Hungary has granted political asylum to Poland's former deputy justice minister, Marcin Romanowski, who went into hiding after being wanted in connection with an investigation into alleged fraud.
Romanowski claims that the case against him is politically motivated, and Hungary's decision puts relations between the two countries and the EU at a crossroads, News.bg reports.
Alleged fraud and arrest
Romanowski is wanted by Polish authorities for mismanagement of a fund intended to compensate victims of the justice system. Earlier this month, a Polish court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged financial abuses under the country's previous nationalist government. He was accused of violating the law while in office.
Political motives and Hungarian reaction
On Thursday, Hungarian Cabinet Minister Gergely Gulyas confirmed that Romanowski had filed a petition for political asylum and had been granted refugee status in Hungary. According to Romanowski's lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski, his client claims that the charges in Poland are politically motivated and related to personal conflicts in the country.
Reaction from Poland and the European Union
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski criticized Hungary's decision, calling it a “hostile act against Poland and the European Union“. He added that the Polish government would issue an official response to Hungary's actions the following day.
Historical context of Polish-Hungarian relations
Until now, Hungary and Poland have been allies facing criticism from the European Union for lowering democratic standards and the rule of law. After Donald Tusk took power in Poland, attitudes towards Hungary changed, with the new government helping to restore Poland's access to delayed EU funding, which had been blocked over concerns about the rule of law.
Critics of Viktor Orbán
There is also no shortage of criticism of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has been repeatedly accused of supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and of refusing to provide assistance to Ukraine in the war against Russia. Problems in relations between Hungary and the European Union also remain in view of the excessive concentration of power in the hands of Orbán and other actions by his government that violate democratic principles.