Warsaw

A popular Polish writer is facing a potential sentence of up to three years in prison for calling Polish President Andrzej Duda a "moron" on social media.

Jakub Zulczyk wrote on Facebook on Monday that a district prosecutor in Warsaw had filed an indictment against him based on an article in the penal code that makes it a crime to insult the head of state.

Duda's spokesman, Blazej Spychalski, told the Interia news site Tuesday that neither the president nor his office were parties in the matter and had made no request for the writer to be charged.

Poland is taking the new rule of law clause in the EU budget to the European Court of Justice. This was announced by the government in Warsaw on Thursday. The EU's top judges are to examine whether the new mechanism for cutting EU funds in the event of certain rule of law violations is permissible.

Hungary and Poland oppose the new rule of law mechanism in the EU's multi-annual financial framework for 2021 to 2027. They fear that the mechanism is aimed at cutting EU funds to them because of controversial political projects. Both countries receive billions of euros net from the EU budget. At the same time, both countries are subject to legal proceedings under Article 7 of the EU Treaties for alleged disregard of fundamental EU values.

Until recently, abortions were allowed in Poland in cases of incest or rape, a threat to the health or life of the mother, and a severe disability of the child. On Wednesday, the country’s top court ruled to tighten the anti-abortion law, banning abortions of fetuses with congenital defects. The decision was followed by anti-government protests outside the court building in Warsaw and in several other Polish cities.

The Police police have arrested three people that they suspect of having placed pride flags on multiple statues around Warsaw.

All suspects have been charged with the offending of religious feelings and desecration of monuments. If the prosecutors decide to bring the case to a court, the suspects could face a fine of up to two years in prison if they get convicted for offending of religious feelings.

The flags had been placed on statues of the astronomer Copernicus, the Warsaw mermaid and Jesus Christ.