Polish government and presidential office clash over horse upkeep contracts in Promnik

Residence registry and horse inventory

A public dispute between the government and the presidential administration emerged in October 2026 over horses maintained at the presidential retreat in Promnik, located roughly 100 kilometres east of Warsaw. Initial media reports alleged that the Chancellery of the President of Poland (KPRP) kept four equines at the facility for President Karol Nawrocki, his wife Marta, their daughter Kasia, and an officer from the State Protection Service. The presidential press office clarified that the KPRP Service Center manages three animals at the property: a pony named Edzio, a Friesian horse named Ramzes, and a Hucul horse named Aramis. Chancellery officials noted that Edzio was a gift, while one horse dates to the presidency of Andrzej Duda and two were purchased in recent months. Head of the President's International Policy Bureau Marcin Przydacz rejected claims of improper use, entering an exchange with Civic Coalition lawmaker Roman Giertych over the controversy.

Animal care contracts and public expenditure

The disclosures led government officials to review public procurement and spending entries associated with the presidential chancellery. Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk published details of several KPRP service agreements concerning livestock care at the facility. A contract signed on 1 July 2026 allocated 14,250 PLN for farm animal care before expiring on 28 August 2026. A subsequent contract valued at 19,950 PLN for ongoing animal care work was signed on 31 July 2026 and remains active. Additional chancellery expenditures identified by Tomczyk included multiple procurement orders for animal feed, fodder, and food totaling 7,824.26 PLN. Friesian horses typically command market prices ranging from 10,000 to 35,000 PLN on Polish auction portals, with trained pedigree animals reaching up to double that range.

Care contract (1 July – 28 August)14,250

Care contract (signed 31 July)19,950

Feed and food procurement7,824.26

Care contract (1 July – 28 August)

14250 PLN

Care contract (signed 31 July)

19950 PLN

Feed and food procurement

7824.26 PLN

Data from the article text

Government criticism and invoice demands

Ministers and lawmakers from the ruling coalition questioned whether public funds should cover equestrian animals linked to the president's family. Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted an archival riding photo, asserting that he financed his own recreational riding. Government spokesperson Adam Szłapka shared video footage from a personal ride, remarking that officials should pay for their own riding rather than keep horses through the chancellery. Civic Coalition MEP Michał Szczerba commented on the scope of the spending, while PiS Senator Stanisław Karczewski dismissed the criticisms as disgraceful. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski challenged the chancellery to verify its purchasing timeline by releasing the procurement invoice for Ramzes.

Sikorski addressed the chancellery in a public challenge regarding the date of the purchase.

“If the Chancellery of the President shows an invoice with a purchase date for Ramzes from before Karol Nawrocki took office, I will consider the matter resolved.”

Chancellery defence and historical precedents

Presidential spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz defended the animal maintenance as routine, stating that the KPRP Service Center has funded animal care across multiple administrations. Leśkiewicz pointed out that animals have resided at presidential properties since the early 1990s, beginning during Lech Wałęsa's tenure, with a permanent stable constructed during Aleksander Kwaśniewski's presidency. Presidential aides noted that Promnik has previously accommodated deer, fallow deer, mouflons, Vietnamese pigs, sheep, and other animals. Chancellery Chief Paweł Szefernaker and advisor Błażej Poboży argued that the focus on the Promnik animals was an attempt by the government to distract from economic issues and healthcare deficits.

Leśkiewicz described the decades of animal care at presidential residences during an interview with the Polish Press Agency.

“They have accompanied all presidents of the Republic of Poland, starting with Lech Wałęsa.”