Warsaw mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz allegedly awarded several presidents of municipal companies high bonuses, despite budget cuts.

Gronkiewicz-Waltz spent almost 200,000 zloty (47,000 euro) on bonuses for five presidents of municipal companies, including the Warsaw Tramway, the Warsaw Metro and the Municipal Taxi Company. The presidents will receive from 46,000 zloty (11,000 euro) to 21,000 zloty (5,000 euro), reports TVN24.

“The presidents receiving bonuses deserved prizes because the companies they manage brought exetnsive profit to the city’s budget,” said Tomasz Andryszczyk, spokesperson for the Warsaw City Hall.

Gronkiewicz-Waltz’s decision has been criticized by the opposition Law and Justice party. “There isn’t enough money for road investments but there is for bonuses,” comments Maciej Maciejowski, the Law and Justice city councilor.

It is not the first time that the mayor of Warsaw has been condemned for awarding high bonuses. In the spring, Gronkiewicz-Waltz spent 57,000 zloty (14,000 euro) on bonuses for city clerks. Then, both the Law and Justice party and the mayor’s mother party Civic Platform expressed their disapproval for the initiative. (mg/mmj)