criminal code penalties for harboring individuals wanted by the police, views the broader issue as a result of PiS’s reforms in the Polish justice system.
The power struggle extends beyond the fate of the two MPs, representing a larger effort by Tusk’s government to assert control over institutions held by PiS loyalists. The government’s recent move to seize control of state media, a former propaganda arm of PiS, further fueled tensions, prompting legal challenges and a veto threat from Duda.
The evolving situation in Poland highlights the challenges faced by the new government in its pursuit to restore the rule of law and reshape the country’s direction within the European framework. The unfolding events underscore the broader implications of political battles on Poland’s democratic institutions.