Marcin Romanowski, the opposition MP who recently secured political asylum in Hungary, warned that the current situation in Poland might soon compel more opposition figures to seek refuge abroad. “What is happening in Poland unfortunately confirms that such incidents could become more frequent,” he stated, underscoring his belief that the illegal actions of the Polish authorities may drive other politicians to seek shelter with allied countries.
During a Monday morning broadcast on Radio Trójka, Poland’s Minister of Justice, Adam Bodnar, noted that an indictment against Romanowski was close to being sent to court. “There will be significant legal, political, and diplomatic moves regarding his presence in Hungary,” Bodnar said, adding that the European Arrest Warrant procedure is still underway. “This does not mean that the investigation into the Justice Fund is closed.”
Later that evening on Telewizja Republika, Romanowski was asked by editor Ewa Bugała whether he expected the government to extradite him back to Poland. In response, Bodnar’s deputy at the Ministry of Justice remarked that “in life, there are only two certainties – death and taxes,” though Romanowski expressed feeling safe on Hungarian soil.
Romanowski elaborated on his situation, emphasizing that European regulations indeed allow for legal protection in exceptional cases. “It is hard not to see this situation as exceptional. I am, after all, the first opposition MP to receive political asylum since the fall of communism,” he said. He also pointed out that he is not merely a passive bystander in these circumstances.
Expressing his concern about the broader political climate in Poland, Romanowski warned, “What is happening in Poland, unfortunately, confirms that similar incidents may become more common. More individuals might soon meet the exact criteria for seeking asylum, given that comparable forms of persecution are taking place at home.”