Government slams Duda for pardoning nationalist activist
Polish ministers have condemned President Andrzej Duda's decision to grant a partial pardon to nationalist activist Robert Bakiewicz, claiming it undermines constitutional principles.
The pardon, granted on July 11, reduces a sentence of community service for the assault of an elderly leftist activist, the General Prosecutor's Office confirmed on Tuesday. Bakiewicz had been convicted in 2023 for physically assaulting "Grandma Kasia" and was sentenced to a year of community service (30 hours per month), a payment of PLN 10,000 (EUR 2,345) to the victim, and a public announcement of the verdict.
On July 10, General Prosecutor and Justice Minister Adam Bodnar revoked a previous decision by the former Law and Justice (PiS) government to suspend Bakiewicz's sentence, a move made after pardon proceedings began in November 2023. Bodnar's resolution had opened the possibility for the sentence to be enforced.
"The president is ending his presidency badly," Adam Szlapka, the government spokesperson, assessed later on Tuesday. He claimed that pardoning "a man who is filled with hatred, contempt for others and also contempt for state institutions," was "outrageous."
Bodnar echoed this criticism on the X platform, saying that the pardon of Bakiewicz "undermines the public sense of justice" and represents "another gesture" by Duda that reveals his true colours as someone who, "instead of upholding the constitution, regularly undermines its fundamental values." (PAP) aj/jch
