“Operation ‘destroy Orlen’ has begun,” stated PiS MP Michał Moskal during a joint briefing with former Agriculture Minister Anna Gembicka, as they cited a published half-year report showing worrying trends for Poland’s flagship company. Opposition MPs conducted a parliamentary inspection of the firm.
At a press conference outside Orlen’s headquarters, opposition lawmakers pressed for explanations behind the company’s latest financial losses. With mounting losses, former Agriculture Minister Anna Gembicka and MP Michał Moskal carried out a formal inspection to understand what happened during the first half of the year under the new leadership.
The Civic Coalition pledged that state-backed financial entities would be steered by independent experts and market managers rather than political appointees. The opposition argued that the coalition’s chosen managers failed to preserve the company’s standing, claiming they pushed the national champion toward a precipice.
— said MP Michał Moskal.
They questioned why Orlen Group’s net profit in the first half of the year fell by PLN 12.729 billion year over year, culminating in a second-quarter loss of PLN 34 million.
— he added.
The parliamentarian also asked whether the new management intends to cut investment resources and whether ongoing acquisitions will continue.
The discussion extended to what investments and acquisitions carried out in prior years would look like today, whether investment funds would be reduced, what would happen to planned acquisitions, and why the Group has not consistently disclosed state levies and profits, for example from synergy effects and recent acquisitions.
— asked an opposition parliamentarian.
Moskal: Operation “Destroy Orlen” has begun
Operation “Destroy Orlen” has begun, according to the first-half report, which allegedly reveals troubling trends for the national champion.
— emphasizes Michał Moskal.
The figures show a turnover decline of PLN 43 billion and a net profit drop of PLN 12.7 billion. Moskal described the results as devastating.
— he added.
As explained by Moskal, together with Anna Gembicka, he launched a parliamentary inspection to investigate what happened in the half-year when the management changes appeared to have altered the company’s trajectory, shifting from a source of robust revenue and state levies to a situation perceived as volatile.
He noted that a set of concrete questions would be raised about issues of major public concern and suggested that Orlen’s governance was directed by a team he described as underperformers.
— he said.
Questions about leadership changes
In light of the unfavorable situation at Orlen, questions were also raised about retail performance, given that while overall results lagged compared with prior years, retail profits appeared to have risen in the first half of the year, prompting scrutiny of promises about fuel pricing and affordability.
— emphasizes Michał Moskal.
Where is the promised fuel price cap and where do the profits from Orlen Group’s retail operations derive from?
— asked the parliamentarian.
The discussion also highlighted changes in management staffing, including the dismissal of more than a thousand employees. There is concern about the cost of severance, payroll obligations tied to outgoing executives, and whether some managers who were dismissed returned to the workforce after February this year.
— Moskal added.
With profits falling, questions multiplied. Were clear performance goals set by newly appointed managers? Those who had achieved strong results in the past had laid a path for substantial state levies from Orlen.
— he observed.
There were also reports of concerns about the moral state of some leadership figures. One former director in the main PGNiG unit, previously terminated for alcohol-related issues, raised questions about the proportion of employees who were dismissed under Article 52 of the Labor Code and later readmitted since February this year.
— the PiS politician added.
Potential delays in future projects
Moskal linked the poor results to decision-making paralysis following the resignation of former President Daniel Obajtek in February. For months, decisions such as investing in the port at Świnoujście were reportedly left unresolved, with new management signaling possible alternatives like a port near Bornholm, in Danish waters.
— pointed to the parliamentarian.
Along with the decision-making bottleneck, questions were raised about gas contracts. Is it possible that the lack of signed contracts and prolonged indecision contributed to rising costs for ordinary consumers?
— Michał Moskal wondered.
The parliamentarian also recalled Orlen’s role as a patron of sports and culture, noting the substantial funds allocated to culture, healthcare, and athletes. He questioned the extent of donations through the Orlen Foundation and sponsorships in the first half of the year, and whether future funding would decline, given reports that contracts with a hospital in Ryki or a Lublin-based project could be reconsidered. He asked how this might affect national sports programs and cultural initiatives, and whether Orlen would maintain its broad support across society.
— he asked.
Gembicka: Managers under scrutiny
Civic Platform spokespersons argued that their plans for Orlen had been laid out in 2022, including criticisms of high profits and the belief that state finances should be privatized. Anna Gembicka recalled prior statements by a chief economist, who argued for similar reforms, citing concerns about how the state finances should be managed and the role of VAT regulation in recent years.
— recalls Anna Gembicka, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
She noted previous legislation on Orlen that allegedly linked to a wind-energy law affecting Orlen shares and criticized the return of officials who had warned about VAT issues under prior administrations. The discussion touched on attempts to curb VAT abuses and how those issues might relate to Orlen’s performance.
— the PiS MP added.
Gembicka pointed to Donald Tusk’s comments about fuel prices after a policy deadline and contrasted them with current market realities, arguing that fuel remains a concern for Polish buyers despite price fluctuations. She suggested two possible explanations for the current situation: either a group of inexperienced operators or deliberate saboteurs.
— she concluded.