Poland summons ambassador after Hungary grants asylum to opposition politician
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's (above) government says it has opened the way for prosecutors to investigate wrongdoing under the previous government.
PHOTO: REUTERS
BUDAPEST - Hungary has granted political asylum to former Polish deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski, who is under investigation in Poland over accusations of misuse of public funds, drawing an angry reaction from Warsaw.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas, announcing the move late on Dec 19, accused the Polish government of hounding its political opponents.
Poland called it a “hostile act” contrary to the principle of loyal cooperation within the European Union.
“In response to such action, the Hungarian ambassador to Poland will be summoned to the ministry of foreign affairs today and will receive a formal protest,” the Polish foreign ministry said on Dec 20.
The ministry said that if Hungary failed to fulfil its European obligations, Poland would request the European Commission to initiate proceedings against it.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government says it has opened the way for prosecutors to investigate wrongdoing under the previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government that left office in 2023, that would previously have been covered up.
Mr Romanowski, a former deputy justice minister who was detained in a probe into the misuse of public funds, was released in July after the president of a European rights assembly said he had immunity as a member of the body. He denies the accusations against him.
Mr Gulyas said Hungary's decision was in accordance with both Hungarian and European Union laws.
“The actions of Mr Tusk’s government have created a situation where the Polish government disregards its constitutional court’s rulings...and uses criminal law as a tool against political opponents,” Mr Gulyas said on the mandiner.hu website.
Mr Romanowski's arrest raised serious concerns about fair treatment and political bias in Polish legal proceedings, he said.
Polish opposition lawmakers including Mr Romanowski have also accused Mr Tusk's government of engaging in a politically motivated witchhunt. REUTERS
