Ziobro: I accuse Tusk of a court set-up. “They violated laws to deprive me of my freedom”

Former Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro accused Prime Minister Donald Tusk of trying to “unlawfully” deprive him of his liberty – a court arrangement. In his opinion, the decision to arrest him – after the Parliament had previously revoked his immunity – was to be made by an extremely politicized activist.

On Friday, the Sejm waived the immunity of Law and Justice MP, former Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro, in relation to all 26 charges that the National Prosecutor's Office wants to bring against him in connection with the Justice Fund case. The Sejm also consented to the detention and possible temporary arrest of the former head of the Ministry of Justice. The execution of the decision on detention was entrusted to officers of the Internal Security Agency. PiS politics is not in the country, it is in Budapest.

Ziobro commented on the matter in his Monday post on the X platform.

I accuse Donald Tusk of trying to illegally deprive me of my liberty – a court arrangement! After my immunity was revoked on Friday evening, the decision on arrest was to be made by the “on duty” judge Malinowski – an extremely politicized activist of an extraordinary caste – wrote the former Minister of Justice.

According to him, Tusk with the current Minister of Justice, Attorney General Waldemar Żurek they “arranged” it all. “Previously, in violation of the laws, they fired independent court presidents, removed judges who were 'incompatible' with them from criminal departments, changed department chairmen and section heads. And to be 100% sure, they also canceled the random assignment of cases,” Ziobro explained, adding that “that's why Tusk wrote ten days ago, with full certainty, that I would be arrested.”

“Żurek fulfilled his promise – they can now freely appoint their “trusted” judges. And lock everyone up with one phone call, keeping them behind bars for at least two years. They planned a “spectacular success”, with TVN broadcast live and TVP “in liquidation”. But Tusk failed again!” – said the PiS politician.

Tusk referred to the issue of lifting Ziobro's immunity on Friday, after the votes. In his opinion, Poles saw that the settlements had become a fact and emphasized that he was satisfied with Żurek's actions. On Monday, the head of government, referring to the fact that Ziobro is struggling with oncological disease, in an interview for “GW”, emphasized that “in Poland, everyone, including those arrested, can count on medical care if necessary.”

He also stated that politicians cannot be treated more leniently than other citizens and that the impression of “some extraordinary severity may come from the fact that (previous head of the Ministry of Justice) Minister Adam Bodnar was much more restrained and focused on systemic changes, which required a cooperating president.”

Żurek, in turn, commented on the Sejm's decision on Friday by saying: “There is one law, the law is equal for everyone and we will obey it.” The minister added that the justice system will hold accountable all those who break this law. (PAP)

bye/ mrr/