The director of the National Freedom Institute, Wojciech Kaczmarczyk, was dismissed. He described the move as part of a broader effort to politicize the NIW under Minister Agnieszka Buczyńska, telling the portal wPolityce.pl that the decision appeared to be turning a wish into reality.
The latest removal fits a pattern of changes within institutions that promote patriotism, Polish history, traditional values, and national freedom. Kaczmarczyk, a co-founder and since 2017 the head of the National Institute of Freedom – Center for Social Development, stated that the cancellation of his appointment followed an inspection carried out recently by the Chairman of the Public Benefit Committee, the Minister for Civil Society, Agnieszka Buczyńska.
Control infused with religious bias
The audit was shocking not for the identified errors, but for the degree of scrutiny applied by the inspectors and the minister themselves, according to Kaczmarczyk.
One critical finding noted that an experienced expert, who had long worked with church organizations and Catholic associations, did not possess what the inspectors deemed sufficient qualifications to review NIW applications.
According to the former NIW director, the expert had coordinated Epiphany processions and numerous papal competitions. The ministry’s evaluators, in his view, viewed these church-friendly activities through a different professional lens than needed for NIW oversight.
Following the inspection, Kaczmarczyk accused the minister of indirect discrimination on religious grounds, suggesting this was a primary reason behind his immediate resignation as NIW director.
Unfounded accusations
The dismissal cited dishonest conduct and legal violations under the relevant statutory framework governing the National Institute of Freedom, including provisions about actions contrary to law and the principles of reliability, economy, and expediency.
From his perspective and that of the NIW itself, he believed there was no basis for applying these provisions. He affirmed that the organization had always acted with utmost care and in full compliance with the law, noting that no substantiated accusations had ever been made against them.
He announced that Minister Buczyńska would appeal the decision, describing it as adverse and based on false conclusions. He argued that the move reflected a desire to politicize the NIW’s functioning and added that Michał Braun had already been named the new NIW director.
Replacing Kaczmarczyk with a political figure
The appointed successor is identified as a Civic Platform politician, long-time councilor in Kielce, and a civil society envoy in the PO administration. Kaczmarczyk recalled that Michał Braun had, shortly after the last election, urged delaying all NIW competitions until after a new government took office.
The NIW has not received any funding from the Prime Minister’s Chancellery for this year’s competitions, and more than 900 organizations are awaiting support, a situation that has been perceived as an attempt to align NIW activities with the new government’s priorities.
He called the situation a move toward politicization of the NIW and stood by his assessment that the changes would influence how resources are allocated to non-governmental organizations, particularly those aligned with the new administration.
Future funding for other groups
The question of how the NIW would operate under Michał Braun remained prominent. A former deputy prime minister had previously questioned the decision to withhold funds from the NIW, while the minister stated she could not approve continued subsidies to what she described as “our own people.”
In response, Kaczmarczyk highlighted that the NIW has supported over 6,500 diverse non-governmental organizations with more than 1.2 billion PLN across multiple initiatives. He suggested that resource reallocations could favor organizations more favorable to the current government, signaling a potential shift in priorities.
With that, Kaczmarczyk concluded the interview, signaling his concerns about the new direction and the broader political influence on the NIW’s mission.
— End of interview summary, as reported by wPolityce.pl
Additional notes on related developments include the government’s discussions about the NIW’s grant activity and responses to opposition critiques, illustrating ongoing debates about the role and funding of civil society organizations in Poland.