Polish Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek has been charged by Zbigniew Ziobro with sabotaging victim‑assistance funding through the Fund for Justice, prompting a formal complaint to prosecutors.
Complaint Filed
Polish opposition activist and MP Zbigniew Ziobro announced on social media that he has lodged a formal complaint against Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek with the prosecutor’s office.
Accusation: Damaging Public Interest
Ziobro claims the Fund for Justice has been financing a nationwide network of over 300 crime‑victim assistance centers, yet the minister’s failure to release new calls for funding has left more than 400 million zlotys unused, jeopardising aid across the country.
Unspent Funds
The minister allegedly knew that withholding another tender for victim‑support organisations would destabilise the care system, keeping the donated resources idle while the demand for help remains huge.
Program Delays Threaten Funding
Wirtualna Polska reported that delays in announcing a new funding round could deprive victim‑support groups of financial aid; the existing program ends on 31 December 2024, and the deadline for the next competition was postponed from 6 December to 31 January.
Minister’s Response: Rebuilding the Institution
Żurek said the ministry is repairing the system, altering rules but aiming for fair competitions. He announced a 120‑million‑zloty tender for NGOs and stressed the importance of thorough compliance with recommendations from prosecutor’s investigations and the National Anti‑Corruption Bureau (NIK).