A new IBRiS poll reveals that 56.2 percent of Poles believe US authorities should extradite former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, with public opinion split sharply along political lines.
Public Opinion on Extradition
An IBRiS poll conducted for Radio ZET asked respondents whether the US should hand over Zbigniew Ziobro to Poland. A total of 40.6 percent answered “definitely yes,” while 15.6 percent said “rather yes.” Conversely, 11.2 percent chose “rather no,” 21 percent “definitely no,” and 11.6 percent held no opinion.
Views differ drastically based on political affiliation. Among voters of the current governing coalition, 96 percent support the extradition. Among opposition supporters, 23 percent favor his return, while 63 percent oppose it.
The survey was carried out using the CATI method on May 22-23, 2026, with a representative sample of 1,067 people.
Court Hearing for Ziobro’s Appeal Rescheduled
The District Court in Warsaw announced that the hearing regarding the appeal against Ziobro’s temporary arrest has been moved to July 1. Originally scheduled for September, the date was adjusted due to judicial scheduling conflicts.
Defense attorney Bartosz Lewandowski had previously argued that the prosecution’s case lacked sufficient evidence to justify preventive measures. The appeal against the arrest order, initially issued in February by the District Court for Warsaw-Mokotów, remains pending.
Extradition Status and Legal Proceedings
Zbigniew Ziobro is a suspect in the Justice Fund investigation, facing allegations of directing an organized criminal group and abuse of office. Investigators claim he committed 26 offenses, including directing subordinates to break the law to facilitate fund grants.
Ziobro confirmed in May that he is currently in the US, asserting he did not flee Poland and is using travel documents granted via Hungarian asylum status. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek stated that the extradition request is ready, noting that while Polish-US agreements allow for requests based on non-final arrest orders, US federal courts may require a final ruling.