Protesting MPs could face 10 years behind bars: Interior minister
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
12.01.2017 11:57
MPs from opposition parties which have been occupying the parliament building since 16 December could face up to 10 years behind bars if found guilty of a crime, Poland’s interior minister has said.
Minister Mariusz BłaszczakBild: Polish Radio
Speaking to Polish Radio, Mariusz Błaszczak said: “The justice system will address the deputies who broke the law. Preventing the Speaker from performing his duties is a criminal offence as listed in the Polish Penal Code and punishable by up to 10 years in prison.”
On Thursday, the Civic Platform opposition party decided to suspend the sit-in protest its MPs had been staging since a contentious vote on the 2017 budget on 16 December.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of the governing Law and Justice (PiS) party, called the actions by the opposition a “coup”.
He has repeatedly said that the opposition deputies staging the protest are breaking the law, and suggested that legal steps should be taken against them.
(rg/pk)