Beata Rutkiewicz, the Pomeranian Voivode, was appointed to her role in 2023 by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Previously she served as vice president of Wejherowo. Radosław Król, a PSL activist, was named voivode of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in 2023 and also joined supervisory boards. The shared thread here is their mutual appointments to supervisory boards and how those decisions unfolded in the early days of the new government.
During the election campaign, the December 13 coalition pressed PiS on several fronts, including accusations of nepotism. Rutkiewicz herself spoke of delivering a “new quality” in politics. Yet, soon after the government formed, she began removing PiS nominees from a number of state-backed bodies and institutions, prompting questions about the underlying motivations and the broader impact on governance.
Less than a month into the year, it emerged that the two voivodes named by Donald Tusk in 2023 had already stepped away from their roles on the supervisory boards of the Environmental Protection Fund in Gdańsk and in Olsztyn. The changes drew widespread attention and sparked debate about the frequency and nature of such appointments in provincial agencies.
Beata Rutkiewicz, described as a non-partisan voivode of Pomerania, and Radosław Król, the Warmian-Masurian voivode and PSL activist, reportedly placed each other on the Supervisory Board of the Environmental Protection Fund in Gdańsk. Rutkiewicz was similarly placed on the board in Olsztyn by the king. These arrangements were highlighted by Gazeta Wyborcza as part of the broader examination of governance practices in the region.
Was it a coincidence or a deal?
The December 20, 2023 appointments by voivodes generated significant controversy among some activists in Pomerania. Rumors circulated about a possible agreement between Rutkiewicz and Król. While some noted that rules restrict voivodes from serving on supervisory boards of companies, those restrictions do not apply to regional funds and financial institutions, which operate under different regulatory provisions.
Gazeta Wyborcza reported that the voivodes did not publicly answer whether their mutual nominations were a mere coincidence or the result of an explicit understanding. What is clear is that both individuals no longer serve on those supervisory boards.
Rutkiewicz’s seat at one fund was filled by Jarosław Matłach, a PSL figure from Szczytno, while the other vacancy was taken by Piotr Stepnowski, rector of the University of Gdańsk. These shifts illustrate the rapid personnel churn that followed the new government’s early moves.
“An urgent need for personnel changes”
Natalia Glińska-Jackowska, spokesperson for the Voivodeship Office in Gdańsk, told Gazeta Wyborcza that the rectoral candidacy was considered from the outset as the voivode took office and that Rutkiewicz contributed to confirming this direction. The question remained how the process could culminate in selecting a different candidate.
The explanation pointed to a broader drive to implement staff changes at the voivodeship level across WFOŚiGW councils. The search for a replacement was not isolated to a single jurisdiction; a request to dismiss the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship from the WFOŚiGW supervisory board in Gdańsk was submitted to the ministry on January 23, just 19 days after the appointment.
Glińska-Jackowska framed the move as a response to urgent needs, indicating that the decision aligned with ongoing organizational realignments at the regional level.
“The voivodes were jealous”
In the same discourse, remarks surfaced about intergovernmental relations, with some suggesting that mayors from PO-led cities had established their own cross-level council exchanges. Critics argued that the voivodes were competing for influence and access to boards and committees that shape regional governance.
Quote attribution surfaced on social platforms, including a comment from Michał Woś, a member of Sovereign Poland, who weighed in on the matter via Platform X, underscoring perceptions of rivalry and strategic positioning within the political landscape.
The reporting pointed out that the Pomeranian and Warmian-Masurian regions saw notable reshuffles in their supervisory boards. There was praise for the decisive actions, but also skepticism about the manner and timing of these changes, and the potential for future similar shifts as the coalition consolidates its position.
In a broader view, observers noted that a pattern of intergovernmental board switching had emerged, prompting questions about transparency, accountability, and the balance of power among regional actors. The commentary and coverage highlighted the evolving dynamics as new governance arrangements took shape across central and regional authorities.
Additional commentary referenced public discussions about intergovernmental exchanges and the role of regional leaders in shaping policy through appointments. The topic remained a live issue as political actors weighed the implications for administrative integrity and public trust.
All cited sources reflect ongoing reporting and analysis from various outlets as the situation developed and more information became available.