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Polish audit body flags possible criminal misconduct by President Nawrocki over IPN spending

22.10.2025 14:10
Karol Nawrocki is now Poland’s president, but the alleged issues date from his time leading the institute under a government dominated by right-wing populists from the Law and Justice party (PiS).
Polands top audit office has flagged possible criminal misconduct by President Nawrocki during his time leading the countrys Institute of National Remembrance. The Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza reported details from the nearly 100-page audit, highlighting mismanaged funds and questionable expenses.
Poland’s top audit office has flagged possible criminal misconduct by President Nawrocki during his time leading the country’s Institute of National Remembrance. The Polish daily „Gazeta Wyborcza” reported details from the nearly 100-page audit, highlighting mismanaged funds and questionable expenses. photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka; screen: Gazeta Wyborcza

Poland’s Supreme Audit Office (NIK) has submitted a notification to the public prosecutor’s office regarding potential criminal misconduct by Karol Nawrocki during his tenure as head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN).

The warning follows an audit covering 2022–2025, which questioned nearly half of the institute’s expenditures, amounting to 47.6 million PLN (€11.2 million) out of a total of 105 million PLN (€24.7 million) spent under Nawrocki’s leadership.

Millions in questionable spending under Nawrocki’s IPN leadership

NIK’s report criticised the IPN’s management of assets and use of public funds. Auditors concluded that Nawrocki violated the law governing the IPN, including appointing directors without following standard procedures, and authorised more than 50 million PLN (€11.8 million) in spending for their roles. The audit also highlighted serious breaches of public procurement regulations.

According to the Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza, Nawrocki also misused public funds for personal benefits. While head of the IPN, he reportedly did not pay over 55,000 PLN (€13,000) for the use of a private apartment.

Even a routine COVID-19 test before a delegation trip to Mexico - normally costing 200–400 PLN (€47–94) - was arranged as an on-site service at a cost of 2,500 PLN (€590), billed to the state.

The newspaper further reports that a six-person delegation to Mexico attracted scrutiny because Nawrocki authorised a multi-day extension in the USA for four members of the delegation, costing the state 200,000 PLN (€47,000).

Nearly 100-page audit report raises questions over Nawrocki’s spending

Gazeta Wyborcza cites NIK’s nearly 100-page post-audit report, noting that these issues were not publicly mentioned during the official presentation of documents. “Unofficially, the matter was not publicised so as not to strain relations with the current president,” the paper reported.

The findings have raised concerns about accountability and transparency in the use of public funds at the IPN, and may trigger further investigations by prosecutors into potential violations committed during Nawrocki’s tenure.

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Source: NIK/Gazeta Wyborcza/X/@czuchnowskiw