Democracy Digest: Is Former Polish Justice Minister Headed Into Budapest Exile?
Elsewhere in Central Europe, significant political and social developments continue to unfold. Hungary’s government tightens its control over the media after its largest tabloid, Blikk, was acquired by a pro-government publisher. Meanwhile, the far-right leader was elected speaker of the Czech Republic’s lower house. Slovakia now faces a rise in petty theft following recent changes to its criminal code.
Legal Challenges for Former Polish Officials
The ruling tightens around politicians from Poland's ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), accused of misusing power during their 2015–2023 tenure. On Thursday, the parliamentary affairs committee began discussing the potential lifting of immunity for former justice minister and PiS MP Zbigniew Ziobro. He faces allegations of abusing his position, some of which he has mostly admitted to.
Among the accusations is the diversion of millions of euros from a crime prevention and victim support fund to the Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA). This money was then used to purchase Pegasus surveillance software. An indictment has already been filed against Michal Wos, one of Ziobro's deputy justice ministers, in connection with the case.
Recent Investigative Actions
In late September, Polish police removed Ziobro from a plane at the airport to compel his testimony before a parliamentary commission investigating the previous PiS government's use of Pegasus spyware. The National Prosecutor's Office aims to press 26 charges against Ziobro. The most serious claim accuses him of leading a criminal group within his ministry that favored entities connected to him.
According to a 158-page document sent to the parliament’s speaker, “the National Prosecutor's Office wants to bring 26 charges against Ziobro, with the most serious alleging he headed a criminal group operating within his ministry that favoured entities related to the justice minister.”
The growing legal pressures illustrate the challenges facing political figures linked to previous administrations accused of rule-bending and corruption.
Summary: Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro faces serious allegations, including misuse of funds and leading a criminal group, amid tightened investigations into PiS politicians' conduct during 2015–2023.
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