Two Members of Parliament (MPs) from Poland’s Civic Platform (PO) party have vouched for a woman arrested on suspicion of migrant smuggling. This action has sparked controversy and strong reactions from various quarters.
Rafał Bochenek, a spokesperson for the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, took to Twitter to express his concerns, stating, “Members of Civic Platform are playing with fire. By endorsing this reprehensible act, you are jeopardizing the safety of Polish citizens.” Bochenek was referring to the legal guarantee given by PO MPs for Ewa K., who is under investigation for allegedly being involved in the illegal smuggling of migrants.
Who are the PO MPs vouching for?
MPs Tomasz Olichwer and Tomasz Aniśko, both from the Civic Platform party, provided legal assurance for a woman accused of facilitating the illegal migration of individuals from Belarus to Europe. According to earlier statements made by Maciej Wąsik, the Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration, the woman in question led a criminal group and demanded up to 5,000 euros for smuggling migrants into Germany.
Deputy Minister Wąsik commented on the case of the 48-year-old Polish woman, who is suspected of leading an organized criminal group engaged in smuggling foreigners. Ewa M. was apprehended by officers from the Border Guard and the Central Bureau of Police. The 48-year-old, who presented herself as an activist, was taken to the Garwolin District Prosecutor’s Office, where she was charged with leading an organized criminal group that operated within the territory of the Republic of Poland, with the aim of facilitating the unlawful crossing of the Polish border.
#AferaPrzemytniczaPlatformy
Deputy Minister Maciej Wąsik revealed that the two MPs, Tomasz Olichwer and Tomasz Aniśko, vouched for the 48-year-old woman during her detention.
Rafał Bochenek, a spokesperson for the Law and Justice party, also commented on the case. It has now come to light that members of the Civic Platform party are embroiled in a smuggling scandal, as they have provided legal assurances for individuals involved in smuggling illegal migrants into Europe. Bochenek strongly criticized this action, stating, “Members of Civic Platform are playing with fire. By endorsing this reprehensible act, you are jeopardizing the safety of Polish citizens!” He also included the hashtag #AferaPrzemytniczaPlatformy in his tweet.