Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro gave an exclusive interview to the Hungarian media outlet Mandiner, in which he discussed the authoritarian tendencies of Donald Tusk and his government, as well as those who have suffered under their policies.
In the interview Ziobro emphasized the significance of Hungary’s decision to grant political asylum to his former deputy, Marcin Romanowski, in December last year. He highlighted Romanowski as a prime example of the victims of the Tusk regime. The former justice minister remarked that by offering asylum, Hungary has ‘torn off Donald Tusk’s democratic mask’ and exposed his true intentions.
‘Hungary has “torn off Donald Tusk’s democratic mask”’
‘Hungary’s gesture is proof of Polish–Hungarian friendship,’ Ziobro said, reminding of the historical solidarity between the two nations. He underlined that had Romanowski not fled to Hungary, he would have been arrested on baseless charges aimed at silencing opposition voices.
As Hungarian Conservative reported, Romanowski is accused of misappropriating funds from the Justice Fund during his tenure at the Ministry of Justice under the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government. A district court in Warsaw recently issued a European arrest warrant against him. The charges include eleven alleged criminal offences, such as participation in an organized criminal group that caused damage to state property.
Romanowski has denied the allegations, describing the prosecution’s actions as unlawful and asserting that the Sejm’s (the Polish legislature) decision to waive his parliamentary immunity was invalid.
In late 2024, Budapest granted political asylum to Romanowski. In response, Poland excluded Hungary’s ambassador to Warsaw from the opening ceremony of Poland’s rotating presidency of the European Council.
In the interview Ziobro also described Tusk as a ‘vindictive man’ who seeks to eliminate his political opponents by any means, including blocking the Constitutional Court, forcibly taking control of public media, and cutting off funding for opposition parties. ‘By promising to restore the rule of law, Tusk is doing the opposite: he is dismantling it,’ Ziobro stated.
The politician who served as justice minister for a decade sharply criticized the European Union for condoning Tusk’s alleged violations and remaining silent on the matter. ‘The silence of the EU is not accidental. If Tusk’s methods succeed in Poland, Hungary will be the next target,’ he warned. Regarding the upcoming presidential election, he expressed concern that Tusk might resort to illegal methods to secure the victory of his coalition’s candidate.
‘If Tusk’s methods succeed in Poland, Hungary will be the next target’
Ziobro finally reiterated the importance of conservative parties uniting to defend Europe’s Christian civilisation. ‘The future of Europe depends on it,’ he declared, highlighting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s pivotal role in safeguarding sovereignty. He praised Orbán’s policies, presenting them as a model for other European Union member states.
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