The resignation of CBA chief Agnieszka Kwiatkowska-Gurdak became a fact. Prime Minister Donald Tusk accepted her resignation, as confirmed by the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. Earlier, the head of government had announced this decision on platform X, but did not mention the name of the outgoing officer.
The decision to resign had to do with her speaking before the Parliamentary Committee on Pegasus. During the hearing, Kwiatkowska-Gurdak repeatedly refused to answer, citing the mystery of operational work. It claimed that it could not disclose information about the tools utilized by the CBA, even if the committee was empowered to do so. The president of the Committee, Magdalena Sroka (PSL-TD), reminded that the Prime Minister had dismissed her from her work of secrecy, but nevertheless the CBA chief avoided circumstantial answers.
The reluctance to uncover details has caused controversy among Members. Vice-Chairman Marcin Bosacki (KO) assessed that Kwiatkowska-Gurdak abused her powers and could supply more information. In consequence to these allegations, Prime Minister Tusk requested a study on the CBA's activities under its direction. The paper was prepared by Minister of peculiar Services Coordinator Tomasz Siemoniak, Head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs. After his analysis, Tusk accepted the resignation of Kwiatkowska-Gurdak.
What's next with CBA?
The resignation of the head of the CBA is part of a wider plan to liquidate the Bureau, enshrined in the coalition agreement of the ruling parties. As part of the changes, the Central Bureau for Combating Corruption will be established in police structures, and any of the tasks of the CBA will be taken over by the interior safety Agency and the National taxation Administration.
Initially, the liquidation of the CBA was planned for January 2025, the deadline was later postponed for April, and now the talk is about July. Currently, about 1,300 officers and 200 civilian workers are employed in the Bureau. After the reform, about 950 people will be sent to the fresh anti-corruption unit, 200 to the ABW, and 150 to the KAS.
Who will take over?
Pursuant to the CBA Act, the Prime Minister may temporarily delegate the management of the Office to 1 of the deputy chiefs or another applicable persons. presently the deputies are Tomasz Strzelczyk and Dariusz Drozdowski. Fulfillment of duties does not require the opinion of the peculiar Services Committee or the President, which may velocity up the process of change.
Kwiatkowska-Gurdak has led the CBA since March 2024 and previously, since December 2023, has served as Head of the Bureau. Her resignation opens another chapter in the improvement of peculiar services, which may have a crucial impact on the strategy of combating corruption in Poland.
