Latest news with #DistrictProsecutor'sOffice
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Poland charges former official who declassified plan for the nation's defense
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish prosecutors filed charges Friday against a former defense minister who declassified parts of a plan for national defense that had been prepared years before under an earlier government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Mariusz Błaszczak, the defense minister in a national conservative government that held power from 2015-2023, revealed in 2023 a military defense plan that had been drawn up in 2011. The document laid out plans for the Polish army to retreat westward to the Vistula River, which runs through the center of Poland, in case of an invasion from the east by Russia. Błaszczak was read the charges at the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw on Friday, he told reporters afterward, according to the state news agency PAP. He said he believed the allegations were unfounded. Earlier in the day he wrote on X that the prosecutor's office was to "bring charges against me for declassifying the plan of the first Tusk government to give up half of Poland without a fight.' 'I would do it again without hesitation. I had not only the right, but also the duty" he said. Addressing Tusk, he added: "Thanks to this, Poles know the truth about the fate you prepared for the inhabitants of Eastern Poland. Thanks to this, no one will ever return to such plans.'
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Poland charges former official who declassified plan for the nation's defense
Polish prosecutors filed charges Friday against a former defense minister who declassified parts of a plan for national defense that had been prepared years before under an earlier government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Mariusz Błaszczak, the defense minister in a national conservative government that held power from 2015-2023, revealed in 2023 a military defense plan that had been drawn up in 2011. The document laid out plans for the Polish army to retreat westward to the Vistula River, which runs through the center of Poland, in case of an invasion from the east by Russia. Błaszczak was read the charges at the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw on Friday, he told reporters afterward, according to the state news agency PAP. He said he believed the allegations were unfounded. Earlier in the day he wrote on X that the prosecutor's office was to "bring charges against me for declassifying the plan of the first Tusk government to give up half of Poland without a fight.' 'I would do it again without hesitation. I had not only the right, but also the duty" he said. Addressing Tusk, he added: "Thanks to this, Poles know the truth about the fate you prepared for the inhabitants of Eastern Poland. Thanks to this, no one will ever return to such plans.'
Associated Press
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Poland charges former official who declassified plan for the nation's defense
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish prosecutors filed charges Friday against a former defense minister who declassified parts of a plan for national defense that had been prepared years before under an earlier government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Mariusz Błaszczak, the defense minister in a national conservative government that held power from 2015-2023, revealed in 2023 a military defense plan that had been drawn up in 2011. The document laid out plans for the Polish army to retreat westward to the Vistula River, which runs through the center of Poland, in case of an invasion from the east by Russia. Błaszczak was read the charges at the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw on Friday, he told reporters afterward, according to the state news agency PAP. He said he believed the allegations were unfounded. Earlier in the day he wrote on X that the prosecutor's office was to 'bring charges against me for declassifying the plan of the first Tusk government to give up half of Poland without a fight.' 'I would do it again without hesitation. I had not only the right, but also the duty' he said. Addressing Tusk, he added: 'Thanks to this, Poles know the truth about the fate you prepared for the inhabitants of Eastern Poland. Thanks to this, no one will ever return to such plans.'
Al Arabiya
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
A former Polish prime minister is charged with exceeding his powers over a 2020 election call
A former Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, was charged Thursday with exceeding his powers when he ordered a presidential election to be carried out solely with postal votes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors say there were no legal grounds to organize the 2020 presidential election in that way. In the end, the election Morawiecki wanted to hold in May was postponed and conducted at polling stations several weeks later. The cost to taxpayers of organizing the postal vote, which didn't happen, is estimated to be at least seventy million zlotys (17.5). Morawiecki, a conservative who left office in late 2023, arrived for questioning at the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw on Thursday but refused to testify. A spokesperson for prosecutors, Piotr Skiba, told reporters that Morawiecki had been charged with exceeding his authority and failing to fulfill official duties. Morawiecki told supporters on his arrival that he was doing his duty as prime minister in 2020 by trying to organize an election at a time when many were dying from the coronavirus. He waived his immunity as a lawmaker to make himself available in the case. He argued that he was the victim of political persecution by the new government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. 'The COVID-19 pandemic was a great challenge for the entire world. The world froze; the world had no procedures. No one was prepared, no country–neither in Europe nor on other continents,' Morawiecki said. He noted that he acted because, as prime minister, he was constitutionally required to organize a presidential election within a certain time frame. Several dozen people gathered around him in support, chanting his name. The charges come as Tusk's government seeks to bring to justice members of the former conservative government, which it accuses of violating rule of law and corruption. Morawiecki and others reject those allegations. A court already ruled in 2020 that the decision to ask the national postal service to prepare the presidential election by postal vote violated several provisions of the law.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A former Polish prime minister is charged with exceeding his powers over a 2020 election call
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A former Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, was charged Thursday with exceeding his powers when he ordered a presidential election to be carried out solely with postal votes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors say there were no legal grounds to organize the presidential election of 2020 in that way. In the end the election Morawiecki wanted to hold in May was postponed and conducted at polling stations several weeks later. The cost to taxpayers of organizing the postal vote which didn't happen is estimated to be at least 70 million zlotys ($17.5). Morawiecki, a conservative who left office in late 2023, arrived for questioning at the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw on Thursday, but refused to testify. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. A spokesperson for prosecutors, Piotr Skiba, told reporters that Morawiecki had been charged with exceeding his authority and failing to fulfill official duties. Morawiecki told supporters on his arrival that he was doing his duty as prime minister in 2020 by trying to organize an election at a time when many were dying from the coronavirus. He waived his immunity as a lawmaker to make himself available in the case. He argued that he was the victim of political persecution by the new government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. 'The COVID-19 pandemic was a great challenge for the entire world. The world froze, the world had no procedures. No one was prepared, no country, neither in Europe nor on other continents," Morawiecki said. He noted that he acted because, as prime minister, he was constitutionally required to organize a presidential election within a certain time frame. Several dozen people gathered around him in support, chanting his name. The charges come as Tusk's government seeks to bring to justice members of the former conservative government, which it accuses of violating rule of law and corruption. Morawiecki and others reject those allegations. A court already ruled in 2020 that the decision to ask the national postal service to prepare the presidential election by postal vote violated several provisions of the law.
