TVN24 News in English

TVN24 News in English

Sex scandal in diocese. Priest arrested and charged

A Polish priest was arrested and charged with sex and drug crimes as well as failure to assist a person at medical risk after media reports that a man collapsed at a sex party at his home, state news agency PAP said on Thursday (Jan. 11).

President Duda seeks to pardon former PiS ministers jailed for abuse of power

Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Thursday (Jan. 11) he will seek to pardon two imprisoned former ministers - Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik - and has applied to the prosecutor general for them to be released. "I plead the Gentlemen be released from prison immediately. I trust this will also ease the tensions that exist within our state," he added.

President Duda: I'm deeply shaken by Kamiński and Wąsik's arrest

Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday (January 10) that he was deeply shaken by the arrests of former members of government Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik and vowed he would not rest until they were freed. "This case has been very controversial from the very beginning, and for most of the public there is no doubt that it is, in fact, a political case," the president added.

Two wanted PiS lawmakers detained by the police at presidential palace

Two Polish lawmakers ordered by a court to go to prison - Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik - have been arrested at the Presidential Palace. "Everyone is equal before the law," Minister of the Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński said on the X social media platform on Tuesday (Jan. 9) evening.

NBP keeps interest rates unchanged in January

Poland's rate-setting authority, the Monetary Policy Council, announced on Tuesday (Jan. 9) it decided to keep the NBP interest rates at unchanged levels. This decision was expected by economists. The main, reference interest rate has been kept 5.75%. According to the Council, "in the coming months, annual CPI growth is likely to fall significantly, while the decline in core inflation will be slower," but "inflation developments in subsequent quarters are associated with uncertainty".

Polish ombudsman says mandates of two sentenced MPs have expired

The speaker of the Polish parliament, Szymon Hołownia, has been holding a series of consultations with top legal experts regarding the situation of two MPs from the formerly ruling PiS party, Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik. Last week Hołownia had issued a decision regarding the termination of the two lawmakers' parliamentary mandates, which was later overruled by a contested chamber of the Supreme Court. Despite having his mandate terminated, Kamiński said in an interview on Monday that "only physical force" would prevent him from taking part in parliamentary sessions.

Collection of Jacek Malczewski's paintings return from Poznań to Lviv

Thirty-four paintings by Polish renowned painter Jacek Malczewski, evacuated from Ukraine after the Russian attack launched in 2022, have returned to Lviv National Art Gallery. For over 12 months the paintings were on display at an exhibition in the National Museum in Poznań and attracted more than 100,000 visitors.

Justice minister signs Poland's bid to join EPPO

Poland's Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar on Friday (Jan. 5) signed documents regarding the country's accession to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). The European Commission has now four months to approve Poland's bid. According to Bodnar, the Commission should not voice any objections regarding the move.

Supreme Court annuls decision ending parliamentary mandate of former interior minister Mariusz Kamiński

The Extraordinary Review and Public Affairs Chamber of Poland's Supreme Court overrode on Friday (Jan. 5) parliament speaker Szymon Hołownia's decision to end PiS MP Mariusz Kamiński's parliamentary mandate. The chamber, which has been deemed an unlawfully appointed body and not a court by the CJEU and the ECHR, among others, made the exactly same decision the previous day (Jan. 4) regarding Kamiński's colleague and fellow PiS member Maciej Wąsik. Last month, both lawmakers were sentenced to two years in prison for abuse of power while in public office years back.

Contested Supreme Court chamber overrides parliament speaker's decision stripping sentenced MP of mandate

We are dealing with an absolutely unprecedented situation - speaker of the Polish parliament Szymon Hołownia said on Thursday (Jan. 4), commenting on a decision made earlier that day by a contested chamber of Poland's Supreme Court. The Extraordinary Review and Public Affairs Chamber, created under the previous government led by the PiS party, overrode Hołownia's decision stripping PiS lawmaker Maciej Wąsik of his mandate. Wąsik, along with fellow PiS member and former interior minister Mariusz Kamiński, have been sentenced by the court to two years in prison for abuse of power.

Farmers proceed with Medyka border crossing blockade

Polish farmers blockaded the Medyka border crossing with Ukraine on Thursday (Jan. 4) resuming a protest intended to secure government subsidies for corn and prevent tax increases. "We want to sign a bilateral agreement," protest leader Roman Kondrów told a press conference.

Auschwitz Museum condemns "hideous, immoral, political" comments about refugees

In recent days, we have all been appalled witnesses to the use of the Auschwitz victims' tragedy in hideous, immoral, political comments regarding refugees. It has breached the boundaries of what is acceptable in the civilized world - Auschwitz Museum Director, Dr. Piotr M.A. Cywiński, said in a statement published on the X social media platform on Thursday (Jan. 4). This way Cywiński condemned the recent outrageous comments made by Jan Pietrzak and Marek Król in TV Republika.

Świątek in top form. Poland advances to United Cup semis

Poland beat China 2-0 to reach the semi-finals of the United Cup mixed team tournament on Wednesday after Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Świątek cruised through their singles matches in Perth. Novak Djokovic suffered his first defeat in Australia for six years as De Minaur put the hosts on course for a 2-0 win over Serbia in their United Cup quarter-final.

Tusk on lowering public debt: we need a consistent, but a long and peaceful march

Market confidence has increased in Poland following the election of its new government, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday (Jan. 3), adding that he had discussed with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak a possible trip to London. Tusk added that his government will try to gradually lower the country's public debt. "We need a consistent, but a long and peaceful march," he said.

Justice minister: we're preparing comprehensive solutions related with the Constitutional Tribunal

Poland's Justice Minister Adam Bodnar, who also serves as prosecutor general, told TVN24 on Tuesday (Jan. 2) that a draft bill regulating the way the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) members are appointed would soon be put forward. He also said that the resolution on the KRS, adopted by the parliament in December, has granted him the power to withhold the announcement of job openings for justices. "We're preparing for comprehensive solutions related with the Constitutional Tribunal," Bodnar announced.