“Destroying – for purely political reasons – the good name of a non-governmental organization that has been operating abroad on behalf of Poland for 18 years and supporting democratic changes in the East is unethical and shameful,” wrote Michał Dworczyk.
The PiS politician commented on the media’s accusations against the Freedom and Democracy Foundation. Information about the Foundation was published on the Radio Zet website.
Over the past four years, the foundation founded by Michał Dworczyk has received almost PLN 60 million from the Prime Minister’s Chancellery.
– we are reading.
In response to the allegations, the former head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery in the United Right government shared a message responding to the allegations in seven points.
In response to further insinuations from Civic Platform politicians about me and the @fundacja_WiD Foundation, founded together with A. Lipiński in 2005, I once again declare:
1. At the end of 2005, together with A. Lipiński (then PiS MP), we founded the Freedom and Democracy Foundation, with the main aim of helping Poles persecuted by A. Lukashenko’s regime. The Foundation has developed dynamically over the past 18 years.
2. In 2015, when I was elected to parliament, I resigned as chairman of the board of directors and since then I have not served on any board of the WiD foundation.
– we are reading.
Help for the Polish community and Poles abroad
Dworczyk then draws attention to important formal issues.
3. In 2020, after the transfer of funds intended for the support of the Polish diaspora and Poles abroad from the Senate of the Republic of Poland to the Prime Minister’s Chancellery (I was against this solution), in accordance with the advice of the Legal Department, to avoid a potential conflict of interest, I was – at my own request – completely excluded from the award process of the above-mentioned funds. All powers in this area have been transferred to the Government Plenipotentiary for the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad, Secretary of State at the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, J. Dziedziczak – with the Prime Minister’s consent of April 10, 2020. I was excluded from all phases of the preparation of applications submitted to the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, their evaluation, decisions and settlements.
4. The Foundation has never been a political organization. Although in the past 18 years politicians were also part of the statutory bodies – R. Tyszkiewicz (PO), Ł. Abgarowicz (PO), A. Lipiński (PiS) – we have always been united by cross-party work to support our compatriots in the struggle East and supporting changes in democratic states in the former republics of the USSR.
5. I believe that the activities of non-governmental organizations are the foundation of civil society. That is why I have supported and will support foundations and associations – including the Freedom and Democracy Foundation – within the framework of applicable law. I have known some of the people who work at this non-governmental organization for more than twenty years
– writes the politician.
Aid for Poles in the East
Dworczyk recalls the importance of the Freedom and Democracy Foundation in helping fellow countrymen living in the former eastern border area, among other places.
6. The Freedom and Democracy Foundation has for years been one of the three largest non-governmental organizations helping Poles in the East. Already in the years 2013-2015 the annual budget was between 7 and 13 million PLN. In addition to grants from Poland, the Foundation obtains funds from abroad, including: grants from the US Department of State, Swedish SIDA, US Aid, UNICEF and the European Commission.
7. All details directly related to the activities of the above-mentioned foundation are included in the statement published on its website, as well as in an open letter signed by more than 120 Polish and Polish organizations from Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and others countries that have been working with the Foundation for years – in response to attacks against the Freedom and Democracy Foundation.
Destroying – for purely political reasons – the good name of a non-governmental organization that has been operating abroad on behalf of Poland for eighteen years and supporting democratic changes in the East is unethical and shameful.
– we are reading.
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Source: wPolityce