During Thursday's conference, at which parliament speaker Marek Kuchciński announced his resignation, a video was played showing Jarosław Kaczyński's words from 2011, when Donald Tusk was Poland's prime minister. "It's prime minister's right. Everyone has the right to be at home. We cannot expect from any prime minister to live in Warsaw," Kaczyński said at the time. On Thursday, he reassured that he stood by his words. However, at the same time he said that, during his time as PM, Tusk had taken 281 flights to his hometown of Gdańsk.
On Thursday, Marek Kuchciński announced that he would step down as Marshal of the Sejm.
When announcing his decision, he was accompanied by the Law and Justice party chairman Jarosław Kaczyński.
Kaczyński's statement was preceded by a short video showing chaiman's statement from 2011, when Donald Tusk was Poland's prime minister.
Kaczyński commented at the time on Tusk's flights to his hometown of Gdańsk.
Prime minister's right
"When it comes to using planes, well, it's prime minister's right. It's his right, as everyone has the right to be at home. We cannot expect from any prime minister to live in Warsaw. I wouldn't make a big deal out of it," Kaczyński said in 2011.
On Thursday, referring to the video, Kaczyński said that he stands by his words spoken 8 years ago.
He also underscored that Marshal Kuchciński did not break the law.
281 flights to Gdańsk
Law and Justice chairman mentioned Tusk's official flights once more.
He said that "rules must be the same for everyone".
Kaczyński added that Donald Tusk, in his time as PM, "during 6 years and 10 months had taken 281 flights to Gdańsk". "He also took a number of trips to exotic countries, touristically atractive, but questionable in political terms. And he was travelling there together with his wife," Kaczyński stressed.
"We do not have detailed information with whom he (Tusk) was travelling to Gdańsk with, however, there are some fragmented accounts," he said.
"I expect you (journalists) to look into this matter," he added. He explained that "in line with the principle of objectivity, this matter should be dealt with seriously". He also reassured that "PiS will look into this".
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP