Poland’s president says he ‘will not rest’ until opposition MPs freed from prison

Andrzej Duda’s remarks escalate battle for rule of law with new government and come as convicted politician begins hunger strike

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Poland’s president has said he “will not rest” until two politicians from the opposition nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party – one on hunger strike – are freed from prison, in a further dramatic escalation in the new government’s battle to restore the rule of law.

“I will not rest in the fight for a fair and just Polish state,” the president, Andrzej Duda, who is closely aligned with PiS, declared on Wednesday. “I won’t be scared. I will act legally, in accordance with the constitution and the law – as before.”