Duda Buckles to PiS Pressure, Pardons Jailed Loyalists Despite Public Disapproval
• Polish President Duda pardoned two jailed PiS party politicians, Kamiński and Wąsik, who were convicted of abuse of power. This reverses his previous position.
• The pardon is a defeat for Duda in his fight with new Polish PM Tusk, who aims to root out PiS loyalists from key institutions.
• Duda faced growing pressure from PiS leaders to pardon the two men. Public opinion was against freeing them early.
• Although pardoned, the conviction remains, barring them from parliament. But PiS disputes this.
• The two may face future charges over alleged eavesdropping on opponents when they previously headed the interior ministry.