A new poll shows public opinion on who is responsible for the KPO scandal, with nearly half blaming Tusk’s government.
What do voters think?
Voters from the ruling coalition predominantly blame Morawiecki’s cabinet, with 86% indicating responsibility. Only 6% hold Tusk’s government accountable, and 8% have no opinion. Meanwhile, 81% of opposition supporters pointed to Morawiecki’s administration, 9% to PiS, and 10% are unsure. The United Surveys poll for Wirtualna Polska was conducted from August 13–16, 2025, on a sample of 1,000 people.
The KPO Scandal: Controversial Purchases
In early July of this year, payments to the HoReCa (hospitality and restaurant) sector were suspended due to the KPO. These payments are set to resume only after the agreements are verified and deemed compliant with the recovery program’s rules. The controversy began when it was revealed that the gastronomy and hospitality sectors were planning to spend funds on projects like a pizza restaurant expanding to include a solarium or purchasing a motorboat.
What is the National Recovery Plan?
The National Recovery Plan (KPO) is Poland’s reform and investment program aimed at mitigating the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It forms part of the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Instrument, which is a key component of Next GenerationEU—a multi-hundred-billion-euro EU recovery fund. The European Council approved its activation on July 21, 2020. For Poland, the KPO amounts to nearly €60 billion (approximately PLN 255 billion), including over €25 billion in grants (about PLN 107 billion) and over €34.5 billion in preferential loans (about PLN 147 billion). Loan repayments will be completed by 2058 at the latest.
Source: Gazeta, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/premier#anchorLink], https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/do-rzeczy#anchorLink], https://next.gazeta.pl/next/0, https://next.gazeta.pl/inwestycje/7
