PiS is talking about the "biggest scandal since the transition": European funds to strengthen the Polish economy were spent on luxury items, the accusations say. The scandal is putting pressure on Prime Minister Tusk's government.
The right-wing conservative opposition in Poland is focusing on a new case in its attacks on Donald Tusk's government. It is alleged that European funds intended to support small and medium-sized businesses in the restaurant and hotel industry after the Covid pandemic were redirected elsewhere. Politicians from "Law and Justice" (PiS) have been accusing the government of a "giant scandal" for weeks. Now the European Public Prosecutor's Office has also launched an investigation.
In total, Poland is entitled to EU aid for recovery from the pandemic worth up to 59.8 billion euros. Of this amount, 25.3 billion euros (255.8 billion Polish zlotys) are grants, and 34.5 billion euros are low-interest loans. The opposition's accusations concern only a part of the total amount. Currently, funds amounting to 1.2 billion zlotys are being used, with 110 million zlotys paid out so far.
Boats, solariums, swing clubs - a big problem for Tusk
But the examples that first appeared on the Internet, and soon after in the media associated with PiS, angered many. EU money is alleged to have financed boats, saunas, solariums, new company furniture, virtual shooting ranges, online bridge courses and even a swing club, which has also benefited people linked to Donald Tusk's centre-left coalition government. "Now you see what they are doing with the money from the recovery fund that was supposed to be used to develop the Polish economy," PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński wrote in X.
PiS politicians are pushing for the creation of a special prosecutor's office to investigate the case. MP Jacek Saszyn has even filed a criminal complaint - "mainly against Tusk" because "he cannot pretend he had nothing to do with this". PiS MP Tobias Bochenski described the situation as "the biggest scandal since the democratic transition in 1989".
The allegations have hit Tusk hard. During the election campaign two years ago, he promised to transfer the EU Recovery Fund, which had been blocked by the European Commission due to rule of law violations during the PiS government. Tusk has managed to do so, although his government has so far failed to fully restore the rule of law.
The Pandemic Relief Fund and the Polish Economy
Aid to deal with the pandemic has become a top priority of Tusk's coalition government and has been the basis of Poland's economic success over the past year and a half. "The scandal has ruined the image of Tusk's government", concludes the Polish weekly magazine Wprost: "What should have been its strength has turned out to be a burden".
Tusk reacted decisively to the accusations: "I will not tolerate any waste of pandemic aid", the prime minister said. He stressed that the initial audits had not revealed any corruption or misappropriation of funds. Rather, it was a matter of "negligence in the use of funds", said the Polish Prime Minister.
Consequences, but what?
Tusk also announced personnel consequences, but for now, the Minister of Funds and Regional Development, Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalec, remains in her post. She is part of the leadership of the co-ruling liberal party Polska2050, without which Tusk's coalition does not have a majority in parliament. It is alleged that she had known about the irregularities for months, but wanted the case to remain "out of public space".
Tusk commented that he was "moderately satisfied" with the minister's explanation - but that his patience "has not yet run out". Although he has dismissed ministers in less serious cases, this time he refrained from dismissing her.
According to Tusk, PiS bears responsibility for the affair - the previous government left his cabinet very little time to distribute the funds to Polish companies. In order to meet the deadline, the ministry has facilitated the process, the government explains.
The funds have been suspended until further notice
Hoteliers and restaurateurs have been particularly affected by the scandal. Pelczynska-Nalec has suspended the distribution of subsidies from the fund for now. All contracts will be reviewed. If irregularities are found, some funds may have to be returned. The ministry has signed more than 3,000 separate contracts under this program.
Poland's new president, Karol Nawrocki, has also spoken out on the issue. "When they hear that public funds are being spent on solariums, saunas and sailboats, Poles have the right to be outraged," the head of state told Polsat television. "Of course, the current government bears responsibility," he stressed. Nawrocki, who is from the right-wing conservative camp, has made no secret of his goal of toppling Tusk's government - ideally before the 2027 parliamentary elections.