Duda Vows To Press For Release Of Arrested Officials But Reveals No New Details

President Andrzej Duda delivered a statement on yesterday's arrest of two senior officials of the former ruling Law and Justice party, noting that his 2015 pardon was and remains valid and in his view they remain elected lawmakers.

• Duda pledged to continue pushing for the release of Mariusz Kaminski and Maciej Wasik, who have been arrested after being sentenced for abuse of power when their party governed the country in 2005-2007.
• Note that ex-Interior Minister and secret services coordinator Mariusz Kaminski had earlier announced that he was starting a hunger strike against his "sentencing for fight against corruption and illegally stripping [him] off his MP status".
• Duda stopped short of disclosing any specific measures he was planning to take to help the arrested officials, despite earlier suggestions that he might challenge the validity of legislation passed by the current parliament.
• The head of state has also called for calm and respect for the law ahead of the protests planned by the former ruling party in defence of its two senior officials and against various measures taken by the new government.