Democracy Digest: Polish Justice Minister’s Legal Troubles and Regional Political Shifts
In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán continues to consolidate control over the media following the acquisition of the country's largest tabloid, Blikk, by a pro-government publisher. In the Czech Republic, a far-right leader has been elected speaker of the lower house. Meanwhile, Slovakia experiences a rise in petty theft linked to recent changes in its criminal code.
Poland’s Political and Legal Developments
The scrutiny on Poland's ruling party PiS intensifies, targeting politicians accused of misconduct during their tenure from 2015 to 2023. On Thursday, the parliamentary affairs committee began deliberations on lifting immunity from Zbigniew Ziobro, former justice minister and PiS MP, amid allegations of abusing his official role—allegations he has mostly admitted.
- One major accusation involves the diversion of millions of euros from a crime prevention and victim support fund to the Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA), which then used the money to purchase Pegasus spyware.
- An indictment was filed in October against Michal Wos, a deputy justice minister under Ziobro, related to this matter.
At the end of September, Polish police removed Ziobro from a plane at the airport and escorted him to testify before the parliamentary commission investigating the use of Pegasus spyware by the former PiS government.
The National Prosecutor's Office aims to bring 26 charges against Ziobro, including allegations that he led a criminal group within his ministry that favored entities linked to the justice minister, according to a 158-page document sent to the parliament’s speaker, Euronews reported.
These events depict a tightening legal net around PiS officials linked to controversial surveillance practices and misuse of public funds.
Author’s summary: Polish former justice minister Ziobro faces multiple charges over alleged corruption and misuse of funds, as regional politics shift with Orbán’s media consolidation and rising crime in Slovakia.
Would you like the HTML formatted for easier integration with a specific CMS or platform?