Former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro makes public appearance after long break

"I decided to meet with you today in front of the Prime Minister's Office because something extremely sad and far-reaching for the Polish state and Polish rule of law has happened, the consequences of which we are yet to witness. They will reveal themselves in the near and distant future," Zbigniew Ziobro said in front of the Prime Minister's Chancellery on Monday, December 2.

He explained that he had in mind "an unlawful assault on the office of the National Prosecutor, which was carried out by the hands of (Justice) Minister Bodnar and Prime Minister Donald Tusk."

During the press briefing, Ziobro announced that he would file a report to the Prosecutor's Office about the possibility of committing a crime by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar.

"Mr. Donald Tusk and Minister Adam Bodnar, together with others, acting jointly within an agreement, organized a criminal group and decided to unlawfully remove the sitting National Prosecutor (Dariusz Barski) through a criminal act," he said.

Ziobro argued that during his time as National Prosecutor, Barski made thousands of decisions that would now be questioned. "The actions of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Minister of Justice Bodnar are unlawful, they constitute an abuse of power taken due to Prime Minister Tusk’s personal political interests and those of his party, but also for the material interests of people who were illegally appointed as a result of the unlawful removal of Dariusz Barski from his duties as National Prosecutor," the former minister said.

"I say this not only as a citizen of this country, as a politician, but above all as a person who, for 10 years, the longest of all ministers of justice, served as Prosecutor General of Poland, that Prime Minister Donald Tusk is a criminal. And the time will come when he will face serious consequences for this," Ziobro stressed. He added that Tusk "could not have organized this act individually, he had to act within a criminal group."

Asked if the press conference on Monday meant his return to public and parliamentary life, Ziobro replied that it would happen "gradually." "I am still in the midst of intensive rehabilitation. I feel better, definitely, as you can see. I can now speak more or less freely, although still with some difficulties," he said. "I feel better, but unfortunately, I am not yet able to say that I have completely recovered. This is a process that will take time," he expained.

The former minister expressed gratitude to the doctors who helped him regain his voice. "It seemed that I had completely paralyzed my left vocal cord as a result of surgery for a tumor that affected various parts of my esophagus. It turned out that what seemed impossible, that I would not regain my voice, became possible thanks to their work and exceptional qualifications. I was able to meet with you today because of that," Ziobro said.

He also thanked all Poles who had shown him "words of support and directed their prayers." "I will never forget this."

This was Ziobro's first public appearance in a long time. The former minister of justice has been dealing with cancer. Last week, Michał Wójcik, the former deputy minister of justice and acting Vice-Chairman of PiS, told TVN24 that "if nothing unexpected happens, Zbigniew Ziobro will return to public life in December."

Ziobro informed that he would attend the meeting of the parliamentary Rules, Deputies’ Affairs, and Immunity Committee on Tuesday. The committee is set to consider a request for his detention and being brought before the Pegasus investigation committee.

The PiS MP did not answer the reporters' question about whether he would also appear before the Pegasus committee.

The request for permission to detain and forcibly bring Zbigniew Ziobro before the Pegasus investigation committee was submitted to the Sejm by Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar. It was delivered to the Sejm on Friday, November 22.