In a December 3 press conference, PiS vice‑chair Ryszard Terlecki warned that returning former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro to Poland would only secure his imprisonment and that the ongoing internal party feuds are “melting us”.
Terlecki on Ziobro’s Return
During a press conference on 3 December, Vice‑Chairman Ryszard Terlecki was asked whether he would advise Zbigniew Ziobro to return to Poland. He replied, “I would not recommend it, because they would obviously lock him up.” He added that the television audience generally believes otherwise, and that the increasing fervour of factional wars is “melting us.”
State Tribunal Initiative
Marshal of the Sejm, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, announced that a process to transfer Ziobro’s case to the State Tribunal has begun. “We have decided to gather over 115 signatures on this matter,” the politician said.
Constitutional Liability
Under the Constitution, members of the Government are constitutionally liable before the State Tribunal for violations of the fundamental law or related statutes, or for misconduct in office. The National Prosecutor’s Office highlighted that evidence has been gathered in proceedings concerning irregularities in the Justice Fund, establishing a suspicion that Ziobro committed 26 acts classified as “exceeding authority and failing to perform public office duties.”
Ziobro’s Current Status
Ziobro is presently in Hungary and has not clarified whether he seeks political asylum or intends to return to Poland. He faces 26 charges, one of which concerns the establishment and leadership of a criminal group, with the main allegation relating to defrauding funds from the Justice Fund.
His diplomatic passport was annulled by Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski at the request of the National Prosecutor’s Office. In an interview with TVN24, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński confirmed that, following the loss of the diplomatic passport, Ziobro’s civil passport will be taken away by the voivode of the Masovian region. He stressed that a diplomatic passport is not identical to a regular passport; the latter’s revocation is an administrative procedure, whereas the former is revoked by decision.