Romanowski earned 17.5 million forint at Foundation for Rights while under Hungarian asylum
Former Polish deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski's asset declaration revealed he received 17.5 million forint from a Fidesz-linked institute. He also drew salary from the Polish Sejm, despite failing to attend sessions.
Romanowski earned 17.5 million forint in Hungary while under asylum
Marcin Romanowski, the former Polish deputy justice minister who was granted political asylum in Hungary, earned 17.5 million forint over the past year as director of the Hungarian-Polish Freedom Institute – according to a recent asset declaration published on the Polish Sejm website, as reported by Telex following Hvg.hu.
The institute was created for Romanowski by the Fidesz-affiliated think tank, the Foundation for Rights. According to the organisation's website, it researches values that define Hungarian and Polish relations and considers its task to be their protection against threats such as – in their own words – "federalisation, woke ideology, green jihad, or illegal migration".
According to the asset declaration, Romanowski has savings of 13,600 zloty (approximately 1.1 million forint), as well as 8.7 million forint also listed in the document. He received 16,092 zloty – approximately 1.4 million forint – in salary from the Polish parliament, despite not attending sessions.
In the closing section of the declaration, Romanowski expounded at length on his position, claiming that the Polish prosecutor's office operates illegally and that it was not he, but Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Sejm Speaker Szymon Hołownia, and prosecutors Marzena Kowalska and Piotr Woźniak who committed crimes.
Flight and accusations
Romanowski fled to Hungary in December 2024 after his Law and Justice (PiS) party lost the 2023 parliamentary election. The Polish prosecutor's office has levelled 19 charges against him, including participation in an organised crime group, embezzlement of public funds, and corruption. According to the prosecution, the politicians in question illegally distributed 16 billion forint in support from a judicial fund to party-linked organisations, from which they also procured the Pegasus spyware. Romanowski denies the charges and suspects political motivation behind the proceedings.
The case is related to that of former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, who together with his wife received asylum from the Hungarian government in late 2025.
Departure from Hungary
After the Fidesz election defeat on 12 April, both politicians quickly left Hungary. Magyar Péter – the victorious opposition leader – announced at a press conference following the election that, after government formation, the Tisza Party would review political asylum grants given by the Orbán government, including that of Romanowski.
During a visit to Warsaw, he said Budapest would not be a "dumping ground for criminals under international warrant". He added that he had predicted Ziobro and Romanowski would leave the country before the new government was sworn in. According to reports, Romanowski left Hungary towards Serbia, while the other politician headed towards the United States. Magyar Péter promised to do everything in their power to ensure both politicians return to Poland.
Source: Telex