On Oct. 29, PiS MPs Kowalski and Śliwka held a press conference about selling land for the Central Communication Port, which quickly turned into a heated clash with a TVP reporter.
Conference Turned Conflict
MPs Janusz Kowalski and Andrzej Śliwka organized the press conference about the sale of a 160‑hectare plot destined for the Central Communication Port (CPK). After delivering a statement, Śliwka invited reporters to ask questions but repeatedly ignored a TVP reporter, insisting that journalists should speak up. The reporter retorted that he had no question for him and accused the opposition politician of being a PO propagandist. Śliwka repeatedly told him to leave, which the reporter refused, prompting the MP to reference that he had “forgotten the heart symbol” – a nod to the white‑red emblem worn by some PO members.
Kowalski Assumes the Spotlight
Seeing Śliwka’s frustration, Kowalski turned the tables, listening to the TVP reporter’s inquiries. He replied that the reporter had read the question, possibly received from the PO central office, and praised the reporter for quoting Jan Jadczak’s text that contained key questions about PO’s inactivity and the financing of Rafał Trzaskowski’s campaign.
Lasek Hopes for Owner’s Cooperation
Government minister‑in‑charge of the CPK, Maciej Lasek, said on the same day that the state was awaiting the landowner’s goodwill to expedite the project. He emphasized that the investment is a public affair and that success would be swift. Subsequently, the National Agricultural Support Center requested the return of the plot for the CPK, and its director Henryk Smolarz reported that the application had been forwarded to the deputy chairman of Dawtona, Piotr Wielgomas.
Background of the Land‑Sale Scandal
On 1 December 2023, after the parliamentary elections, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, under Mateusz Morawiecki’s cabinet, approved the sale of 160 hectares of land for 23 million złoty. The plot was to become part of a high‑speed rail line from Warsaw to the CPK, potentially raising its value to approximately 400 million złoty. Authorities opened an investigation into alleged overreach by KOWR officials. The land in Zabłotnia, about 10 km north of Baranów, was bought by KOWR deputy‑chair Piotr Wielgomas, who stated that he had acquired the property as a private individual, legally exercising the right of first purchase granted to a lessee, and was unaware that the site would become part of the CPK master plan.
Legal and Fiscal Implications
Critics of the CPK claim that the 23 million‑złoty sale represented an egregious undervaluation compared to the potential 400 million‑złoty value. Investigators are reviewing the officials’ authority and the nature of the transaction, while opposition parties call for a transparent audit of the deal and the political motives behind it.
