Polish gov't critic detained, opposition outraged

Prosecutors detained on Thursday Poland's recently fired interior minister. The former minister has accused Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski of using secret services to spy on rival politicians. Polish gov't critic detained, opposition outraged The prosecutor service said Janusz Kaczmarek was hampering an investigation into a corruption case. The opposition said Kaczynski was trying to muzzle critics ahead of an expected snap election. "The detention is connected with a penal investigation concerning a leak into an anti-corruption office operation ...," Warsaw prosecutor Marzena Mucha-Podlewska told reporters. She said Kaczmarek was detained along with a former police chief who had served under him and head of state-owned insurance giant PZU, who she said were also involved in the case. She refused to give further details. The opposition said Kaczynski was trying to cover up abuses of power ahead of a parliamentary vote next week on calling the snap poll two years ahead of schedule. "It is clear the government is afraid of their testimonies," said Bronislaw Komorowski of the biggest opposition party, the Civic Platform. "It seems the government is in panic and a government which is in panic is always a risk to democracy." Opinion polls show that despite a booming economy and falling unemployment, Kaczynskis' Law and Justice (PiS) party faces an uphill battle to remain in power. Its rule has been marked by conflicts inside the cabinet and rows with EU partners. The opposition and human rights groups say the government's anti-corruption drive has turned into a witch-hunt in which anyone who does not share the ruling party's views is branded a criminal or a traitor to Polish interests. Such accusations gained ground when Kaczmarek testified in parliament last week that the secret services were spying on a number of opposition and government politicians. Kaczynski has called the accusations groundless and accused the opposition of spreading chaos by demanding a parliamentary inquiry into the affair. He said a snap poll, which would require the consent of two-thirds of parliamentary deputies, was the best way out of a political crisis. Since the break-up of Kaczynski's three-party coalition earlier this month, Law and Justice has no majority in parliament. Parliament next meets on September 4 and is due to vote on dissolving itself to pave way to snap polls. "We are not afraid of elections," Kaczynski told reporters. He did not comment directly on the detention of the officials. The leftist opposition said elections would be premature in the current climate and urged other opposition parties to join forces to remove Kaczynski through a vote of no-confidence. "We would have certainty that the election would be honest," Wojciech Olejniczak. "Today we cannot count on PiS's honesty and that PiS would not interfere with the election with the use of special services."

Polish gov't critic detained, opposition outraged

The prosecutor service said Janusz Kaczmarek was hampering an investigation into a corruption case. The opposition said Kaczynski was trying to muzzle critics ahead of an expected snap election.

"The detention is connected with a penal investigation concerning a leak into an anti-corruption office operation ...," Warsaw prosecutor Marzena Mucha-Podlewska told reporters.

She said Kaczmarek was detained along with a former police chief who had served under him and head of state-owned insurance giant PZU, who she said were also involved in the case. She refused to give further details.

The opposition said Kaczynski was trying to cover up abuses of power ahead of a parliamentary vote next week on calling the snap poll two years ahead of schedule.

"It is clear the government is afraid of their testimonies," said Bronislaw Komorowski of the biggest opposition party, the Civic Platform. "It seems the government is in panic and a government which is in panic is always a risk to democracy."

Opinion polls show that despite a booming economy and falling unemployment, Kaczynskis' Law and Justice (PiS) party faces an uphill battle to remain in power.

Its rule has been marked by conflicts inside the cabinet and rows with EU partners.

The opposition and human rights groups say the government's anti-corruption drive has turned into a witch-hunt in which anyone who does not share the ruling party's views is branded a criminal or a traitor to Polish interests.

Such accusations gained ground when Kaczmarek testified in parliament last week that the secret services were spying on a number of opposition and government politicians.

Kaczynski has called the accusations groundless and accused the opposition of spreading chaos by demanding a parliamentary inquiry into the affair.

He said a snap poll, which would require the consent of two-thirds of parliamentary deputies, was the best way out of a political crisis.

Since the break-up of Kaczynski's three-party coalition earlier this month, Law and Justice has no majority in parliament. Parliament next meets on September 4 and is due to vote on dissolving itself to pave way to snap polls.

"We are not afraid of elections," Kaczynski told reporters. He did not comment directly on the detention of the officials.

The leftist opposition said elections would be premature in the current climate and urged other opposition parties to join forces to remove Kaczynski through a vote of no-confidence.

"We would have certainty that the election would be honest," Wojciech Olejniczak. "Today we cannot count on PiS's honesty and that PiS would not interfere with the election with the use of special services."