Following a decisive victory for TISZA party, Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Justice indicated a swift review of asylum granted to Zbigniew Ziobro and Bogdan Romanowski.
TISZA Party Victory and Initial Reactions
The TISZA party secured a constitutional majority in Hungary. Viktor Orbán congratulated Péter Magyar on his win, with journalists from Wyborcza.pl, TOK FM, and Radio Zet reporting from Budapest. Wojciech Maziarski, a Hungarian affairs expert from “Wyborcza,” is analyzing developments.
Reversal of Asylum Decisions Anticipated
Péter Magyar announced his intention to immediately revoke the political asylum granted to Zbigniew Ziobro and Bogdan Romanowski. Deputy Minister of Justice Arkadiusz Myrcha described the TISZA leader’s victory as “the end of political and administrative umbrella protection.”
Streamlined Extradition Process
Myrcha emphasized that the legal procedure in Hungary is “not particularly difficult or complicated.” He stated that reciprocity and trust between member states should ensure prompt execution of extradition requests without undue delay.
Obstruction by Ziobro’s Defense Team
Myrcha noted that Ziobro’s defense team is actively working to obstruct the process. He suggested that if Hungary doesn’t act quickly on the Ziobro and Romanowski cases, it “would be worth reminding that such a request was directed to the court.”
Romanowski Case Further Advanced
Regarding Bogdan Romanowski, Myrcha stated that the case is at a more advanced stage, with a European Arrest Warrant (ENA) issued. He believes Romanowski is closer to facing justice in Poland than Ziobro.
Delays in Ziobro’s Extradition
Myrcha explained that the procedure for Ziobro remains with the Polish court, and the issuance of the ENA is being delayed by his defense team’s efforts to obstruct and stall the process.
No Political Vendetta, Just Legal Action
Myrcha asserted that there is “not a millimeter of political revenge” involved, characterizing the actions as “pure legal-criminal activity of Polish law enforcement agencies, based on the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.” He emphasized this is about accountability for confirmed evidence of wrongdoing.
Transition of Power and Potential Flight Risk
Myrcha acknowledged that the transition of power is not immediate, with the new parliament convening within a month. He addressed the possibility of Ziobro and Romanowski leaving Hungary before extradition, noting that Romanowski is subject to an ENA, facilitating potential apprehension, while the ENA for Ziobro is still in process.
