The National Reconstruction Plan was intended to support the development of Poland after the pandemic, but recent reports show that billions of PLN went to luxury targets such as yachts, cabins on the water or Jacuzzi. More and more information leaks cause outrage among Internet users and experts.
What is the HoReCa program?
HoReCa is short for hoteling, restaurants and catering/café. It covers the entire catering and hotel services sector: restaurants, hotels, guesthouses, bars, catering, foodtrudic and holiday centres.The HoReCa programme under the KPO was designed to protect companies from the economic consequences of the pandemic crisis, allowing them to obtain grants for modernisation, investment in new products/services or the application of green solutions. The support is targeted at micro, small and medium-sized companies which suffered significant financial losses between 2020 and 2021.
KPO was supposed to support development – went for luxury?
The National Reconstruction Plan was intended to finance the modernisation of hospitals, schools and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the list of co-financed projects amazes: KPO's funds have been distributed on pizzas, cottages on water, yachts with VIP equipment, Jacuzzi or coffee makers.
The most common examples of abuse according to the latest sources:
- Financing luxury yachts and boats for private companies
- Repairs of holiday apartments and hotels instead of social investment
- Purchases of premium equipment – Jacuzzi, dance floors, coffee makers
- Grants go to companies associated with politicians or their family
- Fictitious tender and service contracts, confirmed in European audits and by watchdogs
Examples of investments from KPO (according to X reports and entries)
| Draft | Description |
|---|---|
| Yachts and cabins on the water | VIP cabins, dance floor, Jacuzzi |
| Pizzas | Repairs, coffee makers, solariums |
| Premium apartments | Modernization, luxury equipment |
Political responsibility and social impact
Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the government and the Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz approved the allocation of funds and officials were responsible for selecting beneficiaries.
Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz in the government is responsible for the overall coordination of the National Reconstruction Plan, including negotiations with the European Commission, the establishment of the rules for the allocation of funds, the revision process and the control of the spending of funds in the framework of investments and reforms covered by the KPO.Its key responsibilities are to ensure that resources reach strategic sectors– in accordance with the milestones in the agreement with the EU, carry out reviews and possible budget transfers, finalise applications for the payment of subsequent tranches of money and oversee the transparency and efficiency of the programmes implemented.
Lack of transparency has become a source of social frustration –Instead of developing, we have chaos and growing suspicions of corruption.
Public voice at X (formerly twitter)
Hundreds-thousand entries with concrete examples, amounts and dates of allocation appeared on X under #kpo.
The KPO scandal shows how easily public money reaches controversial targets, instead of actually supporting development. The HoReCa program was to move Polish gastronomy and hotels to a higher level — Today it requires real control, audits and fair settlement to regain public confidence and the sense of KPO.
