Peter Magyar's Election Victory Threatens Asylum for Polish Politicians in Hungary

Peter Magyar's TISZA party victory in Hungary's parliamentary elections has placed two Polish politicians — former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro and former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski — in immediate legal jeopardy, as Magyar announced he would end the political asylum granted to them by outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban and pursue their extradition to Poland, where both face serious criminal charges linked to alleged irregularities in the Justice Fund. Ziobro faces charges related to 26 (crimes) — charges issued against Zbigniew Ziobro in Justice Fund case alleged crimes, while Romanowski faces charges related to 19 alleged crimes, according to the National Prosecutor's Office. Magyar had signaled his intentions even before the election, stating that Hungary would no longer serve as a refuge for individuals wanted by the international community, and on Monday, April 13, he confirmed that the two Polish politicians "will not remain long" in Hungary. Adam Bodnar, identified in source articles as Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General, sent two letters to Hungarian authorities on April 14 regarding the investigation and the implementation of the search for Romanowski based on a European Arrest Warrant transferred to Hungary's Justice Ministry on February 27, 2026, according to prosecutor Anna Adamiak of the National Prosecutor's Office.

Ziobro vows to fight on, does not rule out US escape Ziobro, speaking on Polsat News on Tuesday, April 14, struck a defiant tone, saying he was "always ready to fight the battle for the truth" and pledging to continue opposing Prime Minister Donald Tusk "wherever he finds himself." He stated that even if detained in Poland, he would continue to fight from custody, framing the charges against him as politically motivated tools designed to distract the Polish public from problems in healthcare and state finances. He also expressed hope that legal procedures would constrain Magyar's government, noting that Hungarian courts would ultimately have the final say on any extradition. However, Ziobro did not rule out the possibility of fleeing to the United States when asked directly, according to Wprost. Separately, on Telewizja Republika, Ziobro attacked Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty, accusing him of personal enrichment during the post-communist transition period — an allegation Czarzasty has not publicly addressed in the source articles. Ziobro also argued that a prosecutor in his case acknowledged he was not accused of taking "even 1 zloty for personal disposal," claiming the charges relate solely to the allocation of funds to Christian and conservative organizations.

Polish MPs debate US escape route, Czarzasty moves on State Tribunal In Warsaw, the prospect of Ziobro and Romanowski seeking refuge in the United States emerged as a serious topic of discussion among Polish lawmakers. Adrian Witczak, a member of parliament from the ruling Civic Coalition, alleged that PiS politicians were "directly advising Romanowski and Ziobro to flee to the American embassy so that Trump can take them in." Sławomir Ćwik of the Centrum parliamentary club said a move to the United States was among the possible scenarios, noting he could not be certain whether American border services would admit individuals wanted by Polish justice unless the presidential administration gave explicit approval. Professor Tomasz Płudowski, an Americanist quoted by Fakt, said that while it was "hard to say with certainty whether Trump would go for it," the American president was "certainly capable of going very far," adding that sheltering a wanted person would constitute "an open declaration of war against the Polish government." Meanwhile, Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty announced at a press conference that during the current parliamentary session, heads of parliamentary clubs would submit a motion to the constitutional accountability committee to bring Ziobro before the State Tribunal. PiS MP Marek Ast countered that Ziobro and Romanowski could not expect fair proceedings in Poland, leaving the decision on their next move to the individuals themselves.

Viktor Orban's Fidesz party had governed Hungary for 16 years before its defeat in the April 2026 elections. Orban granted political asylum to both Ziobro and Romanowski, providing them protection from Polish arrest warrants. Romanowski had been subject to a Polish arrest warrant since December 2024, while an arrest warrant for Ziobro was issued in February 2026. The Justice Fund case centers on allegations that funds intended for crime victims and rehabilitation were redirected to politically aligned organizations during the PiS government's tenure from 2015 to 2023.

Kaczyński refuses to congratulate Magyar, cites unverified personal claims Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of Law and Justice and a former Prime Minister of Poland, declined to congratulate Peter Magyar on his election victory, describing Magyar's win as "one of the symptoms of the complete callousness of European societies toward drastic facts." When pressed by a Polsat News journalist for specifics, Kaczyński cited a book allegedly written by Magyar's former wife, Judit Varga, claiming it described Magyar "roasting a puppy" — an allegation that has been repeatedly denied, according to Polsat News. Kaczyński stated that Magyar was the kind of person who "should not be in public life" and that his victory indicated society was "a bit sick." On the subject of Ziobro and Romanowski, Kaczyński said he hoped they would not end up in Poland, asserting that "they absolutely have no chance for any fair trial" there and characterizing the current Polish government as engaged in "building a dictatorship." Public opinion in Poland on the matter remains divided, with some citizens interviewed by Fakt arguing the two politicians have nothing to answer for, while a majority expressed the view that both should appear before a court and demonstrate whether they acted in accordance with the law.

Zbigniew Ziobro: 26, Marcin Romanowski: 19