Parliamentary group coordinators initially agreed that the case should be urgently referred to the petitions committee’s January session to assess the legality of Hungary’s decision to refuse a European Arrest Warrant issued by Poland.
However, later in the day, the motion was rejected by committee members from the conservative bloc, which includes PiS and far-right MEPs.
Many MEPs from the centrist, socialist, and liberal groups were absent, according to Beata Płomecka, Polish Radio’s Brussels correspondent.
Panic grips PiS MEPs over Romanowski case, says MEP Joński
Dariusz Joński, a Polish MEP from the Civic Coalition, said he will re-submit the motion and expects it to pass in January when more MEPs attend.
“There is panic among PiS MEPs. They are doing everything to protect their colleague Marcin R., who faces up to 15 years in prison. Some members came to the committee even though they are not part of it, just to defend him,” he said.
PiS MEP admits petition blocked as key MEPs absent
Committee chair Bogdan Rzońca, from right-wing PiS, explained that he had to put the initial decision to a vote after a colleague from his conservative group formally objected.
He noted that opponents of opening the petition “were smarter” and ensured enough votes to block it. Only one member voted in favour, while eight voted against, and many from EPP, the Socialists, the Left, and Renew were absent.
Kremlin-friendly Orbán government shields PiS politician wanted for major fraud
Romanowski, a former deputy justice minister in the right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) government, is suspected of taking part in an organised criminal group that allegedly embezzled over 107 million złoty (around €25 million) from Poland’s Justice Fund, intended to support victims of crime.
A European Arrest Warrant was issued for him in 2024, but Kremlin-friendly Hungary’s government under Viktor Orbán has blocked his extradition.
The authors of the parliamentary motion argue that Hungary’s decision breaches EU law and have called on the European Commission to examine the case.
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Source: Polish Radio/PR24