Poland has recalled its ambassador in Hungary indefinitely and summoned the Hungarian ambassador in Warsaw. These actions respond to Hungary granting asylum to Marcin Romanowski, a former Polish Deputy Minister of Justice accused of embezzling public funds.
A European arrest warrant was issued for him earlier this week in Warsaw. Hungary claims Romanowski would not receive a fair trial in Poland, accusing the Polish government of using criminal law against political opponents, according to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief of staff.
Romanowski, a member of the opposition Law and Justice Party (PiS), denies all charges. He allegedly diverted €25 million from a victims’ fund while in office.
Romanowski was arrested this summer but released due to immunity as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which has since been lifted, leading to a renewed arrest order. The PiS lost its parliamentary majority in last year’s elections to pro-European Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition, straining relations between Poland and Hungary.
Tusk has vowed to investigate corruption under the previous government and restore the rule of law in Poland.
Source: NOS