Following the Law and Justice party’s 2023 parliamentary defeat, PFN’s former board left office in February 2024, firing staff and disposing of laptops amid financial fallout.
PFN Board’s Response to PiS’s Defeat: “Eldorado Has Ended”
After Law and Justice’s loss in the 2023 parliamentary elections, PFN’s outgoing board announced their resignation in February 2024, two months after Donald Tusk’s cabinet was sworn in. A former PFN employee told TVN24 that the board reacted with shock, stating, “Shocking. Realizing that the Eldorado is over and we must protect ourselves.” The board, elected in 2019 during PiS rule, had managed the foundation for a decade before stepping down.
TVN24, using interviews and documents, reconstructed the board’s final actions following the election results.
Laptop Disposal at PFN
On 17 October 2023, the National Electoral Commission announced parliamentary results. That same day, PFN began mass disposal of laptops. Within 48 days, 31 units were destroyed. PFN justified this by claiming the computers were too old and worn.
Multi-Million PLN Grant to Vilnius Centre for Culture and Spirituality
In January of the prior year, PFN received about 15 million PLN following an early cashing of State Treasury bonds in which the foundation had invested. In February 2024, PFN granted 12.6 million PLN to the Vilnius Centre for Culture and Spirituality, which operates adjacent to a Franciscan monastery in Vilnius. The agreement stipulated that the centre would carry out key PFN projects until 2028. Current PFN president Maciej Szudek described the decision as “unjustified and economically incomprehensible.”
Severance Pay for Former PFN Board Members
On 22 February 2024, three board members tendered their resignations. Four days later, each received nearly 500 000 PLN, covering their last month’s salary plus compensation for shortened notice periods and non‑compete restrictions.
Audit Reveals Over 30 Million PLN Losses
The new board commissioned an audit that uncovered losses exceeding 30 million PLN attributable to the previous administration’s actions. PFN notified prosecutors of a possible criminal offense.
