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Hungary Grants Asylum to First Persecuted Polish Politician Since the Fall of Communism
Donald Tusk (C) with Ursula von der Leyen (L) and Roberta Metsola (R) In an extraordinary development Hungarian authorities have granted political asylum to Poland’s former Deputy Justice Minister yesterday. Gergely Gulyás, Minister for
Donald Tusk (C) with Ursula von der Leyen (L) and Roberta Metsola (R)
In an extraordinary development Hungarian authorities have granted political asylum to Poland’s former Deputy Justice Minister yesterday.
Gergely Gulyás, Minister for the Prime Minister’s Office, recalled in an interview published in Mandiner that in recent years the issue of the rule of law has been raised many times, for example in relation to Hungary, and if this category had not been “taken hostage and used as a political weapon” by liberals, there would have been cause for concern in Europe in recent months, primarily because of the actions of the Polish government.
Hungary grants Poland’s former Deputy Justice Minister, Marcin Romanowski, political asylum.
The actions of Donald Tusk’s liberal government, which engages in lawfare against its opponents, is cause for grave concern about rule of law in Poland. Marcin Romanowski was arrested…
— Balázs Orbán (@BalazsOrban_HU) December 19, 2024
Poland is facing a crisis of the rule of law after last year’s elections as a result of the actions of the Tusk government, Gergely Gulyás said. The Polish government, for example, does not enforce the decisions of the Polish Constitutional Court, and uses the instruments of criminal law against its political rivals in defiance of immunity or presidential pardons, he said. As an example, he cited the Polish justice minister’s politically motivated dismissal of court leaders and the illegal sacking of the prosecutor general.
Although the Polish Supreme Court found this to be the case, the government ignored the ruling and appointed a new prosecutor. Gergely Gulyás confirmed press reports that Marcin Romanowski, deputy justice minister in the previous cabinet in Warsaw, had arrived in Hungary and requested political asylum from the Hungarian state. He has been granted asylum, in accordance with Hungarian and EU law, he said.
He said there was concrete evidence of a lack of due process in the case of the former deputy justice minister, who was arrested this summer despite the fact that he was entitled to immunity as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
He was released only after the President of the Assembly lodged a formal protest with the Polish authorities and a Polish court confirmed that the arrest was unlawful,” he pointed out.
Gergely Gulyás underlined, the Hungarian state cannot have access to the proceedings conducted by the authorities of another country, so they cannot take a position on the merits of the accusation.
However, this is a question of political asylum, which can be granted if the impartial adjudication of the case of the person concerned, free from political influence, is not guaranteed beyond any doubt in his or her home country, the Minister stressed.
He added that this risk exists today in Poland in general and in particular in this present case, based on the procedure followed so far.
Dr Marcin Romanowski…
— Bartosz Lewandowski (@BartoszLewand20) December 19, 2024
Mr. Romanowski’s lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski wrote on X, confirming that “The Hungarian government has granted Marcin Romanowski’s request and granted him international protection under the 2007 Asylum Law in connection with actions taken by the Polish government and its subordinate Prosecution Office that violated his rights and freedoms.
Dr. Marcin Romanowski requested protection from Hungarian authorities due to politically motivated actions by the services and Prosecution Office, which resulted in, among other things, unlawful deprivation of his liberty and violations of international law. In addition, the reason for granting protection was the direct interference and influence of politicians of the current ruling majority in Poland on the investigation, as demonstrated by documents in the possession of Marcin Romanowski…
In addition, Dr. Marcin Romanowski indicated in his application that
he cannot count on a fair trial in Poland due to the political involvement of some of the judges openly supporting the current Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar, as well as publicly declaring the necessity of making so-called “settlements” and therefore convicting politicians of the largest opposition party in Poland.
As my client points out, the illegality of the actions of the current ruling coalition has been confirmed by the rulings of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, which the government disregards in the name of the doctrine of so-called “militant democracy.
MP Marcin Romanowski has decided to apply for international protection in order to draw the attention of the international community to the situation in Poland and the political repression affecting opposition parties in our country. My client points out that he could face allegations formulated by investigators at any time when the standards of the rule of law are restored in Poland.
This is the first case of a Polish politician being granted international protection in another country after 1989″, reads the lawyer’s statement.
I promise that I will do my best – because Poland is at stake. pic.twitter.com/jco4bSXIpk
— Marcin Romanowski (@MarcinRoma19996) December 19, 2024
For his part, in an X video message Mr. Romanowski promised that he will do his best – “because Poland is at stake”. On Thursday a Warsaw court has issued an international arrest warrant on Mr. Romanowski. He is charged with being a member of an organized criminal group and of fraud in connection with his decisions made as a minister in the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government, in particular with regards to the Justice Fund aimed at helping victims of crimes.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has already issued an ominous warning saying: “Should Budapest take any odd decisions that would be inconsistent with the European law, such as political asylum or ignoring the European Arrest Warrant, Victor Orban (original spelling, ed. note) would be the one in a precarious position, not I.”
Featured Image: Alain ROLLAND, EP
The post Hungary Grants Asylum to First Persecuted Polish Politician Since the Fall of Communism appeared first on Hungary Today.
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