Biznes Fakty
The KPO scandal. Artur Łącki, one of the wealthiest members of parliament, on the KPO funds for his wife's business.
„My wife has entered into five agreements for funding through the National Reconstruction Plan. The total amount is just under 880,000 PLN, with KPO funding for this project being 474,000 PLN,” explained Artur Łącki, a member of the Civic Coalition, during an interview with TVN24.
The government’s website has released a map illustrating the allocation of funds from the National Recovery Plan (KPO). Many of these subsidies have generated controversy, particularly within the HoReCa (hotel and restaurant) sector. Examples of these include corporate yachts, saunas, solariums, and others.
MP Łącki discusses the subsidy from the KPO for his wife’s enterprise
MP Artur Łącki’s wife also received funding through the KPO.
„My wife has signed five agreements for KPO funding in total. The total amount is just below 880,000 PLN, and the KPO funding for this project is 474,000 PLN. So it’s not over a million, not a million, not nearly a million, but 474,000 PLN. Just to clarify,” stated MP Łącki.
He further noted: „We always take advantage of such opportunities. My wife consistently utilizes all funding options, especially those from the European Union, as that’s the purpose of the money—it’s targeted specifically at entrepreneurs. It’s either allocated by the Marshal’s Office or—as in this case—by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).”
In his view, „there’s nothing extraordinary about this situation.” „Whenever funding becomes accessible to support entrepreneurs, my wife submits applications. Like all entrepreneurs, she doesn’t always succeed in passing the verification process,” he remarked.
He elaborated that „in this instance, it appears she did not achieve the full number of points, which is why the funding is less than 50 percent of the investment.”
A map illustrating the KPO subsidies awarded to the HoReCa industry has ignited significant outrage online Konkret 24/x.comMP on the intended use of funds from the National Operational Programme
When asked by a TVN24 reporter how the funds from this investment were specifically utilized, MP Łącki pointed out that the investment was already completed but they had not yet received funding from the National Water Management Programme.
„I would assert that no entrepreneur has received any funds from this as of yet. I fear that this scandal, being incited by political adversaries, could result in us losing all the money from the National Revenue Program (KPO), and no entrepreneur would receive anything, since deadlines are approaching and everything must be settled by a specific date to obtain the funds,” he stated.
He also clarified that his wife was granted permission to utilize KPO funds „for the expansion and furnishing of the conference room, for the renovation of the restaurant area, and for the addition of a winter garden to the restaurant area, which means enlarging the restaurant space.”
Łącki on subsidies for yachts
The MP was questioned regarding reports of his purchase of a yacht using these funds. „I would like to extend my apologies to those entrepreneurs who co-financed the yacht purchase. It’s easy to envision an entrepreneur from Warmia and Mazury running a restaurant, for instance, whose establishment—like ours—was closed during the lockdown, wanting to diversify his income. Thus, he acquires a yacht,” he explained.
According to the Civic Coalition (KO) MP, the subsidy for the HoReCa sector from the KPO cannot exceed around PLN 600,000, and for that amount, „you cannot purchase a yacht.” „However, it can be subsidized. I don’t see an issue with an entrepreneur buying a yacht and renting it out. That’s part of running a business,” he asserted.
He added, „No, we did not buy a yacht. My wife is investing in our resort, as she has for the past 30 years.”
„As a citizen of this country, I have responsibilities, but I also have rights. If someone insults me, defames me, or spreads falsehoods about my family, a law-abiding individual would take such matters to court. And that is likely what I will do,” stated MP Łącki.
