Poland's Defense Ministry Dismisses 3 Billion PLN Bribe Claims as 'Biggest Absurdity'

Poland's Ministry of National Defence dismissed as "the biggest absurdity" claims by Tomasz Sakiewicz, head of TV Republika, that the government's SAFE loan program involved three billion zlotys in payments to journalists for favorable coverage, while constitutional experts stated there are currently no legal grounds for accusations against the government over the program. The ministry's rebuttal came on March 18, 2026, the same day that Rosomak SA, a major arms manufacturer based in Silesia, signed a 57 million zloty agreement with the Katowice Special Economic Zone to expand production capacity and begin manufacturing new vehicles, underscoring the breadth of defense-related developments dominating Polish public debate on that day. The confluence of political accusations and industrial investment announcements reflected the charged atmosphere in Warsaw as the ruling coalition simultaneously faced internal tensions over a separate presidential legislative proposal.

Constitutional experts see no grounds for SAFE accusations Constitutional law specialists said on March 18 that no legal basis currently exists for formal accusations against the government in connection with the SAFE loan. Sakiewicz had publicly claimed that the program contained what he described as "the largest bribery in history," alleging three billion zlotys were directed to media figures in exchange for supporting the initiative, according to web search results and reporting by Press.pl. The Ministry of National Defence responded sharply, with its statement quoted by Press.pl as saying it had not heard "a bigger absurdity." Sakiewicz is the editor-in-chief of "Gazeta Polska" and "Gazeta Polska Codziennie" and has served as president of TV Republika since 2021, according to his public profile. The constitutional experts' assessment, reported by the Polish Press Agency, added a legal dimension to the political dispute, suggesting that opposition claims have not yet translated into actionable charges. The ministry's dismissal and the expert opinion together formed a two-pronged rebuttal to the allegations circulating in right-wing media.

Sikorski tells Macierewicz: "I am waiting for the lawsuit" Politician Radosław Sikorski responded publicly to a warning issued by Antoni Macierewicz, a member of parliament representing the opposition Law and Justice party, with a pointed challenge reported by Gazeta.pl. „"Antek, czekam na pozew."” (Antek, I am waiting for the lawsuit.) — Radosław Sikorski via Gazeta.pl Macierewicz, a former minister of national defence and a prominent figure in Polish conservative politics, had issued what was described as a warning directed at Sikorski. Sikorski, a politician and journalist born in 1963 in Bydgoszcz, has held multiple senior government roles over his career, according to his public profile. The exchange illustrated the ongoing personal and political animosity between figures from the current government and the previous Law and Justice administration. The confrontation added another layer to a day already marked by sharp political rhetoric over the SAFE program and coalition tensions.

Rosomak secures 57 million zlotys for Silesian arms expansion Rosomak SA signed a 57 million zloty agreement with the Katowice Special Economic Zone on March 18, 2026, to increase production capacity and begin manufacturing new vehicle types, according to reporting by Forsal.pl, Interia Biznes, Dziennik Zachodni, and the Polish Press Agency. The investment represents a significant expansion for one of Poland's most prominent defense manufacturers, based in the Silesia region. Multiple outlets confirmed the 57 million zloty figure, which the Polish Press Agency described as a "financial injection" for the company. The agreement with the special economic zone is intended to provide the structural and financial framework for the production scale-up. Rosomak SA is known as a major arms plant in Silesia and has been a central supplier for the Polish armed forces. The deal comes at a time when Poland has been accelerating defense spending and industrial capacity amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and broader regional security concerns. A coalition dispute over a separate bill proposed by President Karol Nawrocki was also reported on the same day by Do Rzeczy, though the specific details of that legislative disagreement were not fully elaborated in available sources.

57 (million PLN) — Rosomak investment from Katowice Special Economic Zone

Poland has significantly increased defense spending in recent years, driven by the ongoing war in Russia and Ukraine that began in February 2022. Rosomak SA has long been a key supplier of armored vehicles to the Polish military. The Katowice Special Economic Zone is one of Poland's largest state-managed investment support structures, offering incentives to manufacturing firms in the Silesia region. The SAFE housing loan program became a flashpoint in Polish political debate, with opposition figures repeatedly challenging its legality and the government's conduct in promoting it.

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