Former Polish politician Marcin Romanowski, seeking refuge from Polish prosecution, now directs a Hungarian institute linked to CPAC and the Orbán government.
Romanowski’s Asylum and New Role
Marcin Romanowski has been residing in Hungary for over a year, having sought political asylum following the initiation of legal proceedings against him in Poland related to the Justice Fund case. He has become the director of the Hungarian-Polish Institute of Freedom, established under the Fundamental Rights Center in Budapest.
Center for Fundamental Rights and its Connections
The Fundamental Rights Center is described as a pro-government think tank with a distinctly conservative profile, adhering to the motto “God, Homeland, Family.” It engages in legal, political, and media activities, and is reportedly funded by public funds. The organization serves as a key platform for contacts between the Orbán government and supporters of Donald Trump.
The Hungarian-Polish Institute of Freedom
The Hungarian-Polish Institute of Freedom was created within this organization, with Romanowski at its helm. The institute’s website highlights Hungary’s provision of asylum to Romanowski, drawing a parallel to assistance provided to Poles in 1939.
CPAC Hungary and the MAGA Movement
The Fundamental Rights Center plays a central role in organizing CPAC Hungary, the Hungarian iteration of the Conservative Political Action Conference—a significant event for conservative circles associated with Trump.
CPAC Hungary as a Political Hub
Since 2022, the Center has been responsible for organizing these events in Hungary. These conferences are not only gatherings for international conservatives but also a component of Fidesz’s political infrastructure. This year’s event included Viktor Orbán, Alice Weidel, Geert Wilders, Santiago Abascal, and Mateusz Morawiecki among its attendees.
Romanowski’s Media Activity
Romanowski’s role extends beyond a formal position; he publishes analyses, maintains a newsletter, and comments on the Polish situation in media outlets favorable to Orbán’s government.
Commentary in Hungarian Media
He appears as a commentator on Hungarian public television and publishes articles in the conservative-right daily “Magyar Nemzet,” portraying the actions of the current Polish authorities as political repression against conservative and Christian circles.
Political Implications and Potential Asylum Reversal
Romanowski has been granted political asylum in Hungary since the end of 2024, and a European Arrest Warrant was issued against him by a Polish court in February 2026. Zbigniew Ziobro also received asylum in Hungary in January. Polish politicians claim the prosecution is politically motivated and represents retaliation by the Donald Tusk government. The upcoming Hungarian elections on April 12th could be crucial, as a victory for TISZA, the opposition to Orbán, could lead to the revocation of asylum for Ziobro and Romanowski, as threatened by the leading candidate, Peter Magyar.
