In a shocking turn of events, Mariusz Kaminski, Poland's former Interior Minister, has begun a hunger strike, declaring himself a "political prisoner" after being arrested and imprisoned on charges of abuse of power. He made the announcement on Wednesday, following his arrest, alongside his deputy, Maciej Wasik, inside the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.

Kaminski, a member of the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, stated in a press release read by his former deputy Blazej Pobozy that he sees his conviction as an act of "political revenge" in response to the government's pledges to undo the policies of their predecessors.

"As a political prisoner, I started a hunger strike from the first day of my imprisonment," read Kaminski's statement.

However, Deputy Justice Minister Maria Ejchart responded by denying their classification as political prisoners, stating that any prisoner has the right to refuse food and drink, regardless of political motives.

The arrest of Kaminski and Wasik was carried out by the police on Tuesday, following a court order, amidst an ongoing dispute between the new government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk of the Civic Platform party, and the head of state.

The arrests prompted hundreds of supporters of the PiS party to gather in front of the Presidential Palace and the police station where Kaminski and Wasik were held, expressing their solidarity.

Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda, a staunch ally of PiS, expressed his deep concern over the arrests and vowed to work towards securing their release. Duda, who is opposed to Tusk's agenda, reassured the public that he would act within the bounds of the law and the constitution.

The political landscape in Poland remains tense as the repercussions of these arrests ripple through the country. The hunger strike initiated by Kaminski as a self-proclaimed political prisoner serves as a stark reminder of the underlying divisions and power struggles within the nation's political sphere.