It is PiS nature to extract as much money as possible – said Tomasz Trela, a member of the Left Club in the Sejm, referring to tvn24.pl reports about record delegations of former Deputy Minister of Development and Technology Olga Semeniuk-Patkowska. – You always have to hope that someone has a modicum of decency and will want to pay the money themselves – said KO senator Krzysztof Kwiatkowski. – If not, the ministry must consider whether to take this matter to court – he added.
During the 67-day Sejm election campaign, Olga Semeniuk-Patkowska, then deputy minister of development and technology, was on delegations in her district for 46 days. The longest trip lasted continuously from September 20 to October 15, 2023, i.e. until election day. The ministry had to pay almost PLN 14,000 for accommodation alone. And this is only part of the costs.
READ MORE: : Several thousand for accommodation alone. Record-breaking delegation of Olga Semeniuk-Patkowska
Calendar of Olga Semeniuk-Patkowska's delegation
Politicians commented on the matter in the Sejm.
Jabłoński: I was on vacation for the vast majority of the campaign
– I remember this campaign in such a way that I was on vacation for the vast majority of it – said PiS MP Paweł Jabłoński, then deputy minister of foreign affairs. – However, when I had ministerial duties, I returned to Warsaw, single days a week, but most of the campaign I actually tried to take leave – he added.
When asked why he decided it was necessary to take leave, Jabłoński replied that he was “simply engaged in the campaign.” – I wasn't involved in the ministry, although there were days like that. I must also admit that sometimes, this is probably contrary to the Labor Code, even when I was on leave, it happened that I also carried out tasks from the ministry remotely, he said.
Jabłoński: I was on vacation for the vast majority of the campaign TVN24
Trela: it's PiS nature to get as much money as possible
According to MP Tomasz Trela from the Left Club, “it is PiS nature to extract as much money as possible.” – I am a minister, not an MP, so I have a company car, a card at my disposal, I am running an election campaign – he said.
– Since Ziobro and his boys had the Justice Fund, I became envious and decided that I would pay for accommodation in my constituency. Supposedly I will meet with entrepreneurs, and it is known that I will be conducting an election campaign – commented Trela.
Trela: It's PiS nature. Get as much cash as you canTVN24
Kwiatkowski: You always have to hope that someone has a shred of decency
Senator Krzysztof Kwiatkowski (Civic Coalition) pointed out that “today the ministry where Mrs. Semeniuk was must consider whether to apply for a refund first.” – You always have to hope, and I always have hope, that someone has a shred of decency and will be willing to pay the money back, he said.
Olsztyn, September 27, 2023, PiS candidates in the Sejm elections in district 35: Olga Semeniuk-Patkowska, Janusz Cieszyński, Iwona ArentTomasz Waszczuk / PAP
– And if not, then of course the ministry in which Ms. Semeniuk ran the election campaign, using, for example, the ministry's car, must consider whether to take this matter to court. – he said.
Main photo source: Marcin Obara/PAP