Polish police arrest MPs in presidential palace
Jan 11, 2024
Warsaw [Poland], January 11: Polish police have arrested the former interior minister and deputy interior minister inside the presidential palace in Warsaw in a day of unprecedented political theatre.
Mariusz Kaminski and Maciej Wasik were sentenced to two years' jail last month for abuse of power when they led an anti-corruption office in 2007.
The arrests highlight the political turmoil between the Law and Justice (PiS) party and the new pro-EU coalition.
The men, who were elected PiS MPs in October, refused to recognise last month's court decision because President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, pardoned them for the crime in 2015. Duda has also said he does not recognise the court's ruling because he insists his pardon remains valid.
On Monday evening, the court issued a warrant to police to detain the men. Despite this, Mr Duda invited both to Warsaw's Presidential Palace on Tuesday morning to attend a ceremony.
Source: Qatar Tribune
