Poland issues formal protest to Hungary over asylum granted to fugitive lawmaker

Poland’s foreign ministry on Friday handed a formal protest note to Hungary’s ambassador in Warsaw following Budapest’s decision to grant political asylum to Polish opposition lawmaker Marcin Romanowski, who is wanted in connection with a corruption probe.

Marcin Romanowski.

PAP/Paweł Supernak

Polish foreign ministry spokesman Paweł Wroński told reporters that the meeting with Hungary’s envoy lasted about 10 minutes.

During this time, the ambassador received a note expressing Poland’s objection to Hungary’s move, Wroński said.

Warsaw also recalled its ambassador from Budapest for "indefinite consultations" in response to the asylum decision.

💬 Ambasador Węgier otrzymał w MSZ notę protestacyjną w związku z decyzją 🇭🇺 o przyznaniu azylu politycznego M. Romanowskiemu.

Został też poinformowany o decyzji min. @sikorskiradek o wezwaniu na konsultacje do Polski Ambasadora RP w Budapeszcie.

| @RzecznikMSZ Paweł Wroński

— Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP 🇵🇱 (@MSZ_RP) December 20, 2024

Romanowski, a lawmaker with the previously ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, is suspected of involvement in alleged irregularities tied to the Justice Fund, a government program he supervised.

A Warsaw court on Thursday issued a European Arrest Warrant against him.

(jh/gs)

Source: PAP