Marcin Romanowski in Hungary. Politicians comment

The head of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's office, Gergely Gulyas, confirmed on Thursday evening that Marcin Romanowski, PiS MPformer deputy minister of justice, received the… Hungary political asylum. In a conversation with journalists, Gulyas argued that this decision results from the Hungarian authorities' belief that there is a crisis of the rule of law in Poland.

On that day, the District Court in Warsaw announced the issuance of a European Arrest Warrant against the politician.

Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbánreferring to the issue of asylum at Saturday's conference, stated that the Hungarian side had analyzed the situation in Poland and, on this basis, the relevant minister issued a decision to grant it to Romanowski. – I must admit that I think that this will not be the last such decision – admitted Orban. He also said that relations with the ruling party in Poland are currently “disastrous”, but Budapest does not want to transfer them to interstate relations.

The guests of “Kawa na Ława” on TVN24 commented on these events on Sunday.

– I guess Mr. Viktor Orban finally spoke a few words of truth, because the entire operation with asylum for Mr. Romanowski had to be prepared much earlier. This 40-page report, which we hear about, attached as a justification to this motion, was certainly not prepared in a few days – said the MEP. PSL Krzysztof Hetman.

He added that “it is clearly visible that Viktor Orban, which is compromising for him, is not the first time to scrupulously implement Vladimir Putin's policy in the European Union, because he is attacking the foundations of the community and, above all, to sow distrust between partners in the European Union “.

In Hetman's assessment, “Poland will use all means to get Mr. Romanowski from Hungary, although it must be honestly said that as long as Viktor Orban and his party rule there, it will certainly be very difficult.”

He said that it was also embarrassing for Romanowski, who “ran away and chickened out”, as well as for “his entire political environment”.

Confederation MEP Stanisław Tyszka said he was concerned about “the internationalization of this matter because it is not beneficial for our country.” He added that he did not like what Hetman, among others, said, because Hungary is member of the European Union just like us.

He noted that “we have many common interests”, for example in stopping immigration. – Withdrawing the Polish ambassador for consultations at this time is simply childish – he said. – I would like to remind you that we did not withdraw the ambassador from Moscow – he added.

– This is a matter of a certain childishness of Polish politics, which boils down to interpersonal relations, in this case between Tusk and Orban, who were once friends, have now quarreled and are annoying each other – he said.

– As for the internationalization of this matter, Mr. Romanowski mentioned it in his speech. I wonder who he wants to consult internationally about his situation, or with Russiaor with Belarusbecause we all know the position of Prime Minister Orban, including the type of consultants he sometimes likes to choose in politics – said the deputy head of the Ministry of Education, Paulina Piechna- Więckiewicz (Left Wing).

– Another issue is that Hungary has a problem with the rule of law. And this is not only our opinion, but also the opinion of the European Commission. There are problems this week related to KPO. The question is whether Mr. Romanowski will not become a hostage of Prime Minister Orban, who has already shown many times that he does what suits him, said the deputy minister.

When asked whether she thought Romanowski would be a bargaining chip in negotiations with the European Commission, she said that “he could be such a bargaining chip.”

MEP of the Civic Coalition Borys Budka he said, however, that “it is not surprising that Romanowski is fleeing the country, because the charges, which are very serious, were assessed so positively by the court that an independent court issued a temporary arrest order.”

He added that “Romanowski assured that he was ready to submit to the court's assessment, but he chickened out and ran to Orban, because he knows perfectly well that he faces 25 years in prison, but not for political activities, but for gross theft, for what was done with the Justice Fund “.

Addressing his words to PiS MP Zbigniew Bogucki, he said that “you went unpunished for eight years because you had your friend as prosecutor general.” – Today you are shaking your pants because you know that the hand of justice is reaching for you – he added.

– We are not happy that a Polish parliamentarian has to seek and receive political asylum in another democratic country of the European Union – continued Zbigniew Bogucki. He argued that Romanowski must do this because in Poland “there is no guarantee of independence and impartiality of the court.” According to the PiS MP, “we are dealing with a brutal violation of the law and constitution by this government.”

The head of the president's office, Małgorzata Paprocka, when asked what she thought about Romanowski's behavior, said that “he made his decisions and he is responsible for them.”

– However, I would like to emphasize one thing: if the principles of the rule of law have been violated in Poland for a year, these are the effects – she added. In her opinion, “we do not have a legally operating prosecutor's office.”