On Monday, Ziobro’s lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski, confirmed that the former minister had received political asylum in Hungary. Ziobro has also reportedly applied for international protection for his wife.
Political reactions in Poland
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski (Civic Coalition, KO) reacted with a sharp quip in English, asking: “Next stop Minsk or Moscow?”
Tomasz Siemoniak, coordinator of Poland’s security services (KO), described Ziobro’s move as “the perfect summary of his career,” calling it “a total collapse of a justice minister fleeing the Polish legal system.”
Other ruling coalition figures echoed the criticism.
European Parliament member Krzysztof Brejza (KO) accused Ziobro of “playing on the lowest instincts” and "using even children" in his political manoeuvres.
Deputy Education Minister Katarzyna Lubnauer (KO) pointed to what she called the contrast between PiS rhetoric and action: “In declarations: honour, sovereignty, responsibility. In reality: Ziobro and Romanowski seek asylum in Hungary and avoid work in the Sejm (the lower house of Poland's Parliament).”
Ryszard Petru (Polska 2050) told Polish Radio that, in his view, Zbigniew Ziobro is seeking to avoid the Polish legal system because he knows he would be convicted.
Left-wing lawmakers also weighed in.
Krzysztof Śmiszek mocked the move, suggesting that Ziobro was cozying up to Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and warning that his political allies, such as Tomasz Szmydt who fled to Belarus, were also part of a controversial exodus.
Tomasz Trela said: “Under Orban’s short skirt and Putin’s boots - this is how a great sheriff ends up. Or maybe just an ordinary man.”
Right-wing politicians defended Ziobro’s decision.
Michał Wójcik (PiS) argued that “under the current circumstances, the decision was necessary,” citing what he described as an attack on Poland’s key institutions, including the subordination of prosecutors, pressure on judges, and the use of state machinery to target the opposition.
Łukasz Rzepecki from the far-right Konfederacja party acknowledged that “any irregularities in the Justice Fund should be investigated,” but added: “Let’s be honest—under these conditions, Ziobro could not expect a fair trial in Poland.”
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Source: PR24/Polish Radio English Service
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