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Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Poland's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it has permanently withdrawn its ambassador to Hungary for the "hostile act" of granting asylum to a former Polish deputy minister facing corruption charges.
Relations between the two EU and NATO members have deteriorated since Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's coalition came to power in 2023, replacing the national conservative PiS party - a close ally of Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán.
"Poland's ambassador to Hungary completed his mission on July 15. The reason was communicated when the decision was taken to summon the ambassador for consultations" last year, the Polish foreign ministry told AFP.
"That was the hostile act against Poland of granting political asylum to former deputy minister Marcin Romanowski, who is wanted for criminal offences," it added.
Poland recalled its envoy in December and also summoned Hungary's ambassador, after Budapest announced the refugee status for Romanowski.
Romanowski was a lawmaker from the PiS party and former deputy justice minister. Charges against him include participation in an organised crime group and the attempted embezzlement of almost €40 million from a fund for crime victims, which he supervised.
Romanowski disappeared in December after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) revoked his immunity and a court ordered his arrest.
Hungary granted him asylum, saying his "legal case is not guaranteed to be dealt with impartially and free from political influence in their home country beyond a reasonable doubt."
Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar called the move an "unfortunate step".
"This unfortunate step is the result of a gradual deterioration in our political ties -- an unprecedented move in the history of our relations with any Central European partner," he added.
"Nevertheless, we consider this a temporary situation. Despite the current political disagreements, we remain open to dialogue and are hopeful that better times will come again for the alliance between our two countries."
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not say whether a new ambassador would be sent to Budapest.
