On Thursday evening the Polish Sejm will decide whether to lift the immunity of former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro and allow his temporary arrest, a move that could end years of protection.
Unconditional Majority Needed
The Sejm requires an absolute majority of 231 MPs to lift Ziobro’s parliamentary immunity and approve a temporary arrest. The ruling Law and Justice party sees the chance to protect the ex‑minister.
A Law and Justice MP admitted a campaign aimed at swaying PSL members, noting the difficulty of collecting the absolute majority; a single absentee could derail the proceedings.
Coalition Clubs in Unity
Members of all coalition clubs, especially PSL, pledge to back the prosecutor’s motion. PSL MP Agnieszka Kłopotek stated that all members of the club will vote for lifting immunity and Ziobro’s temporary arrest in line with the 26 serious charges.
PSL Secretary comments that the 26 allegations compels the removal of his immunity and arrest.
Left Remembers Past Retaliations
The opposition Left recalls incidents where Ziobro’s actions against PSL politicians involved an ABW raid that led to the death of Minister Barbara Blida in 2007. V. Czarzasty referenced harrowing memories of forced entry into a family home, warning of potential backlash.
Members argue the prosecution is justified, citing evidence of misuse of the Justice Fund, procurement of the Pegasus spyware, and alleged orchestration of a criminal group.
Whoever Breaks the Vote Will Expose Them
KO members emphasize that any deviation from the approved vote could lead to internal fallout. The party expects all its MPs to appear in plenary to avoid being perceived as unreliable.
Past experience with the 2015 inquiry shows that failure to secure votes can result in expulsions from the club.
Civilist Coalition Pushes for Endorsement
The Civilist Coalition counts on a 241‑vote majority on Friday, plus two supporter MPs from Poland 2050, giving 243 votes. The party’s five‑member Razem group remains undecided until the final tally.
Opposition Votes Against Imprisonment
PiS and Confederation plan to oppose lifting immunity and approving temporary arrest. They will express skepticism, citing that prosecutors’ investigation is still ongoing.
Both parties intend to be present in the evening plenary session on Friday to cast their votes.
Ziobro’s Status Uncertain
Whether Ziobro will appear at the Sejm this week remains unknown. His spokesperson has stated no knowledge of the former minister’s absence, while the opposite side doubts his return from Budapest, where he met Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Ziobro remains active on social media, dismissing prosecutors’ allegations and asserting that his alleged offenses are politically motivated.