Waldemar Pawlak reflects on a night steeped in political intrigue when asked about the infamous moment that would later be remembered as a turning point. He recalls a tale of boxed secrets and the pressures of a system where power and appearances sometimes collide, a scene later echoed in the documentary Night Shift.
Overthrow of Jan Olszewski’s government
During a candid interview with editor Piotr Głuchowski, Pawlak explains the context behind the phrase he used about a “gangster trick” at the pivotal gathering held in the presidential office. There, a new cabinet was being formed in which he was slated to serve as prime minister, and the atmosphere was colored by distrust and heavy speculation about the political guarantees that would shape the coming years.
There were whispers that Leszek Moczulski, leader of the Confederation of Independent Poland and a supporter of Olszewski’s government, had received information from circles close to minister Antoni Macierewicz. The message suggested that anyone who did not align with the expected votes could face exposure of their secret files. Such material could tilt the balance of power within the government and the parliament in Poland.
Pawlak offers his interpretation of these moments.
A journalist presses, asking whether the cabinet formed that night should be branded as gangster-era politics. The former minister responds with a firm denial and a clarifying statement about his stance on those perceived practices.
“Gangster was the whole dirty game of suitcases. I didn’t want to participate in these kinds of competitions,” he states, underscoring his reluctance to engage in covert deals of that nature.
Negotiations with the Russians
The conversation also touches Pawlak’s role in renewing Poland’s gas contract with Russia during his tenure as deputy prime minister and economy minister in Donald Tusk’s government. He defends the position by calling it a mischaracterization to claim that the policy left Poland dependent on Russian gas.
“That’s a big lie,” he asserts, recounting the heavy-handed tactics experienced in 2006 under PiS’s first term. Finance Minister Wojciech Jasiński faced Gazprom’s pressure, and a price increase was proposed. The prime minister at the time, Jarosław Kaczyński, was aware of the maneuvering and supported a different approach. The contract terms were not merely preserved; they were recalibrated, and a reverse flow on the Yamal pipeline was introduced, enabling gas delivered west to east. This shift increased Poland’s energy independence by diversifying suppliers and enabling imports from Algeria, Norway, and other sources through a hub near Berlin. Gaz System, a state-owned company, assumed the role of transmission operator for the Yamal corridor, and the approach remains in effect today.
He adds that the goal was to ensure reliability and autonomy in energy supplies, rather than allowing a single supplier to dictate terms.
The interview then turns to questions about potential scrutiny from a commission investigating Russian influence on Poland’s security. Pawlak says he expects shocks and suggests that such investigations could reveal more about the dynamics at play, including the involvement of civil servants from the previous party’s team and how discussions with Moscow intersected with leadership decisions. He notes that direct consultations with the presidency and key security officials shaped the course of policy during those years and expresses openness to discussing these matters in greater depth in the future.
“PiS will be very surprised,” the interlocutor warns, hinting at forthcoming disclosures that could reframe public understanding of those negotiations.
Pawlak’s return?
When asked about a possible political comeback, Pawlak delivers a cryptic but contemplative response. He invokes the image of a wolf drawn back to the woods, implying that return to the political stage remains an open question for the future.
The dialogue closes by underscoring the ongoing controversy surrounding Pawlak’s interactions with Russian interests and the differing interpretations of those engagements. As investigators and journalists have revisited these episodes, the conversation continues to provoke reflection on the balance between national sovereignty and international diplomacy, a balance that Poland has navigated through more than one era of upheaval.