Poland’s PiS leader, Jarosław Kaczyński, urged Attorney General Adam Bodnar to act swiftly on pardons for Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik, suggesting that even a cautious pace could yield rapid results if the political will aligns. The statement came amid a PiS conference titled “Whose Community? Dangers Linked to Trends of Change in the European Union,” held on a Saturday as part of ongoing debates about governance and rule of law in Europe.
During the event, participants weighed in on the broader implications of recent political developments and the direction of Polish institutions in relation to EU norms. The discourse touched on several critical issues, including how legal remedies are pursued and what constitutes effective oversight in high-profile cases.
Drastic circumstances
Kaczyński described the current moment as exceptionally precarious. He pointed to two colleagues who have been illegally convicted and imprisoned under harsh conditions, noting they are on hunger strike. He warned that the situation endangers one of them and called for additional measures and appropriate pressure tactics to protect lives and uphold due process. He stated that the public deserved full transparency about the severity of the events unfolding at hand.
According to Kaczyński, Bodnar has not yet taken action. He suggested that alternatives exist to resolve the matter more quickly, but criticized the absence of decisive steps. The underlying question, he argued, was whether there is the will to act, coupled with a sense of decency, in defending the rights of the accused. He asserted that the ongoing handling of the case reflected serious misconduct within the Public Prosecution Service, describing previous decisions as scandalous and inconsistent with past constitutional judgments.
Kaczyński recalled the 2016 constitutional ruling, noting that a different course of action had been taken then when relevant requests were submitted to the Constitutional Court and later approved by the tribunal after deliberation. He reminded listeners of the tribunal chaired by Prof. Rzepliński, underscoring the contrast between past procedures and the current handling of this case.
Mariusz Błaszczak, the head of the PiS parliamentary club, framed participation in the Protests of the Free Poles as a sign of solidarity with those challenging what he described as abusive practices. He argued that the attack was aimed not just at individuals but at the broader fight against corruption that had reached high levels within the government. He claimed that those who came to power on December 13 would resist moves that would allow authorities to abuse power and pursue political retribution against police officers who fought corruption.
Shocking police action
The timeline recounts a 2015 decision when Wąsik and Kamiński, then leaders of the CBA, were sentenced by a district court to three years in prison and a decade-long ban from holding public positions for alleged overreach in the so-called land scandal. The court treated the most serious charges as incitement to corruption. On November 16, 2015, the president issued pardons to the convicted individuals.
Recent developments saw Kamiński and Wąsik arrested while staying at the presidential palace. They had been convicted in December of the previous year, receiving a two-year sentence linked to the land scandal. President Andrzej Duda announced that pardoning proceedings would proceed in a presidential mode, with the President’s office clarifying that Bodnar could file the necessary documents or initiate pardon procedures when the President chose to do so. The situation has prompted widespread public and political discussion about executive prerogative, justice, and accountability. (citation: PAP)
In light of these events, the broader public conversation has centered on how Poland’s executive and judicial branches interact with international expectations, how due process is preserved in politically charged cases, and what the path forward should look like for those who have disputed rulings that defendants and their supporters deem unjust. (citation: wPolityce)
Observing observers note that the case remains a flashpoint in debates over legal reform, presidential prerogatives, and the balance of power among the branches of government in Poland. The discourse continues to unfold as stakeholders call for transparency, accountability, and lawful remedies that reflect both national interests and European standards of justice.