„Clean Air”. There is an investigation

Joński: What was Mateusz Morawiecki doing there? He wasn't discussing clean air, he was merely criticizing the opposition tvn24

The prosecutor’s office has initiated an inquiry into the government’s „Clean Air” initiative, based on a document acquired by TVN24 journalist Radomir Wit. The investigation pertains to the time when Henryk Kowalczyk from PiS was in charge of the ministry. There are suspicions of criminal activity related to the misuse of authority by public officials.

A report regarding this matter was filed by MEPs from the Civic Coalition, Michał Szczerba and Dariusz Joński.

The document from the prosecutor’s office was retrieved by TVN24 journalist Radomir Wit and is dated March 31, 2025.

„(..) An inquiry has commenced regarding the suspicion of overstepping powers and failing to meet obligations by public officials from the Ministry of the Environment concerning the execution of the agreement related to organizing the promotional aspect (a series of 2,479 meetings) of the government program 'Clean Air’, during the period from September 4, 2018, to October 26, 2018, with the aim of securing personal and financial advantages for other individuals and a designated entity” – states the correspondence from the prosecutor’s office.

The prosecutor’s office indicated that the case involves a suspicion of a crime under Article 231 of the Penal Code, paragraph two, or the abuse of authority by a public official, with penalties ranging from one to ten years of imprisonment.

The „Clean Air” initiative aimed to mitigate smog levels in Poland. Homeowners of single-family residences could qualify for financial assistance for insulation improvements and replacing heating sources.

„Clean Air”. Joński and Szczerba on Misconduct

– The focus was on combating air pollution. This was officially stated in the documents, but in reality, it consisted of over two thousand meetings involving PiS local government candidates alongside parliamentary participants – remarked Michał Szczerba, MEP of the Civic Coalition, in October of the previous year, referencing allegations that Law and Justice exploited the EU „Clean Air” initiative for the 2018 electoral campaign. Dariusz Joński noted that Mateusz Morawiecki was among those who attended these meetings.

At that time, the MEPs declared their intention to file reports with the prosecutor’s office.

The issue was also reported by „Gazeta Wyborcza”. The publication stated that under the pretense of promoting the 'Clean Air’ initiative, Law and Justice politicians conducted voter meetings across Poland. „The funds were utilized within a six-week period,” it was observed.

– What we presented at Campus Polska Przyszłości regarding the unlawful financing of the 2023 electoral campaign is merely a glimpse of what we intend to reveal today – Szczerba remarked in October of the previous year. He assessed that „this foundation for significant political election corruption has been laid for many years, orchestrated by the same intermediary involved in financing the illicit campaigns of individuals such as Jacek Sasin, Marlena Maląg, Andrzej Śliwka, and Jadwiga Emilewicz”.

Szczerba: This foundation for significant political election corruption has been established for many years tvn24

– Specifically, in 2018, just prior to the local government elections, the company Berm, which is the subject of our discussion, received a commission to arrange a meeting in local jurisdictions ahead of the elections regarding the EU program „Clean Air”. It was aimed at tackling air pollution. While it was officially documented, it actually consisted of over two thousand meetings involving PiS local government candidates alongside parliamentary figures – stated the MEP.

He reported that „there is an invoice for this, amounting to PLN 4,605,603.90”. – This sum pertains to illicit electoral campaigning by PiS candidates. The series of meetings was initiated precisely at the commencement of the election campaign – he asserted.

Dariusz Joński and Michał Szczerba TVN24

Szczerba emphasized that both he and MEP Joński possess „documents, emails where directives were sent from the political office of Minister of the Environment Henryk

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