“For ending Russian oil, for not taking Russian gas, for building gas-fired power stations, developing the energy sector, for building installations that the Germans don’t like, for wind farms in the Baltic Sea, for daring to build from a port in Świnoujście and not using other German ports. That’s why they hate me and that’s why they want to put me in prison for 25 years,” Daniel Obajtek, former president of Orlen, said on Telewizja wPolska.
Editor Aleksandra Jakubowska asked her interlocutor whether he expected dismissal.
I didn’t expect it, and anyway: would I want these people fired? In general, I accepted it normally, but it’s all turned upside down. If I heard that the discharge issue concerns lower fuel prices for Poland, how does this compare with Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s announcement that the fuel price will be 5.19. However, we did not receive, among other things: statements that Orlen had low fuel prices and that Poles could buy fuel at a decent price
– said Daniel Obajtek.
The second issue: how is it possible not to grant discharge to Orlen’s board of directors – when in fact the board of directors is judged on the basis of profits?
– added.
At that time, in 2023, Orlen’s Board of Directors was generating record profits. It amounted to more than PLN 20 billion and the ratings of international companies were increased twice: Moody’s and Fitch. International companies evaluating companies around the world rated Orlen’s activities and its place in our part of Europe very positively. We have protected Poland from Russian gas deliveries. We have no more Russian gas, and no more Russian oil in general. In addition, we bought deposits in Norway
– emphasized the interlocutor of Telewizja wPolska.
And today this management allows oil, supposedly from Kazakhstan, to flow through the “Druzhba” pipeline to the Szwed refinery, and this is Russian oil, definitely cheaper than the oil we process. And TVN and the mainstream media have no problem with it. And today, for the people who fought for the interests of Poland, who created a multi-energy concern known all over the world, we also bought stations in the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, we entered Hungary and Austria, everywhere where our stations are branded, they are of a premium standard, will there be no discharge? This is a political scandal
– said the former president of Orlen.
READ ALSO: Purges in Orlen. The Ordinary General Meeting did not grant discharge to 21 members of the executive committee and the supervisory board working in 2023. The meeting was subsequently suspended.
Merger with Lotos
President Fąfara led Orlen Lietuva from 2010 to 2018. Was he denied discharge? And those were the years when the Lithuanian company was practically making ends meet, and the Polish side was very determined to sell it to the Russians. And this guy is giving interviews today and saying the company wasn’t up to standards. Which standards?
– Daniel Obajtek asked.
The standard is earned profits, the standard is billions for the state budget, international ratings and investments. There were attempts to undermine everything, for example the merger with Lotos. There was talk of committees, of an ‘international scandal’.
– he pointed.
Where do we have this so-called ‘scandal’ today when it comes to the merger of Orlen with Lotos? We don’t have this scandal because it didn’t exist. This is nothing more than political chutzpah aimed at people who wanted to do something for the country
– said the interlocutor of Aleksandra Jakubowska.
And now in Poland there will be one standard: we will be president, but we will not make any decisions
– emphasized Daniel Obajtek.
And today, does this board dare to recommend not granting discharge to people in whose time gas was the cheapest and fuel the cheapest?
– asked the former president of PKN Orlen.
How will the December 13 coalition destroy the national champion?
This is the dismantling of Orlen. What these people want to do is something that threatens the state. First of all: they want to sell some of Orlen’s assets. Moreover, they also want to separate the PGNiG company, Polskie Sieci Gazowe, so that it will be independent, they want to ‘liberate’ the Polish market, i.e. introduce pseudo-competition. They want to throw the storage of strategic reserves into space. German companies, which will soon receive gas from Nord Stream 1 and 2, will trade gas on the Polish market
– emphasized Daniel Obajtek.
The Polish company will be weakened because this market will be completely free, and the operators, who will be completely independent, will distribute German gas, and not PGNiG gas. This is a kind of model for the distribution of a national champion
– he pointed.
President Fąfara says Orlen is a “chaebol”. I have not yet engaged in a polemic, but, Mr. President, when you say ‘chaebol’, look at Europe and see Italian, Norwegian and Spanish companies with which we have to compete. If you want to divide and break up this company, how are you going to compete with these concerns? This is regrettable
– he emphasized.
But Poland, nothing happened. Keep smiling, keep Poland smiling, pay more for fuel, pay 40%. more for gas and energy
– said the guest from Telewizja wPolska ironically.
“Szczerba came to the European Parliament to pursue Obajtek. ‘Smiling Poland will pay for it’
The host pointed out that KO MP Witold Zembaczyński recently threatened Daniel Obajtek with 25 years in prison. Jakubowska added that she wonders why.
For what? For ending Russian oil, for not taking Russian gas, for building gas-fired power stations, developing the energy sector, for building installations that the Germans don’t like, for wind farms in the Baltic Sea, for daring to build from a port in Świnoujście and not using other German ports
– emphasized the guest from television in Poland.
That’s why they hate me and want to put me in prison for 25 years
– added.
And Mr Szczerba, an excellent ‘expert’ on European law, says he will table a motion to deprive me of my immunity. I am not familiar with this formula and I would very much like to ask the Member to learn something from it. If this is to be the mission of Mr Szczerba in the European Parliament with the Green Deal, ETS2, destroying and draining Poland and the whole of Europe, then bravo, bravo, bravo.
– he pointed.
Mr Szczerba came to the European Parliament to chase Obajtek and you, Poland, and smiling Poland, will pay for it
– he concluded.
READ ALSO: Orlen’s president wants to sell Polska Press! “Absolutely unnecessary. We are looking for an investor. Is the collapse beginning?
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Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.