On Monday, October 27, Polish MP Konrad Berkowicz of the Confederation was caught taking merchandise worth 390 PLN from an IKEA store in Poland.
Media reports
Radio ZET journalist Mariusz Gierszewski announced that Berkowicz was caught lifting goods from an IKEA shop, triggering police involvement. He accepted a 500 PLN fine and did not invoke parliamentary immunity.
Items stolen
According to the report, the MP had taken small items including towels and a frying pan. He apologized and returned the goods after paying the fine.
Mentzen’s defense
Welfare minister Sławomir Mentzen argued that the MP had been making large purchases and was using self‑checkout while wearing headphones, causing him to miss scanning some items. He said the incident was a mistake, not a crime, and criticized the political attack.
Tusk reacts
Donald Tusk, on X, described the event as minor compared to other scandals, suggesting it might be a starting point for scrutiny of Confederation members.
Berkowicz’s response
In a social‑media post, Berkowicz said he was rushing, made a mistake, accepted the fine, and did not invoke immunity. He also refuted Tusk’s accusations, comparing the situation to larger national fraud cases.