Polish police arrested two former PiS MPs at the presidential palace Tuesday in defiance of nationalist president Andrzej Duda's order of protection amid escalating tensions between Duda and newly elected globalist prime minister Donald Tusk. Tusk also accused Duda himself of obstructing justice when the MPs, Mariusz Kaminski and Maciej Wasik, were seen in a picture taken at the palace, prompting police to search for them in cars that were leaving and eventually detain them, Reuters reports.
"We would like to inform you that in accordance with the court order, the persons concerned by the instructions were detained," the police said on X.
PiS spokesman Rafal Bochenek said that the actions taken by the police were "an illegal kidnapping and a violation of all democratic rules."
Hundreds of people subsequently gathered in front of the presidential palace to protest the arrests of the two PiS members, chanting "free political prisoners" and "shame."
Duda had previously pardoned the pair in 2015 when they were accused of abuse of power in their roles at Poland's Central Anti-Corruption Bureau for "allowing agents under [Kaminski's] command to use entrapment in an investigation" which he vehemently denied.
The Supreme Court however reopened the case recently and sentenced Kaminski and Wasik to 2 years in prison.
This move has caused an escalating dispute between Duda, who aligns with the PiS party, and Tusk's centrist government. The status of Kaminski and Wasik's ministry has come under question and it is not presently clear if they remain MPs.
Duda's office posted a picture of him, Kaminski, and Wasik together at an official event early Tuesday.
"A sombre dictatorship is being formed. We cannot allow for Poland to hold political prisoners," Kaminski said after the event.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
"We would like to inform you that in accordance with the court order, the persons concerned by the instructions were detained," the police said on X.
PiS spokesman Rafal Bochenek said that the actions taken by the police were "an illegal kidnapping and a violation of all democratic rules."
Hundreds of people subsequently gathered in front of the presidential palace to protest the arrests of the two PiS members, chanting "free political prisoners" and "shame."
Duda had previously pardoned the pair in 2015 when they were accused of abuse of power in their roles at Poland's Central Anti-Corruption Bureau for "allowing agents under [Kaminski's] command to use entrapment in an investigation" which he vehemently denied.
The Supreme Court however reopened the case recently and sentenced Kaminski and Wasik to 2 years in prison.
This move has caused an escalating dispute between Duda, who aligns with the PiS party, and Tusk's centrist government. The status of Kaminski and Wasik's ministry has come under question and it is not presently clear if they remain MPs.
Duda's office posted a picture of him, Kaminski, and Wasik together at an official event early Tuesday.
"A sombre dictatorship is being formed. We cannot allow for Poland to hold political prisoners," Kaminski said after the event.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
