Controversy Surrounds Polish Politician Karol Nawrocki’s Housing Deal

The news in Polish

1. wątpliwość  (f.)
   brak pewności co do czegoś ↩︎
2. transakcja  (f.)
   proces wymiany dóbr lub usług za pieniądze ↩︎
3. legalny
   zgodny z prawem ↩︎
4. komisja  (f.)
   grupa ludzi powołana do wykonania określonego zadania ↩︎
5. atak  (m.)
   działanie mające na celu zaszkodzenie komuś lub czemuś ↩︎
6. skomplikowany
   trudny do zrozumienia z powodu złożoności ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who is Karol Nawrocki associated with in Poland?

Question 2: What has PiS claimed about the controversy around Nawrocki’s housing deal?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
wątpliwość  (f.)	doubt
transakcja  (f.)	transaction
legalny	legal
komisja  (f.)	commission
atak  (m.)	attack
skomplikowany	complicated

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In recent days, Polish media have been abuzz with discussions surrounding Karol Nawrocki, a candidate of the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) for the upcoming presidential elections. The uproar centres on a controversial housing transaction involving Nawrocki, raising questions about its legality and transparency.

The controversy erupted after it was revealed that Nawrocki purchased an apartment in Gdańsk from Jerzy Ż., an elderly man. “Newsweek” magazine reported on internal PiS communications, which allegedly instruct party members on how to defend Nawrocki. According to these reports, party members are encouraged to assert that the acquisition was fair and legal, claiming that Nawrocki’s actions prevented Jerzy Ż. from becoming homeless.

Moreover, the instructions allegedly advise PiS representatives to attack Rafał Trzaskowski, a prominent opposition figure, by drawing comparisons to alleged scandals under previous administrations. They claim that housing irregularities occurred during Trzaskowski’s leadership at Warsaw City Hall.

On the political front, the situation surrounding Nawrocki has escalated. He was summoned by the parliamentary committee on justice and human rights to clarify his financial dealings. While Nawrocki initially seemed willing to comply, he later decided against participating, citing the committee’s lack of legal basis to investigate his financial declarations, which are formally overseen by institutions like the Supreme Audit Office.

The PiS party fiercely defends Nawrocki, framing the inquiry as a politically motivated attack orchestrated by opposition politicians, particularly targeting the support team of Szymon Hołownia, another presidential hopeful.

In the political arena, Nawrocki faces opposition not only from Trzaskowski and Hołownia but also from Sławomir Mentzen of the Confederation Party. Mentzen has launched a series of critical attacks against Nawrocki, positioning himself as a challenger within the right-wing political sphere.

In the meantime, Nawrocki’s decision to refrain from appearing before the parliamentary committee suggests that he might be strategising for the impending presidential debate, aiming to bolster his standing amidst intense scrutiny and opposition.

As the political tensions rise, this housing controversy continues to reverberate through Polish media, highlighting the intricate dynamics at play in Polish political campaigns ahead of the 2025 presidential elections.

Info: “Polish Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Polish”, a language school dedicated to teaching Polish through comprehensive courses. We offer a range of Polish lessons online, catering to various learning needs and levels.