PiS MP calls Smolensk crash a ‘crime’

24th July 2010

© PAP Macierewicz refused to elaborate on the 'terrorist theories' Share:

A senior Law and Justice (PiS) politician has branded the Smolensk crash a “crime”, hinting that it was a terrorist attack.

Speaking at a press conference announcing the launch of a parliamentary probe into the tragedy, Antoni Macierewicz, an MP from the nationalistic wing of Law and Justice (PiS), referred to the crash as a “crime” although he refused to elaborate when pressed by journalists.

“We are dealing with a situation so terrible that every word that emphasises the drama of this situation is appropriate; that is all I have to say. We will return to this issue when we will have a complete picture of the incident,” said the veteran parliamentarian.

Mr Macierewicz also claimed that a terrorist attack may have downed President Lech Kaczynski’s aircraft on April 10.

“We’re examining all the hypotheses, notably that of a terrorist attack,” he claimed.

Although the official investigation into the causes of the crash continues, experts ruled out at an early stage that the disaster, which claimed the lives of President Kaczynski, his wife and 94 others, was the result of a terrorist attack.

Pulling no punches, the PiS politician also added that the government bore some responsibility for the disaster.

“I share the belief that when it comes to political accountability, it is clear the Polish government will undoubtedly bear a huge responsibility for the course of events,” he said.

Mr Macierewicz’s comments mark a heightening of political tensions over the Smolensk disaster. In the weeks that followed the crash and throughout the presidential election campaigns, politicians, for the most part, refrained from making any political insinuations about the disaster.

But now, with the presidential election done and dusted, it appears that the Smolensk tragedy has become fair political game.

Controversial Civic Platform MP Janusz Palikot made a bid to join the parliamentary committee, which was set up by PiS, despite infuriating Law and Justice members by claiming - incorrectly as it turned out - that President Lech Kaczynski may have been drunk when his plane crashed.

Mr Palikot said that any attempt by PiS MPs to block him from joining the committee would mean that they were “cowards”.

But on Thursday night that’s exactly what they did, saying: “We only take serious people here.”