Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki spoke about the Supreme Audit Office’s findings on the 2020–2021 purchase of personal protective equipment. He asserted that he bore full responsibility for the decisions made, stating, “I asked everyone who could to secure what would save Polish lives.” He added that even if the matter reaches the Public Prosecutor, the full context of the COVID-19 crisis would be taken into account by prosecutors and courts when evaluating the situation at that time.
To Save Lives
During a press conference, Morawiecki was questioned about a planned notification to the public prosecutor’s office regarding individuals directly involved in PPE purchases in the early phase of the pandemic. The named persons include Morawiecki and Jacek Sasin, among others.
The Supreme Audit Office presented its audit results on PPE procurement tied to the fight against COVID-19, noting that the Prime Minister’s Office spent nearly 200 million PLN in a way that was not economical, reliable, or planned for the 2020–2021 period.
READ MORE: Officials connected to Banaś are under scrutiny. The Supreme Audit Office has begun sending notices to the public prosecutor’s office, targeting Morawiecki and Sasin, among others.
Morawiecki recalled the challenges of securing supplies at the pandemic’s onset, describing the scale of the effort and the urgent need to obtain masks, protective gear, respirators, and other medical items to save lives.
“And I accept responsibility myself because I asked everyone who could, wherever they could, to buy what protects Polish lives,” he stated.
He emphasized that even if a formal complaint is filed, the Public Prosecution Service would review the entire context of the COVID-19 tragedy as it unfolded globally and in Europe and Poland, rather than drawing conclusions in isolation.
Morawiecki also noted that if prosecutors or the courts do not accept these arguments, he would still be glad that the government acted quickly and appropriately.
He asserted that the response was timely and proper, and that the government followed a responsible approach to the crisis.
READ MORE: The Supreme Audit Office has pressed charges against PiS politicians with the public prosecutor’s office, as part of ongoing investigations concerning the pandemic.
Fair Distribution of Funds
Questions also turned to the funding of local government in recent years. Morawiecki maintained that the fund’s allocations helped restore dignity to most Polish municipalities and regions, beyond the capital and major metropolitan areas.
Travel across Poland to see roads, community centers, volunteer fire brigades, schools, hospitals, and other public infrastructure reveals the contrast between past investments and current needs. The former prime minister asked listeners to consider how prior coalitions allocated resources and how five years of governance translated into tangible improvements.
According to Morawiecki, funds were distributed according to objective algorithms and published rules before recruitment. He pointed out that more than 99 percent of companies benefited from strategic investment programs targeting local governments, with the aim of broad, fair distribution rather than concentrating resources in large cities or wealthy provinces. He invited anyone with concerns about the program to bring them to the public prosecutor’s office.
READ ALSO: The Supreme Audit Office has filed a complaint against PiS politicians with the public prosecutor’s office and related investigations continue to unfold.
Note: content references appear to originate from media reports and public sources from the period in question, reflecting the public record at the time.
—End of statement.—
[citation: wPolityce]