In the latest issue of the weekly publication Sieci, Marek Pyza reveals how so‑called experts aligned with the December 13 coalition are positioned within state‑owned companies. The question remains: do party‑appointed figures face real limits on their appetite for control? The current issue’s articles are accessible to members of the Network of Friends subscription, with content highlighted on wpolityce.pl.
That’s how you milk it
“We will tackle these debts. Truly. Not with those debts, my good friend, the first prime minister after Mazowiecki when Walesa became president, Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, my good friend from Gdańsk, became prime minister. You know how immense the debt was back then, the debt after Gierer. But strong politics, good ties with the West, write‑offs, and a bit of economic and political cleverness carried us through.”
— this is how Donald Tusk recalls the era many Poles remember as marked by poverty, corruption, organized crime, a grey zone, and a playground for cheats. All signs point to a path that recalls that time, according to Pyza, who details how state resources were managed under Tusk‑era officials.
A case in point is ARP, led by Michał Dąbrowski, known for an election event with Ustroń residents, who later shed crocodile tears about the national debt and wondered aloud if normal Poland could ever return. How is he faring now?
(…) the supervisory board offered a conspicuous response: on April 29, it approved a raise for management, including a PLN 19,000 monthly bump for the president, now earning PLN 116,514.15, while board members see PLN 17,000 monthly. In total, the agency bears a monthly cost of PLN 100,978.93 times three for the three board members. Dąbrowski also pressed for changes to a 2023 leased car for the management, with the Audi A6 deemed insufficient for the new president, prompting a switch to the A8. The ARP leadership hails from Silesia and must reside in Warsaw; each board member incurs housing costs at the agency. Before the resolution, the president had to stay in Warsaw hotels, costing the agency tens of thousands of zlotys. He also requested IT gear: the latest MacBook, iPad, iPhone, and related accessories, with the total order around PLN 30,000.
— Pyza catalogs.
Why doesn’t Tusk want to destroy the right wing?
Piotr Gursztyn examines the ruling coalition’s unfulfilled aspiration to dismantle the opposition. Yet the complete eradication of the right wing from Polish political life seems unlikely, a point he emphasizes with confidence. Several factors contribute, including Donald Tusk himself.
Narratives suggest Tusk never welcomed the prospect of becoming prime minister again. (…) The presidency may offer an exit from the prime ministerial role. If he wins (…) the influence over reality could wane. As prime minister again, he would possess enough authority to push subordinates to act ruthlessly and to push the bounds of legality. He would not be able to govern the coalition—or even his own faction—from the presidential palace. In both scenarios, factions and environments could clash in open, ongoing battles that matter more to them than holding the PiS to account.
— Gursztyn observes.
How do you become a pato celebrity?
The new Sieci issue also analyzes the rise of Filip Chajzer, once a well‑liked host and social advocate, now viewed through a critical lens as a pato celebrity.
“I’ve watched Filip for years. I like him and respect his charitable work; I know he has done a lot of good. I’m stunned by the current situation and hope he will address it personally, perhaps now with time to reflect,” shares Dorota Łosiewicz, actress, singer, and cultural manager.
What else is in the weekly magazine?
The forthcoming Sieci issue also covers Donald Tusk’s defeat in relation to Kosiniak‑Kamysz, perspectives on Ukraine, Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, and topics featured at the Legia stadium. The issue promises cultural pieces and holiday coverage. Piotr Ostrowski writes about the magical town of San Gimignano. A special supplement celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising.
Additionally, the magazine presents commentary on current events by Bronisław Wildstein, Grzegorz Górny, Samuel Pereira, Marta Kaczyńska‑Zielińska, Dominik Zdort, Jan Pietrzak, Andrzej Rafał Potocki, and Andrzej Zybertowicz.
More in the new Sieci issue. Articles from the current edition are available online as part of a wPolityce.pl subscription, with content curated for readers in North America and beyond, and attributed to the publication cited above. The magazine also invites audiences to watch Polish television broadcasts.
Notes accompany the content to provide context and attribution, ensuring readers understand where insights originate.
Source: wPolityce