“Rzeczpospolita” asks for a letter
Prime Minister Donald Tusk received from Turkey's president, Recep Erdogan, a letter from 1745 that was not included in the benefit register. The document, most likely sent by Chancellor Andrzej Załuski to the Ottoman vizier, included thanks for the peace effort in Europe. Prime Minister Tusk described the letter received as a symbol of peace and relationship between the nations, highlighting its timeless actuality.
In accordance with the rules, donations worth more than PLN 380 should be reported in the registry of benefits. The “Rzeczpospolita” informs that, although the letter to the vizier is surely of higher value, Prime Minister Tusk did not registry it, even though he had 30 days to do so.
However, the Government Information Centre explains in an interview with “Rzeczpospolita” that the letter is not a individual gift to Prime Minister Tusk, but to the Polish people. It is presently in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and will be exhibited during the Night of Museums. However, Julia Pitera, erstwhile Minister of Corruption, claims that the Prime Minister should present this gift in order to avoid doubt.
As CIR explains:
Presents received by the Prime Minister on behalf of and for the benefit of the Polish State, either stay in the resources of the NRP or go to museums or another public institutions and do not constitute a direct benefit to the Prime Minister.
Should Tusk study this?
Julia Pitera, erstwhile Minister of Corruption in Tusk's First Government, disagrees with this interpretation. It indicates that the provisions are imprecise, but in her opinion the Prime Minister should present this gift for the sake of peace, as is the case with another gifts given to museums, archives or for charity.
Piter gives an example of the Deputy Prime Minister and the head of the MON Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish, who from the beginning of his office in 2023 informed about respective gifts, with most of them adding annotation that they were transferred to MON's resources for usage for charity purposes.
Since being Prime Minister Tusk did not study any gift, which distinguishes him from his predecessors, as Mateusz Morawiecki, who reported as many as 19 gifts. Julia Pitera notes that politicians are increasingly ignoring the registry of benefits due to the fact that there are no sanctions for its failure. However, even in specified a situation, Tusk can be exposed to legal consequences, specified as Luke Meyza, who has heard allegations for failing to submit information on the benefits.
