The work
In Poland, independent news outlet Wirtualna Polska (WP) revealed how a senior government official blurred the line between public duty and private gain. The exposé uncovered clear conflicts of interest involving a government Minister.
WP investigated the activities of the Deputy Development Minister, who was publicly promoting government subsidies for property developers while privately profiting from the same sector. The report revealed that the minister’s notary office, run by him, his wife and close associates, had handled at least 1,717 apartment sales and prepared over 3,600 legal documents for property developers and buyers in just four years.
The work generated several million zlotys in revenue, creating a direct conflict with the minister’s role in shaping housing policy. The subsidies he supported were widely expected to increase housing prices, directly benefiting developers with whom his firm did business.
Impact
The revelations sparked immediate political fallout. Despite denying wrongdoing, the Deputy Minister resigned from his position within days of the investigation’s release. The case exposed vulnerabilities in government oversight and raised wider public concerns about transparency in policymaking.