Government Reshuffle: Minister Berek Resigns, Tusk Warns Against Flood Aid Misuse

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the resignation of Minister Maciej Berek during a cabinet meeting while vowing severe consequences for any fraudulent distribution of flood relief funds.

Minister Berek Resigns

– We agreed with Minister Berek that he will move on to other tasks. He asked me to release him from the duties he has performed so far, – said Tusk before the start of the Council of Ministers meeting.

– Almost each and every one of you, when you start talking about what you have done, begins with thanks to Minister Berek, – Tusk addressed the ministers.

Knapińska Takes Over Duties

Maciej Berek served as the minister overseeing the implementation of government policy. He was also the chairman of the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers and was responsible for coordinating the work of ministries. Berek’s duties will be taken over by Joanna Knapińska, the current head of the Government Legislation Center.

Long-Standing Cooperation

– Mr. Minister, dear Maciek, we have been working closely together since 1997. Hardlly anyone remembers today that such systemic changes as the direct election of the village mayor, town mayor, and city president – the two of us sat on that back then in the Senate and prepared the first draft bills, – the Prime Minister addressed Berek.

– I know that you will be useful to the fatherland more than once, – Tusk continued.

Flood Aid Scandal

The Prime Minister also commented on the scandal concerning irregularities in the distribution of flood damage removal loans to entrepreneurs.

– I want to tell you that, first of all, we assumed from the start that problems of this type would appear, given the scale and pace of assistance. This is not the first flood and not the first natural disaster during which I had to supervise a rapid assistance operation, – said the Prime Minister.

– We will burn out with a hot iron every case of unfair distribution of money for flood victims. Because such things are obviously unacceptable. Someone who had the power in their hands to spend public money of Polish taxpayers to help people who suffered, if they spent it improperly, will bear really severe consequences. As I said, we will burn out this with a hot iron, – declared the prime minister.

Irregularities in Karkonosze Agency

According to the Wirtualna Polska portal, 4.5 million PLN of flood aid from the Karkonosze Regional Development Agency went to three companies from the same village. One of them belongs to the husband of the institution’s vice-president from the Civic Coalition, Anna Konieczyńska, the second to a neighbor, and the third to the owner of a local television station. As WP revealed, the submitted documents regarding these applications do not contain convincing photographic documentation of the damage.

Lower Silesian KO structure chief Michał Jaros said that Konieczyńska has been suspended from party membership rights and faces a disciplinary court.