Karkonoski County Council removed Starosta Krzysztof Wiśniewski from KO over alleged falsified high school diploma.
Removal Vote
The Karkonoski County Council (Lower Silesian Voivodeship) during Tuesday’s session removed Starosta Krzysztof Wiśniewski from KO. All 17 council members took part in the vote. 13 council members voted for the starosta’s removal, while 4 voted against.
According to PAP reports, the motion was submitted a day earlier by Mirosław Górecki from KO and six other council members. Zbigniew Piątek, Chairman of the Audit Commission from KO, stated: “He lost public trust through his actions and undermines trust in the office of starosta and harms the image of the Karkonoski county.”
Alleged Falsified Diploma
The reason for Wiśniewski’s removal included suspicions that his high school diploma was falsified. In January, the politician assured that he had completed his matura and showed the media a certificate from the Sports School Complex in Karpacz.
Shortly after (January 12), the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra began investigating this case. Prosecutor Ewa Węglarowicz-Makowska informed PAP that investigators did not find the politician’s certificate or grade sheet in the institution, which had been renamed to the Lower Silesian School Complex in Karpacz.
Additional Concerns
However, doubts about education were not the only reason for the decision made against the starosta. According to IAR, council members also pointed to ambiguities regarding the renovation of one of the county roads and court cases against the contractor, which were initiated by Wiśniewski.
Additionally, the politician was said to have provided them with information on this matter with delay. Wiśniewski, on the other hand, stated that he fell victim to “hate, intimidation, and political corruption.” He said: “I, however, deeply believe that the truth will prevail, because truth always prevails. I believe that very soon everyone will see this truth.”