Jarosław Kaczyński, the de facto leader of Poland’s governing right-wing nationalist and populist Law and Justice (PiS) party has been vehemently criticized by the opposition and members of the public for displaying a callous and reckless disregard for public health during the coronavirus lockdown by visiting a string of cemeteries. His visits have been touted as “state ceremonies” by his subordinate politicians in the party. Kaczyński, who is a Polish MP and does not hold any official portfolio, is known to rule the Central Eastern European nation (and an EU member state since 2004) autocratically.

The PiS strongman paid tribute to the victims of the Smoleńsk disaster at Plac Piłsudski in central Warsaw. He also visited the grave of his mother, Jadwiga Kaczyńska, who rests at the Powązki Cemetery, in the north of the Polish capital. The cemetery is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the head of the ruling party was admitted inside.

Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the Archdiocese of Warsaw banned visiting cemeteries on April 2. The regulation is valid until April 11. However, the PiS chairman was admitted on April 10. In addition, people accompanying the politician did not keep a safe distance, as it emerged from the images. According to “Super Express”, a Polish tabloid, Kaczyński had to pay “less than PLN 30” for such entry.

The Smoleńsk air disaster occurred on 10 April 2010, when a Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft of the Polish Air Force crashed near the Russian city of Smoleńsk, killing all 96 people on board, including Jarosław Kaczyński’s twin brother and the then-president, Lech. Their mother did not die in the crash.

Barbara Nowacka, an MP from an opposition party took to the social media to voice her criticism pointing out that she could not go to the same cemetery to the grave of her mother, who also died in the Smoleńsk disaster.

Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, an opposition MP and presidential hopeful, said: “A few days ago I could not be on my mother's grave on the anniversary of her death. It is painful, but I understand that bans are for our common security. It is outrageous that the authorities break them, showing that there are better and worse citizens.”

Jerzy Owsiak, a Polish journalist and social campaigner, famous for being the founder of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity – one of the largest non-governmental, non-profit, charity organizations in Poland – also criticized Kaczyński’s antics.

However, PiS politicians allegedly went on “damage-control” mode by quickly defending their head, while the public broadcaster, TVP, a PiS’ mouthpiece, stated that “PiS president visited only his mother’s grave.” In fact, Kaczyński visited as many as four cemeteries, although they were all closed to visitors.

Patryk Jaki, PiS MEP, told private Polish broadcaster TVN24, that “it was an element of state ceremonies, and state ceremonies are excluded from the regulation.”

“Jarosław Kaczyński was not there as a private person, but was on a delegation, which was part of the state celebrations in a very important event, i.e., the 10th anniversary of the Smoleńsk catastrophe,” argued Jaki seemingly trying to hint that the PiS “president” is above the law in Poland.

(WP, TVN24)