Tensions rise as Poland recalls ambassador to Hungary for asylum case

Tensions between Poland and Hungary are escalating after Hungary granted asylum to a former Polish lawmaker from the previous right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) government who is sought by Poland through a European arrest warrant.

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that the Polish ambassador in Budapest has been recalled to Warsaw indefinitely.

On Thursday, Hungary granted asylum to former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski. A court in Warsaw had previously approved the prosecutor’s request to issue a European arrest warrant for the 48-year-old.

In addition, Hungary’s ambassador has been summoned and handed a protest note.

Romanowski is being investigated by Polish prosecutors on 11 criminal charges, including suspected membership of a criminal organization.

As deputy justice minister, he is alleged to have channelled millions of złotys from a fund for crime victims into projects that the then justice minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, believed would benefit the party.

Romanowski denies all the allegations.

The national-conservative PiS ruled Poland from 2015 and 2023 and is currently the largest opposition party.

During this time, it significantly restructured the judicial system, which put it on a collision course with the European Commission.

The current government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centre-left coalition, has been working to reverse the controversial judicial reforms implemented by the previous PiS administration.

Tusk criticizes Orbán

Tusk issued a sharp critique of Hungary, expressing his dismay that corrupt officials evading prosecution could now choose between seeking protection from Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko or Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Speaking in Brussels, Tusk remarked, “Those who have stolen, those who are corrupt, seek refuge in countries ruled by politicians like themselves.”

Romanowski, meanwhile, told Polish broadcaster TV Republika that he thinks the fact that Hungary has granted him asylum confirms that “we are dealing with political persecution in Poland.”

Prosecutors and judges in his home country are politically controlled, he said.

European Commission: Arrest warrants must be enforced

A spokesman for the European Commission declined to comment on the specific case but emphasized that EU member states are obligated to enforce European arrest warrants.

In this instance, a Hungarian judge would need to assess the warrant to determine whether there are grounds for rejecting it. The final decision on executing the warrant must be made within 60 days.

Regarding the asylum issue, he said that all EU member states maintain a high level of protection for fundamental rights and freedoms, making them all considered safe countries for asylum seekers.

As such, an asylum application from a national of another EU member state can only be accepted under very exceptional circumstances, the spokesman added.

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Publish date : 2024-12-20 07:03:00

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