WARSAW — The political landscape for presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki is becoming increasingly precarious amid allegations related to his involvement in Poland’s tumultuous real estate market. Nawrocki, who is backed by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, is under scrutiny for not fully disclosing his property ownership and for allegedly acquiring an apartment through questionable means involving a disabled pensioner, who has since been discovered residing in a retirement facility.
Political fallout from property allegations
In response to mounting criticism, Nawrocki organized a press conference on Wednesday, asserting that his acquisition of the apartment was legitimate. He announced plans to donate the property to charity. However, this controversy has significantly disrupted his campaign momentum, which had been gaining traction in recent weeks.
The scrutiny surrounding Nawrocki’s real estate dealings comes at a time when his credibility has already been compromised. Reports surfaced of a peculiar promotional effort for his book on organized crime, which involved him appearing on television disguised as an expert. Furthermore, his recent meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office was overshadowed by a subsequent release of an AI-generated image of Trump dressed as the pope by the White House.
Currently, Nawrocki trails Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski by seven points in POLITICO’s aggregated polling ahead of the presidential election’s first round on May 18. The top two candidates will advance to a runoff scheduled for June 1, likely setting the stage for a contest between Trzaskowski and Nawrocki.
Potential implications for the PiS party
The upcoming election holds significant importance for the PiS party, which aims for a Nawrocki victory to rejuvenate its political fortunes ahead of the next parliamentary elections in 2027. The government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, is advocating for Trzaskowski to occupy the presidential palace to further its legislative agenda, currently impeded by pro-PiS incumbent President Andrzej Duda. However, the ongoing property scandal threatens to derail these ambitions.
Nawrocki’s troubles began during a televised debate when he responded to a question about his stance on taxing multiple property owners, claiming he was an “ordinary Pole” with only “a single apartment.” However, an investigation by the Onet news portal revealed ownership of an additional flat in Gdańsk. Nawrocki claimed this property was acquired in exchange for caring for its elderly owner, Jerzy Żywicki. Yet, Onet subsequently located Żywicki in a retirement home, contradicting Nawrocki’s narrative.
“I was taking care of an old ailing man who had been my neighbor for years,” Nawrocki stated, pointing out that he and Żywicki lost contact the previous year.
The situation intensified as one of Żywicki’s caretakers revealed, “I remember Mr. Jerzy sitting in his apartment in the dark in the winter, cold, wearing a jacket. He had no money to pay for electricity.”
In light of these revelations, Magdalena Biejat, the presidential candidate for The Left, has called for a legal investigation into Nawrocki’s dealings. She emphasized the need for politicians to confront issues within the housing market rather than benefiting from them.
Moreover, Nawrocki’s predicament has attracted the ire of rival candidates. Sławomir Mentzen, representing the far-right Confederation party, condemned Nawrocki’s actions on social media, labeling them “disgusting” and urging conservative voters to reconsider their support for Law and Justice. This condemnation was echoed by Żywicki’s estranged son, who characterized the transaction as a “scam” during a television interview.
Prime Minister Tusk has also weighed in, stating, “If I understand it correctly, Nawrocki was supposed to take care of Mr. Jerzy but took care of his flat instead. So I’m wondering if we would like him to take care of Poland.” He has instructed his administration to explore legal protections for seniors against fraud.
Despite the storm surrounding him, Law and Justice continues to support Nawrocki, who is not an official party member. PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński expressed his confidence in Nawrocki, asserting, “I vouch for Karol Nawrocki,” while criticizing the media’s coverage of the allegations as politically motivated.