Poland 2050 appoints Robert Sitnik as secretary general despite controversy over his role in a failed animal shelter inspection.
New Leadership Appointments
New head of Poland 2050 Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz announced on Tuesday, February 3, the first personnel changes in the party leadership. Ewa Schädler, a deputy from Greater Poland and leader of local structures, became first vice-chairman. Adam Rudawski, the governor of West Pomerania and party leader in that voivodeship, was appointed as second vice-chairman.
The most media attention was drawn to the position of secretary general, which was taken by Robert Sitnik. “A titan of work, from the beginning in the Movement,” emphasized Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.
Controversy Over Sitnik’s Appointment
Sitnik’s appointment has sparked controversy in the context of his activities as vice-governor of Masovia and the Sobolew shelter scandal. Sitnik wrote on his social media that “signals concerning the functioning of the shelter” had reached him as early as November of last year and were “immediately forwarded to the proper Control Department and to the Veterinary Inspectorate.”
He emphasized, however, that the governor does not exercise substantive supervision over the Veterinary Inspectorate. “Everything I said and did in this matter, I did in the conviction that I was acting honestly. Today I feel that I was misled by the institutions established for control and supervision,” he wrote in a statement.
Critical Reactions
“Congratulations to the team,” ironically wrote Left party deputy Łukasz Litewka, who deals with shelter scandals. “Finally we have a new quality in politics. Robert Sitnik, the famous vice-governor, who during the inspection in Sobolew was blind, didn’t see the blood-covered sticks, a dog in a hole he dug himself, or a meat grinder, and generally created more problems than benefits, has just been appointed secretary general of the Poland 2050 party! Bravo Mr. Robert, congratulations on your promotion and we hope you’ll never have to control anything again,” he wrote.
“Congratulations to the team. A vice-governor who during the inspection did not see the obvious pathologies in Sobolew has become secretary general of the party because he is a ‘titan of work,'” summarized Polsat News journalist Agnieszka Gozdyra.
Deplorable Conditions at Sobolew Shelter
Activists had warned that dogs in the facility in Masovia were sick, underfed, in poor physical condition, and unprotected from the cold. The shelter belonged to a man who in 2019 was charged with cruelty to animals. On Saturday, January 24, the District Veterinary Officer in Garwolin issued a decision to immediately close the facility and prohibit the man from running animal shelters. The decision was given immediate enforceability.
In January, at the initiative of the Ministry of Interior and Administration and at the request of the Masovian Voivode, additional, unannounced inspections of shelters were carried out by the competent authorities of the Veterinary Inspectorate. “Inspections will be repeated in the interest of animal welfare” assured the Masovian Voivode’s Office. In accordance with applicable regulations, the Veterinary Inspectorate supervises shelters in terms of meeting veterinary requirements.
