The decision follows a request by a parliamentary commission investigating the use of Pegasus spyware, which seeks to sanction Ziobro for repeatedly failing to appear before its hearings.
The motion was approved by 239 lawmakers, while 194 opposed it.
Among those voting against were 178 PiS lawmakers, 13 from the far-right Confederation party, and three from the conservative Free Republicans.
Supporting the motion were 154 lawmakers from the centrist Civic Coalition, 31 from the Polish People’s Party-Third Way alliance, 30 from Poland 2050-Third Way, 19 from the Left party, four from the Razem (Together) party, and one independent lawmaker.
Earlier on Thursday, the Sejm’s rules, parliamentary affairs and immunity committee endorsed the request made by the parliamentary commission investigating Pegasus spyware.
The commission seeks to compel the former minister to testify.
Under Poland’s Code of Criminal Procedure, authorities may order up to 30 days of detention for individuals who persistently evade testimony. The regulation applies when financial penalties and summonses fail to ensure compliance.
Ziobro, who served as justice minister and prosecutor general from 2015 to 2023, was summoned to testify before the parliamentary commission on January 31. It was the fifth attempt to secure his testimony.
The Warsaw district court had previously approved his detention to ensure his appearance.
Police detained him shortly after 10:30 a.m. that day following an interview at the offices of Telewizja Republika, a right-wing television station.
The commission’s session was scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., but when Ziobro failed to appear, members deemed his detention ineffective. As a result, they submitted a request via the prosecutor general to authorize up to 30 days of detention.
Explaining the decision, commission member Witold Zembaczyński of the Civic Coalition said the goal was to ensure Ziobro remains available for questioning throughout the 30-day period, potentially at intervals of every five days.
He also suggested that hearings could take place within the detention facility if necessary.
Ziobro, speaking in the Sejm on Thursday, called the move a political trap intended to imprison him.
He claimed he had returned to Poland voluntarily and was willing to be escorted to the January 31 hearing.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP