EU Lifts Immunities of Polish Politicians Kamiński and Wąsik

The news in Polish

1. immunitet  (m.)
   ochrona prawna przed pewnymi działaniami prawnymi lub karami ↩︎
2. prezydent  (m.)
   osoba, która stoi na czele państwa w systemie republikańskim ↩︎
3. ułaskawiać
   zmniejszyć lub znieść karę dla osoby skazanej ↩︎
4. kontrowersja  (f.)
   spór lub dyskusja wynikająca z różnicy zdań ↩︎
5. sprawiedliwość  (f.)
   zasada moralna, według której należy postępować uczciwie i dawać każdemu to, co mu się należy ↩︎
6. odpowiedzialność  (f.)
   obowiązek odpowiadania za swoje czyny ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who removed the immunities of the Polish politicians Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik?

Question 2: What was the effect of removing the immunities from the politicians?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
immunitet  (m.)	immunity
prezydent  (m.)	president
ułaskawiać	pardon
kontrowersja  (f.)	controversy
sprawiedliwość  (f.)	justice
odpowiedzialność  (f.)	responsibility

Read the full story

The European Parliament has lifted the immunities of two prominent Polish politicians, Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik, amid allegations of defying a court ruling. The decision, made during a plenary session in Strasbourg, highlights ongoing political tensions within Poland and raises questions about the future legal actions against the two figures.

The controversy centres around a 2023 ruling by the Warsaw District Court which sentenced Kamiński and Wąsik to two years of imprisonment and banned them from holding public office for five years. Both had been implicated in operational misconduct linked to a previous government scandal. Despite the ruling, the two politicians, known for their association with the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS), continued participating in parliamentary sessions.

This case took a dramatic turn when the current Polish President, Andrzej Duda, issued pardons in 2015 after a non-final decision, which some argue should not apply to their more recent convictions. Such presidential pardons have sparked debate, with criticisms regarding potential misuse of power and influence among political allies, as explained by opposition voices like Jacek Karnowski, a deputy minister and member of the opposition party.

The decision to revoke the immunities was met with mixed reactions. While critics like Karnowski argue that justice must prevail without obstruction by political affiliations, some, including PiS member Krzysztof Ciecióra, view the European Parliament’s decision as politically motivated. Ciecióra suggested that the moves to prosecute individuals linked to the PiS reflect a broader political strategy rather than a genuine legal necessity.

Legal experts have also weighed in on the matter. Professor Artur Nowak-Far, from the Warsaw School of Economics, remarked that while the removal of immunity facilitates further legal inquiries, it does not determine guilt. He highlighted the improbability that Kamiński and Wąsik would flee abroad to evade justice, contrasting the case with that of Marcin Romanowski, another Polish politician who previously sought asylum in Hungary.

As the situation develops, attention turns to the potential legal repercussions for Kamiński and Wąsik, given the importance of upholding judicial verdicts in a democratic system. The revocation of their parliamentary immunities is a pivotal step allowing legal processes to proceed, ensuring accountability amidst the complex interplay of domestic and European political landscapes.

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