A failed 12-million-złoty purchase of a Warsaw mansion for a museum honoring Lech Kaczyński exposes internal tensions.
Plans for a presidential museum
Newsweek revealed details of Jarosław Kaczyński’s plans to acquire a Warsaw mansion, Zajazd Napoleoński, for over 12 million złoty to establish a museum for his late brother, President Lech Kaczyński. The project, described as one of PiS’s best-kept secrets, was intended to honor the late president and serve as a gathering place for right-wing circles. The purchase was to be handled by Srebrna, a company linked to PiS, though Kaczyński denies its financial ties to the party.
Failed transaction
The company signed a preliminary agreement in late January, paying a 1.2-million-złoty deposit. However, a legal dispute over a small plot of land with a neighbor derailed the deal, coinciding with Karol Nawrocki’s presidential election victory. The seller had assured that the property was free of legal proceedings, but the court later ruled in favor of the neighbor.
Leadership shake-up
Despite the setback, Srebrna’s president, Kazimierz Kujda, pushed to finalize the purchase, with Kaczyński even inspecting the property. However, the deal collapsed, and Kujda was dismissed. Sources say Kaczyński ordered his resignation, but when Kujda refused, the supervisory board removed him. Srebrna also hired a law firm to withdraw from the agreement, demanding double the deposit’s return while offering to renegotiate at half the original price.