Poland's sports minister resigned yesterday over a lobbying scandal that has begun to drag through the mud of the image of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's ruling centre-right Civic Platform. The Sports Minister Miroslaw Drzewiecki is one of several high profile officials accused by an anti-graft body of acting on behalf of businessmen trying to water down a bill on higher taxes on the gambling business.
The minister, Miroslaw Drzewiecki, tendered his resignation after his name appeared on transcripts in connection with an anti-corruption investigation with the code name “Operation Blackjack”. The transcripts, of recorded conversations between a Parliament member and the owners of gambling companies.
Miroslaw Drzewiecki said in a statement he had done nothing wrong but that he had stood down to ward off the scandal harming important projects, especially the EURO 2012 soccer championship that Poland is due to co-host with Ukraine.
"I believe that when the media frenzy dies down and all the circumstances relating to the gambling bill have been clarified, it will turn out that I have been falsely accused, But I cannot allow this situation to affect the Euro 2012 preparations or my beloved Orliki project," he said, referring to plans to build soccer stadiums for children.” Miroslaw Drzewiecki explained.
The contemporary law foresees to aggravate taxes on the gambling industry to help smother the costs of the European soccer championships, which Poland will host along with Ukraine in 2012. Preparations for the tournament were obstructed by delays that led European soccer officials to consider relocating the event.
He has also affirmed that the casino bill will shortly come before parliament and that it will include hikes in gambling taxes to help net more cash for Poland's strained state coffers.
Yesterday, an opinion poll published in Dziennik newspaper had shown more than two thirds of Poles thought Drzewiecki should quit over what Polish media has dubbed "Blackjack-gate."
Political analysts said that the scandal is unlikely to undermine, which is underpinned by Poland's relatively robust performance in the global economic crisis.
Poland is the only European Union member state to escape recession. Regardless of a growing budget deficit, the government has signaled it will adjourn any significant tax hikes or spending cuts aimed at refurbishing order to the public finances until 2011.
The minister, Miroslaw Drzewiecki, tendered his resignation after his name appeared on transcripts in connection with an anti-corruption investigation with the code name “Operation Blackjack”. The transcripts, of recorded conversations between a Parliament member and the owners of gambling companies.
Miroslaw Drzewiecki said in a statement he had done nothing wrong but that he had stood down to ward off the scandal harming important projects, especially the EURO 2012 soccer championship that Poland is due to co-host with Ukraine.
"I believe that when the media frenzy dies down and all the circumstances relating to the gambling bill have been clarified, it will turn out that I have been falsely accused, But I cannot allow this situation to affect the Euro 2012 preparations or my beloved Orliki project," he said, referring to plans to build soccer stadiums for children.” Miroslaw Drzewiecki explained.
The contemporary law foresees to aggravate taxes on the gambling industry to help smother the costs of the European soccer championships, which Poland will host along with Ukraine in 2012. Preparations for the tournament were obstructed by delays that led European soccer officials to consider relocating the event.
He has also affirmed that the casino bill will shortly come before parliament and that it will include hikes in gambling taxes to help net more cash for Poland's strained state coffers.
Yesterday, an opinion poll published in Dziennik newspaper had shown more than two thirds of Poles thought Drzewiecki should quit over what Polish media has dubbed "Blackjack-gate."
Political analysts said that the scandal is unlikely to undermine, which is underpinned by Poland's relatively robust performance in the global economic crisis.
Poland is the only European Union member state to escape recession. Regardless of a growing budget deficit, the government has signaled it will adjourn any significant tax hikes or spending cuts aimed at refurbishing order to the public finances until 2011.
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