Mariusz Kaminski, the former Home Affairs Minister, and his deputy Maciej Wasik were arrested at the presidential palace Tuesday after Duda's office posted a picture of the trio together, a move backed by newly elected globalist PM Donald Tusk. Kaminski subsequently pledged to go on a hunger strike Wednesday, Politico reports.
“I declare that I treat my conviction for fighting corruption and taking the unlawful action of depriving me of my parliamentary seat as an act of political revenge. Therefore, as a political prisoner, from the first day of my imprisonment, I will start a hunger strike,” he said.
Duda made a statement from the presidential palace: "I will not rest in the fight for a fair and just Polish state. I will not rest until Mariusz Kaminski and his colleagues are free. I won't be scared. I will act legally, in accordance with the Consitution and the law - as before."
Former PM Mateusz Morawiecki spoke out condemning the arrests, posting to X in a powerful statement Wednesday:
"Nearly 35 years ago, Poland regained its freedom. For more than three decades, no one was persecuted in our country because of their political views, and no political prisoners were held. Until now."
He continued: "For the first time since the dark days of totalitarian rule, we have political prisoners in Poland. They are the former interior minister, Mariusz Kaminski, and his deputy, Maciej Wasik. Both are democratically elected members of the Polish parliament. Both fought against communism. Both fought for justice in a free Poland by creating an office to fight corruption. Both enjoy the respect of Polish society."
There have been disagreements between Duda along with the former PiS government and Poland's Supreme Court regarding the status of the Kaminski and Wasik's ministerships. While the court decided the pair lost their right to sit as MPs after being convicted of a crime, Duda says their arrests were illegal and both are still legitimate members of parliament.
Morawiecki continued: "They are members of the Polish parliament, and unfortunately both are victims of political revenge targeted by Donald Tusk's government."
He reiterated that the pair were taken into custody despite receiving a presidential pardon.
"The entire process which culminated in the detention of 2 politicians took place in flagrant violation of the rule of law," he continued. "This is simply an act of political revenge by the current government, and is an example of the blatant persecution of the opposition by those in power."
He reminded viewers that "this is happening in a major European Union country in the 21st century."
This incident, he said, has brought great "shame" to a country that once prided itself on its principles of freedom and is now "engaging in practices that are native to Eastern regimes."
"This is not only a contradiction of Polish values, but also of the standards that prevail in the countries of the civilized West, to which Poland, until recently, proudly counted itself," he concluded. "I appeal to the democratic community of the West, not to look passively at what is happening in Poland today."
