Nationwide polling indicates only 22 % of Poles support Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro’s decision to remain abroad amid ongoing charges, while a court has postponed his temporary arrest hearing to January 15.
Poles Vote Against Ziobro’s Departure
On December 22, Opinia24 released results of a survey for “Fakty” TVN and TVN24 asking respondents to rate Ziobro’s choice to stay outside Poland while a prosecution is underway.
Only 22 % of the 1,000 participants viewed the decision positively, with 11 % answering “definitely good” and 11 % “somewhat good”.
Conversely, 64 % gave a negative assessment—46 % “definitely bad” and 18 % “somewhat bad”—and 14 % were unsure or declined to answer.
Prosecution Seeks 26 Charges Against Former Justice Minister
The Polish Prosecutor’s Office aims to file 26 accusations against former Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro, including “organization and leadership of a criminal group.”
Charges relate to irregularities in spending from the Justice Fund, of which Ziobro was a disbursing officer during his tenure.
He has been traveling abroad, most recently to Budapest and Brussels.
Court Postpones Custody Hearing to January 15
The Warsaw-Mokotów District Court delayed the hearing concerning Ziobro’s temporary arrest until January 15, following a request by the PiS lawmaker’s defense team.
Lawyer Bartosz Lewandowski cited significant deficiencies in the available evidence, a claim the prosecutor has denied.
Three Grounds for Custody Request
In a November filing, prosecutors listed three justifications for a three‑month arrest: the threat of hiding or flight, potential collusion attempts, and the danger of a severe sentence.
Zbigniew Ziobro faces a possible maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
