First, on Thursday, at lightning speed, the Sejm Rules and Regulations Committee gave a positive opinion on the prosecutor's motions to waive Zbigniew Ziobro's immunity, detain him and arrest him. The 150-page motion was submitted to the Sejm on October 28. And on Friday evening, the Sejm voted in accordance with the committee's recommendation. What's next?
Read also: Zbigniew Ziobro lost his immunity. He may be detained and charged
The Sejm abolished parliamentary immunity, the prosecutor's office can act
By revoking Zbigniew Ziobro's parliamentary immunity, the Sejm opened up the field of action for the prosecutor's office. When investigators will formally receive documents from the Sejm and may issue a decision to present charges. Under normal circumstances, investigators set a date for the suspect to appear at the prosecutor's office. Things may be different here, what then?
— The motion submitted to the Sejm also includes consent to the detention and temporary arrest of Zbigniew Ziobro. The purpose of the detention is to bring the MP to the prosecutor's office to present charges against him and question him as a suspect. After this action, the prosecutor will decide whether he will submit a request to the court for the temporary arrest of Zbigniew Ziobro. The decision in this regard will be made by an independent court, explains prosecutor Anna Adamiak, press spokesman for the Prosecutor General.
See also: What about the future of Zbigniew Ziobro? Poles spoke up [SONDAŻ]
The police cannot find Zbigniew Ziobro
However, it is not certain whether Zbigniew Ziobro will be in Poland and whether the police will be able to detain him. He was recently in Hungary. On Thursday, in an evening interview with Telewizja Republika, he said that he had purchased a return ticket to Poland, but decided not to return because he received information about a “provocation” related to his potential detention. What can happen if the police do not bring Ziobro to the prosecutor's office?
— The prosecutor will then decide to initiate a search for the MP, which may be nationwide or internationaldepending on the circumstances. International searches can be implemented on the basis of the European arrest warrant, valid in the European Union, and through Interpol, which includes over 190 countries from around the world – explains prosecutor Adamiak. In each situation, an arrest warrant will be issued first.
Read also: Facts and myths about extradition. Which countries are safe for criminals [MAPA]
Asylum in Hungary?
In an interview with Telewizja Republika Zbigniew Ziobro stressed that he did not apply for political asylum in Hungary. What if he changes his mind and like Marcin Romanowski, will he get asylum? The Hungarian court can still consider the EAW application regardless of asylum or delay its processing. In accordance with the regulations the state may refuse to execute the EAW if it would violate human freedoms and rights. Therefore, even without recognizing asylum, a Hungarian court may find grounds for refusal.
However, it must be remembered that in 2026, parliamentary elections will be held in Hungary, which may end the long-term rule of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza party, which, according to most polls in recent months, is leading in the race for power with Orban's Fidesz, in an interview with “Gazeta Wyborcza” advised Marcin Romanowski to he increased his efforts to find a new country to hide in.
What does the prosecutor's office want to accuse Ziobro of?
The prosecutor's office requested the consent of the Sejm to bring 26 charges against MP Zbigniew Ziobro, to bring him for questioning, and possibly detain him and arrest him. In short: prosecutors claim that an organized criminal group operated within the Ministry of Justice, allegedly led by a former minister. According to investigators, he ordered subordinates who would win certain competitions for money from the fund before they were announced. To maintain appearances, the winners indicated in the pre-race actually prepared competition offers, but Ziobro's ministry favored them. In order for the prosecutor's office to bring charges against Zbigniew Ziobro and then take the case to court, the Sejm must waive his parliamentary immunity.
