Polish politicians have reacted with shock after it emerged that during the final two weeks of its term, the PiS government sold 160 hectares of land crucial to the Central Transport Hub (CPK) to a private company, fueling allegations of corruption.
Polish politicians have reacted with fury after the PiS government sold 160 hectares of key Central Transport Hub land, sparking corruption allegations. In response to the scandal, PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński (pictured centre) suspended a total of four party members. Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak/Leszek Szymański
The plot was sold during the term of the previous right-wing populist government, when the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was led by Robert Telus, according to Polish news outlet Wirtualna Polska.
CPK land sold under PiS now worth over 17.5 times more
The decision, made under the right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) government of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, transferred the land to Dawtona, a private food company owned by the Wielgomas family.
At the time, the plot was valued at 22.8 million PLN (€5.38 million), but today it could be worth as much as 400 million PLN (€94.4 million). The dramatic increase is due to the land lying along the planned route of the high-speed rail line connecting Warsaw to the Central Transport Hub.
According to reports, dozens of individuals were involved in the deal, including officials from the Law and Justice–appointed Ministry of Infrastructure and the State Water Management Authority (Wody Polskie).
Polish politicians respond to scandal over strategic CPK plot
Politicians across the spectrum have expressed outrage over the revelations.
In response to the scandal, Law and Justice (PiS) party leader Jarosław Kaczyński suspended four members from the party: Robert Telus (former Minister of Agriculture), Rafał Romanowski (former Deputy Minister of Agriculture), Waldemar Humięcki (former head of the National Agricultural Support Center, KOWR), and Jerzy Wal (former deputy director of a regional KOWR branch).
During Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighted that within just 24 hours – between 30 November and 1 December 2023 – officials under the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government managed to complete a complex administrative process requiring six separate documents from various offices and a notarial deed, allowing the transfer of a key plot of land for the Central Transport Hub (CPK) into private hands.
In Poland, CPK now stands for 'the entire PiS is stealing,’ mocks PM Tusk
Earlier, the head of Poland’s government, Donald Tusk, mocked the affair, saying that the acronym CPK could now be read as “Cały PiS kradnie” – “the entire PiS is stealing.”
The head of Poland’s government warned that the former ruling party had tried to create an “Eastern-style” system of governance, enabling politicians to enrich themselves with complete impunity.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski told TVN24 that “the corruption of that government is legendary – the more they speak about patriotism, the more they steal.”
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Source: Radio Poland/IAR/PAP/TVN24/WP.pl/X/@elukacijewska/@Bertold_K
