Just before the Tuesday cabinet meeting, cameras and microphones captured a brief exchange of words between Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska‑Nałęcz.
Government Meeting and Brief Exchange of Words
During the Tuesday cabinet session, key discussions centered on National Recovery Plan (KPO) subsidies for the HoReCa industry. Questions about the purpose of the funds had surfaced the previous week. Premier Tusk and ministers listened to the explanation from the Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, Katarzyna Pełczyńska‑Nałęcz. At the start of the meeting, Tusk greeted each cabinet member; when shaking hands with Pełczyńska‑Nałęcz, he remarked, “All cameras are on you, minister,” before the media microphones responded, “Or on the prime minister,” to which the minister replied, “The micro‑phones have captured.” His final remark was, “Just envy popularity.”
Pełczyńska‑Nałęcz: Funding Holds
After the cabinet session, Pełczyńska‑Nałęcz addressed journalists, stating that “no funds will be released for beneficiary payouts until the contract is reviewed and found compliant with HoReCa rules.” Later, in a TVN24 interview, she emphasized her role: “My duty as Minister of Funds is to ensure that European funds and the KPO are implemented in accordance with the rules. That means I organize and supervise the control. Where there is a problem, I identify the errors, and those errors are accounted for.” She noted that at the moment there are roughly one and a half million contracts pending review and that “it is impossible to read every contract.” She added, “My job is to make sure everything follows the rules, and if not, to account for it and call for reimbursement.” In a broader context, she highlighted that the Legal and Justice coalition introduced the project into the KPO, and subsequent revisions made it so the program cannot be withdrawn from the KPO.
KPO Investment Map
On the government portal dedicated to the KPO, a map showing who received EU money and for what was published. Most questions focused on the allocation of resources within the HoReCa sector—hotel and restaurant owners were expected to use the funds to purchase yachts, motor boats, saunas, and solaria. EU Commissioner Maciej Berestecki stated that “Poland must take clarifying actions regarding the controversy over the spending of KPO funds.”
More on the KPO Affair
Further details can be found in the article titled “Pełczyńska‑Nałęcz on the KPO affair: We have halted the funds.”
