Former Polish minister launches hunger strike
Mariusz Kamiński, a former Polish interior minister who was arrested yesterday, said in a statement today that he was a “political prisoner” and was starting a hunger strike.
Kamiński and his former deputy, Maciej Wąsik, both members of the conservative Law and Justice party, were convicted of abuse of power for actions taken in 2007.
Yesterday, their case took a dramatic turn as the two politicians took refuge in the palace of president Andrzej Duda before being arrested.
💬 Doradca Prezydenta RP @pobozy: Pan Minister Mariusz Kamiński sformułował oświadczenie do Ministra Sprawiedliwości, Prokuratora Generalnego Adama Bodnara, które brzmi: „Oświadczam, że skazanie mnie za walkę z korupcją oraz podjęcie bezprawnych działań dotyczących pozbawienia… pic.twitter.com/n9Y8nxcHfW
— Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (@pisorgpl) January 10, 2024
Key events
Here are more photos from protests yesterday in Poland against the arrest of two conservative politicians convicted of abuse of power.
What’s behind the dispute over the two Polish politicians arrested yesterday?
Polish police yesterday arrested two politicians convicted of abuse of power who had taken refuge in the palace of the president, Andrzej Duda.
The country’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, said the president was obstructing justice by giving the wanted men refuge, the Associated Press reported.
The dispute centres on two members of the conservative Law and Justice party, former interior minister Mariusz Kamiński and his former deputy Maciej Wąsik, who were convicted of abuse of power for actions taken in 2007, and were sentenced in December to two years in prison. They insist that they are innocent.
A court on Monday issued orders for police to deliver them to prison.
Read more here.
Polish government rejects claim of ‘political prisoner’
Poland’s deputy justice minister, Maria Ejchart, said today that the two former Polish ministers sent to prison yesterday were not political prisoners, Reuters reported.
Mariusz Kamiński, a former Polish interior minister from the conservative Law and Justice party who had been convicted of abuse of power and was arrested yesterday, said in a statement that he was a “political prisoner” and was starting a hunger strike.
Former Polish minister launches hunger strike
Mariusz Kamiński, a former Polish interior minister who was arrested yesterday, said in a statement today that he was a “political prisoner” and was starting a hunger strike.
Kamiński and his former deputy, Maciej Wąsik, both members of the conservative Law and Justice party, were convicted of abuse of power for actions taken in 2007.
Yesterday, their case took a dramatic turn as the two politicians took refuge in the palace of president Andrzej Duda before being arrested.
💬 Doradca Prezydenta RP @pobozy: Pan Minister Mariusz Kamiński sformułował oświadczenie do Ministra Sprawiedliwości, Prokuratora Generalnego Adama Bodnara, które brzmi: „Oświadczam, że skazanie mnie za walkę z korupcją oraz podjęcie bezprawnych działań dotyczących pozbawienia… pic.twitter.com/n9Y8nxcHfW
— Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (@pisorgpl) January 10, 2024
German rail strike begins
The German GDL train drivers’ union began striking early this morning, causing significant disruption to rail traffic across the country.
Deutsche Bahn said the strike action, which is expected to last until Friday, “will result in massive disruptions to Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance, regional and S-Bahn services during this period.”
It added:
The emergency timetable only ensures very limited train services on DB’s long-distance, regional and S-Bahn services. Please refrain from unnecessary journeys during the GDL strike and postpone your journey to another time.
France’s new prime minister, Gabriel Attal, has thanked Germany’s chancellor for his congratulations, underscoring the importance of Franco-German unity.
Merci pour vos mots cher Olaf.
Une France et une Allemagne toujours plus unies, c’est une Europe toujours plus forte et qui avance. 🇫🇷🇩🇪🇪🇺
Bis Bald! https://t.co/xC221lsExT
— Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) January 10, 2024
Two people found dead near Lesbos
At least two people died as a migrant boat appears to have neared the Greek island of Lesbos amid high winds.
The Greek coastguard said it recovered the bodies of two people and rescued 18 individuals close to the island, Reuters reported.
About 36 individuals were thought to be on board the boat, and passengers said that some had jumped into the water.
The authorities are now searching for people onshore.
Welcome to the blog
Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog.
Send your comments and tips to [email protected].
