Former conservative Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, now engaged in a personal battle with esophageal cancer, accused critics of spreading lies about the Justice Fund and maligning the actions taken against priest Michał Olszewski, who was arrested and charged in the alleged corruption case. Ziobro, voicing his thoughts to the online portal Interia, said, “the true face of Tusk is revealed in these brutal actions.”
Ziobro, who leads the Sovereign Poland party, disclosed that he faces another phase of oncological treatment, along with rehabilitation and dealing with complications.
“The fight for life has begun,” he stated in an emotional reveal about his health status. He described the extensive malignant tumor diagnosed in his esophagus, which has metastasized to lymph nodes and his stomach.
He explained, “You can find online what such a diagnosis forecasts. The battle for my life has started.”
The former minister also shared details of his treatment, which included radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and a complex surgery that involved removing parts of his esophagus and stomach.
“The operation I underwent is among the most complicated and difficult ones,” Ziobro noted, highlighting the frequent severe complications and even fatal outcomes. Currently, he is undergoing rehabilitation that focuses on the respiratory system, digestive system, and vocal cords, engaging in various exercises and taking multiple medications daily.
He commented on the five-year survival rates, stating, “Statistically, the five-year survival rate is about 37 percent, but without the surgery, only grim scenarios were expected.”
On the subject of the Justice Fund, Ziobro dismissed the allegations as “lies,” claiming that during the rule of the Law and Justice Party (PiS), significantly more funds were directed to help victims of crimes compared to the Civic Platform (PO) era.
“It’s easy to see who really helped the victims and who is shamelessly lying that there was no help in recent years,” he said.
Ziobro also responded to reports in the Polish weekly “Sieci” about the alleged harsh treatment of Father Michał Olszewski, a beneficiary of the Justice Fund. The reports described prolonged detention without food or water and other harsh conditions that, according to Ziobro, showcase the “true face” of Tusk and his “hypocritical heart.”
The Justice Fund scandal, in which Father Olszewski is a suspect, involves allegations by prosecutors that €66 million in a special fund may have been misused under Zbigniew Ziobro while he was minister.
