Polish former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, speaking remotely from abroad, warned he would return to Poland within hours if a judicial review restored court independence and prosecutors’ authority.
Remote Statement from Ziobro
Zbigniew Ziobro addressed the nation from outside Poland, saying he had gone abroad to confront “unlawful” actions. He added that he would return immediately if courts and prosecutors operated independently under the law.
Conditions for Returning to Poland
Ziobro said he would come home “within a few hours” if cases were again randomly assigned to judges. He demanded the reinstatement of court presidents who had been unlawfully dismissed and the return of judges who were improperly removed from the bench.
He also called for the restoration of the prosecutor general’s office and the legality of the country’s prosecutorial powers. Ziobro described the judiciary as a “caste” that he could not freely choose from, noting that many judges favored the government’s interests.
Trip to Brussels and EU Parliament Meeting
In recent weeks Ziobro has been in Hungary and then Brussels, where he appeared before the European Parliament. He explained that he flew to Brussels to speak with politicians and media about alleged violations of law by the Tusk government.
Ziobro said he faced an unlawful request for temporary arrest and that he was fulfilling his duties as justice minister and attorney general with integrity and loyalty.
Legal Proceedings and State Tribunal
The prosecutor’s office seeks to try Ziobro on 26 charges, including leading a criminal gang linked to misappropriation of funds from the Justice Fund. The Sejm has lifted his immunity and approved a temporary arrest.
Last week the prosecutor general sent a letter to the Sejm marshal with the indictment. This week the governing coalition decided to file a case against Ziobro with the State Tribunal.
