Polish presidency rejects government criticism over horses kept at Promnik retreat
The Polish presidential office defended the presence of three horses at the Promnik retreat, stating that animal keeping has existed across multiple administrations since the 1990s.
Investigation into horses at Promnik
An investigative report published by Gazeta Wyborcza regarding animals at a state retreat has led to a political clash between the Polish government and the presidential office. The report revealed that three horses stationed at the presidential retreat in Promnik, located about 100 kilometres east of Warsaw, are kept for the use of President Karol Nawrocki, his wife, and their daughters. Following the release of the report, politicians from the governing coalition launched a series of posts and videos on social networks to criticise the arrangement. Prime Minister Donald Tusk joined the public reaction on platform X by posting an archive photograph from a personal horse ride.
I rode poorly, but with my own money.
Government reactions and presidential response
Government spokesperson Adam Szłapka also entered the discussion by publishing video footage of his own horseback ride through the Bieszczady mountains. Presidential spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz responded forcefully across social media, rejecting the criticism and arguing that the governing coalition was turning a routine administrative matter into an artificial scandal. Leśkiewicz asserted that political opponents clung to the subject persistently despite the long-standing presence of animals at state residences. He described the ongoing political rhetoric from coalition officials as an effort to target the head of state through misleading media campaigns.
One needs horse health to deal with another media propaganda campaign aimed at the president of Poland.
Historical animal presence across presidencies
Historical reporting by Super Express showed that housing livestock and wildlife at the Promnik retreat has been standard practice since the early 1990s. During the presidency of Lech Wałęsa, the facility housed horses alongside Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, fallow deer, mouflons, stags, roe deer, and zebras. Under former President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, a dedicated stable building was constructed on the estate, and horses were acquired from the state stud farm in Łąck. The keeping of animals continued under subsequent leaders, with former President Andrzej Duda maintaining llamas and a pony on the estate grounds.
- Horses, Vietnamese pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, deer, and zebras kept at Promnik
- Stable constructed on grounds with horses brought from the Łąck stud farm
- Llamas and a pony maintained at the retreat alongside other animals
- Three horses stationed at the residence for use by the president and his family
Economic criticisms and distraction claims
Leśkiewicz argued that the ruling coalition was using the equestrian issue to divert attention from broader national challenges. The spokesperson asserted that government figures received instructions from political leadership to manufacture secondary controversies rather than address severe financial difficulties. Leśkiewicz noted that Poland's long-term credit rating was recently downgraded for the first time in 24 years, while the national budget deficit reached record levels and the public healthcare system faced substantial funding shortages. He stated that the governing coalition would continue using such controversies to avoid scrutiny over economic governance.
When money is lacking for healthcare, the state budget deficit reaches record proportions, and Poland's long-term credit rating has been downgraded for the first time in 24 years, they received orders from the Manager to look for further substitute topics.
