Warsaw Officials Respond to Karpiński Arrest and Salary Controversy
During a Thursday press briefing, Deputy Minister Sebastian Kaleta questioned whether Włodzimierz Karpiński, the former city secretary and current figure tied to Metro Warszawskie and Veolia, had been dismissed. Kaleta, along with Jacek Dekora, both Secretaries of State for Justice and for Climate and Environment, addressed the situation as it unfolded. The discussion centered on Karpiński’s status with the municipal entities and the implications of his arrest on governance in Warsaw.
Karpiński, who is under suspension, continues to receive a salary. City Hall officials told PAP that the suspended municipal official earns roughly 10,000 PLN monthly in gross pay, which represents about half of the amount he might have earned while active. The city council’s press office previously informed PAP that during the suspension period, the official’s compensation is halved up to the day of pre-trial detention. This policy has become a focal point of debate as Karpiński’s case unfolds.
Kaleta and Dekora spoke at the press conference about the broader implications of the arrest and whether it signals a shift in trust toward the city leadership and its governing coalition. Kaleta suggested that the arrest could erode the confidence of Warsaw’s president and party colleagues in Karpiński, noting the ripple effects within the local political circle. The remarks were echoed by other party figures who stressed the importance of due process and public accountability in cases involving municipal executives.
In an interview on television, Trzaskowski asserted that he trusted Karpiński. Other national figures, including Donald Tusk and Tomasz Siemoniak, defended a similar stance of support for Karpiński, explaining that politicians in the opposition or governing party sometimes receive staunch backing as a matter of principle. One commentator described this stance as reflecting a longstanding approach to defending party members in positions of influence, even amid controversy.
Kaleta, commenting further, noted that Karpiński is unlikely to have kept his post without facing scrutiny and highlighted the importance of ongoing investigations to determine the appropriate remedies. He also described Karpiński as potentially one of the highest-earning individuals under arrest in the country, a claim that underscored the gravity of the case and the attention it has drawn from national media and political observers alike.
The official clarified that Karpiński was not dismissed from his duties in a disciplinary proceeding; instead, he is suspended, and his salary continues to be disbursed at a partial rate while custody continues. The practical arrangement has raised questions about governance and accountability in Warsaw, given the responsibilities tied to the positions Karpiński has held in municipal companies.
Online records for Metro Warszawskie and Veolia Warszawa still list Karpiński as a member of their supervisory boards in some capacities. Observers noted that he continued to oversee aspects of the city’s heat supply and subway operations from confinement, raising concerns about the intersection of legal proceedings and executive oversight. A commentator attributed this to a doctrine attributed to a political figure named Neumann, suggesting that individuals associated with the governing group might continue to influence affairs while detained. Official sources did not indicate any recent changes to the composition of supervisory bodies at these firms.
The inquiry into Karpiński centers on contracts connected to Warsaw’s municipal cleaning and waste-management programs. Karpiński previously presided over the municipal waste company from 2019 to 2021 and won the contest for city secretary in 2021. Investigators allege bribes connected to the selection process for waste-management contracts, with potential penalties up to 12 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. In a related development, another former official faced charges tied to a broader inquiry into organized crime and influence-peddling related to contracts worth hundreds of millions of PLN. There are multiple suspects connected to the case.
Public listings show Karpiński serving as a trustee on the Metro Warszawskie board and as vice-chair of Veolia Warszawa, with declarations filed in 2022 indicating his supervisory roles. These details, cited from official declarations, illustrate the extent of his formal involvement in key municipal utilities that influence the city’s operations and residents’ daily lives.
As the case progresses, Warsaw residents and observers will watch closely how the investigations, and any resulting administrative actions, will shape trust in local governance and the city’s handling of municipal contracts and oversight. The discussion continues to unfold as officials balance the demands of due process with public accountability.
— End of summary of the ongoing situation surrounding Karpiński and the municipal oversight framework in Warsaw.