Supervision of services
The exchange turned to the oversight of secret services. A member of the opposition raised questions about the appropriateness of the supervision process, and the PiS president weighed in on the debate. He noted that there are established channels for accountability, including the public prosecutor’s office and the courts, as well as rules about destroying materials that are not needed for ongoing proceedings. He also suggested that some demands for creating a dedicated agency to handle such matters might be excessive, emphasizing a balanced approach rather than creating a new, separate body.
When pressed about whether Pegasus concerns involved only routine surveillance or more aggressive actions, he replied that the topic encompassed individuals who had committed crimes that could not be dismissed as minor. He also referenced the involvement of figures who had previously been publicly associated with other political and legal controversies, indicating a broad scope of interest and investigation.
Orlens thread
Asked about the recordings of conversations between former Orlen president Daniel Obajtek and journalist Piotr Nisztor, which were published by Onet, the PiS leader admitted he did not have more information to share at that moment and had learned about the matter only from media reports on the prior day. He stated that he did not know whether the services were responsible for the recordings, whether it happened through another method, or whether there was any court authorization. He stressed that the situation was surprising and that the widespread media circulation of the case was alarming.
Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska of KO asked for specifics on when the Pegasus purchase occurred. The PiS president said that he could not provide a precise date. He described the event as a dangerous incident that, in media coverage, was sometimes portrayed as a tool used to monitor the election campaign. From his perspective, it appeared to be a technical matter arising from identifiable needs rather than a dramatic scandal.
Onet material
Late last night Onet published a transcript of a conversation between Obajtek and journalist Piotr Nisztor, recorded at the end of June 2018. The outlet alleged that Obajtek’s office was under bugging soon after he took the helm of the company. The recording reportedly originated at the initiative of the Central Bureau of Investigation through a secret service employee tied to Orlen, with the aim of gathering materials and keeping tabs on the head of the company.
The published material describes discussions about helping the Nisztor family in professional matters and other favors. In response to Nisztor’s request for assistance with his wife’s employment, Obajtek allegedly pledged to take care of her and her family, including the father-in-law. Onet also relays that Nisztor discussed GetBack-related allegations, suggesting that prominent right-wing figures were aware of the scandal and that there were attempts to obtain recordings to use as leverage. Obajtek was depicted as seeking access to such material to confront perceived adversaries.
According to Onet, Obajtek learned of the wiretapping much later and acted as if he did not know details, implying a potential cover-up. In response to the publication, Obajtek announced plans to file a formal report to prosecutors and condemned the wiretapping as pathological and inappropriate. An interview with a former deputy minister later suggested there was no concrete knowledge of the wiretapping within the Orlen head’s office, and that if any such activity existed, it would require court authorization.
Several related items were highlighted by media outlets at the time, including discussions about party concerns and alleged procedural violations in the Pegasus Commission’s work. The broader political discourse framed the events as part of ongoing tensions within the government coalition and the scrutiny surrounding security agencies.
Source notes: coverage and commentary from various outlets referenced the Onet disclosure and subsequent official responses.