Poland’s Supreme Audit Office (NIK) has taken a significant step by notifying prosecutors about potential wrongdoing by former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, accusing him of actions detrimental to the public interest during his tenure. NIK’s statement on April 1 highlighted concerns regarding Morawiecki and other high officials in the former Law and Justice (PiS) government, alleging neglect of duties or abuse of power in the allocation of subsidies to municipalities.
According to NIK, the actions under scrutiny relate to the funding of road construction and financial support for post-pandemic recovery, which reportedly resulted in substantial losses for municipalities amounting to as much as 4 billion zloty (approximately S$1.36 billion). While the PiS press office remained unavailable for immediate comment, Morawiecki had not responded to requests for comment at the time of the statement.
The notification to prosecutors signals a potential legal battle for Morawiecki and underscores the ongoing scrutiny faced by members of the former PiS government following their loss of power in October 2023. The current government, led by the coalition’s Donald Tusk, has vowed to hold accountable those accused of breaking the law during PiS’s eight-year rule.
NIK’s revelations add to mounting concerns over the legacy of PiS governance, particularly regarding tax reforms that, according to a previous NIK report, contributed to deficits in the budgets of the majority of Polish municipalities. With municipal elections scheduled for April 7, the allegations against Morawiecki and the broader implications for PiS’s governance could shape the political landscape in Poland for years to come.