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Jarosław Kaczyński hospitalized amid political turmoil

21.02.2025 13:51
According to Gazeta Wyborcza, Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, is undergoing routine, pre-scheduled medical tests in the cardiology department.
Before being admitted to the hospital for routine tests, Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice (PiS) party, attended a press conference in Warsaw on February 18, 2025.
Before being admitted to the hospital for routine tests, Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice (PiS) party, attended a press conference in Warsaw on February 18, 2025.Photo: PAP/Szymon Pulcyn

The politician was admitted to the Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Regional Specialist Hospital in Lublin, eastern Poland.

As a result, he was absent from the Polish parliament (Sejm) yesterday, when crucial votes were held on lifting the immunity of two of his party colleagues, Zbigniew Ziobro and Marcin Romanowski, who face multiple allegations.

Kaczyński stripped of immunity

Today, a parliamentary committee has approved a request to lift Jarosław Kaczyński’s immunity, paving the way for potential legal action against him.

The motion, filed by opposition MEP Krzysztof Brejza, seeks to sue Kaczyński over allegations made during a March 2024 hearing on the Pegasus surveillance scandal, where Kaczyński accused Brejza of committing "very serious and repugnant crimes."

As reported by the news outlet Onet, half of the hospital ward was closed off for Kaczyński, and he was welcomed with flowers by Lublin regional governor Jarosław Stawiarski and hospital director Piotr Matej. 

Initially, Kaczyński was registered at the hospital as an unidentified patient, but this was quickly corrected, and he is now officially admitted under his real name.

Political drama surrounds routine checkup

A witness speaking to Onet described the scene as surreal, comparing it to a political satire, as Jarosław Kaczyński was welcomed with flowers by regional governor Jarosław Stawiarski and hospital director Piotr Matej.

The grand reception for what was supposed to be a routine hospital visit struck some as excessive, reminiscent of scenes from classic Polish political comedies (directed by Stanisław Bareja).

The hospital is now under the jurisdiction of Stawiarski’s office, raising questions about the circumstances of Kaczyński’s hospitalization.

Kaczyński’s hospital stay raises questions

Previously, former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski underwent surgery at the same facility before disappearing for several days. He was later found in Hungary, where he sought asylum while being wanted by Polish authorities.

Jarosław Kaczyński was admitted to the Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Regional Specialist Hospital in Lublin, in eastern Poland, for medical tests. Photo: szpital.lublin.pl Jarosław Kaczyński was admitted to the Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Regional Specialist Hospital in Lublin, in eastern Poland, for medical tests. Photo: szpital.lublin.pl

Source: IAR/Gazeta Wyborcza/Onet/X/@Bart_Wielinski/@bartoshchyz

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