Allegations of nepotism by senior coalition member Civic Platform against its junior partner, the Polish Peasant’s Party (PSL) is in danger of splitting the government.

The war of words which has engulfed the coalition since Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused PSL leader and deputy prime minister Waldemar Pawlak of giving public tenders connected with the Fire Service to his own family members, continues.

PM Tusk has said that Civic Platform and its junior coalition partner have “different standards of behaviour in public life”, referring to the fact that an internet service provider to the Voluntary Fire Service is headed by none other than Pawlak’s wife, Elzbieta. Pawlak is also brigadier general of the fire service.

Pawlak defends himself by pointing out he has donated shares in this and other companies to a special fund which raises investment for rural areas. But newspapers have pointed out that the head of the rural fund just happens to be Pawlak’s mother.

“The Prime Minister has acted very hypocritically and offended honest activists of PSL,” retorts PSL’s Jozef Zych, bristling at the charges of nepotism.  

Meanwhile, Prime Minister has recommended PSL expel Senator Tomasz Misiak from the party for another allegedly dubious conflict of interest between his political and business activities.  

“I wish Civic Platform stopped lecturing us and rather cleared up its own backyard,” added MP Eugeniusz Klopotek of PSL 

PSL have threatened revenge in the form of trying to block Civic Platform’s policy on reforming the way Poland political parties from the state budget.

The Polish Peasant’s Party has been in coalition government with Civic Platform since the autumn elections of 2007. (pgjm)