Radosław Sikorski faced calls to step down from his seat in the European Parliament after Polish officials highlighted a report from the Dutch daily NRC. The piece claimed that Sikorski receives an annual stipend of 100,000 dollars from the United Arab Emirates, a detail that drew sharp reference from Piotr Wawrzyk, the deputy foreign minister. This assertion prompted scrutiny of Sikorski’s work in the Parliament and his outside engagements.
100 thousand dollars raised concerns
The NRC report states that Sikorski is paid 100,000 dollars each year by the UAE for advising on matters connected to the Sir Bani Yas Forum, a venue established by the Emirates about a decade ago to foster diplomacy and soft power on the international stage. According to several sources interviewed by the newspaper, the combination of payments and voting behavior at the Parliament has sparked questions about potential conflicts of interest.
In the piece, the newspaper notes that Sikorski’s role in advising on the Sir Bani Yas Forum has raised concerns among some observers about independence in his parliamentary duties.
The report mentions the forum as a venue used by the UAE to conduct diplomacy and influence policy discussions under the banner of soft power.
Several interlocutors described Sikorski’s conduct around votes as suffused with ambiguity when payments are involved, suggesting that this could warrant closer examination by the public and political figures alike.
READ MORE: Reports claim Sikorski receives 100,000 dollars annually from the UAE; questions about voting behavior raised
Call for resignation
The deputy foreign minister appeared on a Polish radio program to express his view that Sikorski should end his term in the European Parliament. He argued that someone with such ties or uncertainties should not continue in the parliament. The sentiment echoed a growing public demand for accountability in light of the allegations.
There was also mention of Sikorski’s potential future in public office, with some questioning whether a return to a top state position or a bid for the presidency should be on the agenda given the reported connections. The deputy minister emphasized that such discussions should not be part of Sikorski’s political plan at this time and that a person facing serious accusations ought to be considered ineligible for re-election from public office.
READ MORE:
– OUR INTERVIEW. UAE money for Sikorski; Rafalska notes the concern could spill over into party politics; questions about Tusk’s knowledge persist
– ONLY HERE. Sobolewski suggests Sikorski could be called an MP to be bought; questions about Tusk’s awareness and possible consequences for the party
Solidarna Polska calls for answers
Solidarna Polska representatives pressed Sikorski to disclose the sources and purposes of the reported 100,000 dollars. They argued that unclear funding from Arab countries should not appear in Polish or European politics and demanded transparency during a Sejm session. The party’s MPs insisted on an explanation from the MEP about the funds and their intended use.
READ MORE: Ziobro raises alarms about UAE money for Sikorski and calls for a full clarification; a serious political crisis could be looming
Jacek Dekora and Mariusz Gosek from Solidarna Polska urged the Sejm to clarify where the money comes from and what it financed, stressing the need for accountability from the MEP.
As the discussion continued, critics argued that Sikorski’s actions could be seen as a breach of political ethics and that his activities outside the European Parliament should not be allowed to cloud his parliamentary duties. The assertion that Sikorski’s behavior cannot be reconciled with the responsibilities of a member of the European Parliament was echoed by several speakers.
Both Sikorski and Donald Tusk faced questions from voters about the nature of Sikorski’s financial relationships and the purposes behind them. The dialogue highlighted concerns about political integrity and the potential impact on public trust.
MPs also noted that the United States conducted an inquiry into UAE support for various actors in the region, underscoring the broader geopolitical sensitivities involved. They stressed the importance of understanding what Sikorski had discussed with UAE officials and the implications for democratic norms.
Sikorski’s response
On the day of publication, Sikorski released a letter to the NRC’s editor, describing his response to the article and defending his involvement with the Sir Bani Yas Forum. He expressed surprise at the article’s tone and content and explained that his non-parliamentary activities are listed in the asset declaration he provides to the European Parliament. He noted that in 2017 he was asked to join the forum’s advisory board, years before his election to the European Parliament, and he argued that his votes in the Chamber have not been influenced by any outside engagement.
He stressed that his external work should not be conflated with his duties as a member of the European Parliament and reaffirmed the independence of his parliamentary decisions. The discussion continues as observers assess the implications for Sikorski’s career and the broader question of transparency in political finance.
kk/PAP
Source: wPolityce [citation]