Posted on 08/31/2007 1:43:45 AM PDT by bruinbirdman
Agents from Poland's new elite anti-corruption agency yesterday arrested a former minister of the interior who had been accusing Jaroslaw Kaczynski's government of spying on opposition politicians and reporters.
The arrest of Janusz Kaczmarek, who had been fired as minister of the interior on August 8, deepened Poland's political crisis, with opposition parties accusing the government of abusing its powers just days before a parliamentary vote on whether to hold early elections.
Agents also arrested Konrad Kornatowski, the former national police chief, and Jaromir Netzel, chief executive of PZU, the govern-ment-owned insurance company, who prosecutors say are involved in an attempt to hamper an investigation, along with Mr Kaczmarek.
Officers also showed up at the house of Ryszard Krauze, one of Poland's richest businessmen.
He was in Kazakhstan but shares in his companies nosedived on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
Mr Kaczmarek had testified before a parliamentary committee about alleged excesses on the part of Zbigniew Ziobro, the justice minister. He accused the minister of tapping the mobile telephones of journalists.
He also said police agencies were used to hunt for information on opposition politicians, including Aleksander Kwasniewski, a former president, and Jaroslaw Walesa, an MP and son of former president Lech Walesa.
A transcript of Mr Kaczmarek's testimony was read to a closed session of parliament, shocking MPs. Mr Kornatowski had been scheduled to testify about the same matters today.
Opposition politicians accused the government of acting to protect itself. "[The Law and Justice party] and the government of Jaroslaw Kaczynski want to hide something.
These decisions are caused by some sort of panic before the testimony of those who were arrested," said Donald Tusk, leader of the Civic Platform party.
Mr Kaczynski denied having influence over the arrests, calling them ordinary. "In this way, we are returning to normality."
The growing scandal has persuaded opposition parties to vote next week to hold snap elections. Opinion polls show Civic Platform in the lead, with Law and Justice in second place.
Some problems seem to cure themselfs. Bye bye Mr. Kaczynski (just when u learn how to spell the name right).
I’ve never doubted that the poles would come clear of this unbearable government.
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