Polish Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek announced on December 22 that a fresh application for a European Arrest Warrant has been filed against former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski in Warsaw.
Second European Arrest Warrant Submission
During a brief announcement on December 22, Justice Minister and Attorney General Waldemar Żurek confirmed that a new application for a European Arrest Warrant (ENA) has been submitted against former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski. He is suspected in the investigation of irregularities in the Justice Fund. A year earlier the court issued an ENA against him, but Romanowski secured political asylum in Hungary.
Judicial and Political Controversy
Żurek criticized the initial warrant as politically motivated and unacceptable, arguing that part of the court’s reasoning included political assessment rather than legal analysis. He emphasized the strange situation of a single judge delivering such a crucial decision in a closed session without prior notification to the prosecutor.
Reversal of Initial Warrant
On December 19 the Warsaw District Court declared the first ENA void. Romanowski’s lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski, argued that the court agreed that the investigation involved unlawful political pressure and threatened constitutional protections. A few hours later Żurek announced the new application after Romanowski posted a snippet of the court’s reversal on social media.
Minister’s Critique of Court Ruling
The court’s justification for revoking the ENA cited that prosecutors had not informed the court about Romanowski’s asylum status. Żurek cited documents showing the asylum information was already in the file, calling the court’s claim of ignorance nonsensical. He pointed out that the court’s denial contradicts procedural rules on public facts. He also voiced doubts over Hungary’s adherence to EU rule‑of‑law standards, saying the court’s reference to Hungary as an example of proper conduct was contradictory.
Allegations of “Cryptocracy” and Political Influence
Romanowski’s lawyer accused the government of “cryptocracy”, claiming it suppresses favorable rulings and will submit another ENA application to delay the judge who issued an adverse decision. Politicians of the Law and Justice party have linked this case to that of former minister Zbigniew Ziobro, calling it a continuation of alleged political influence on judiciary and prosecutors.
