Poland's President Initiates Pardon Process for Arrested Politicians Amid Protests

The move comes as thousands protest against the new government's control over state media and the arrests of opposition politicians.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda has initiated the process to pardon two senior politicians, Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik, who were arrested earlier this week. The politicians, members of the Law and Justice (PiS) party, were convicted of abuse of power.
Thousands of Poles have taken to the streets of Warsaw to protest against the arrests and the new government's control over state media.
The arrests and the government's media policies have escalated the standoff between the new government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and the PiS, which was defeated in the October 2023 general election.
The PiS has accused the new government of violating the constitution, incarcerating political opponents, and imposing an authoritarian rule.
The EU has pledged to unfreeze funds for Poland only after Tusk has managed to depoliticize Poland’s courts and state media.