On May 9, 2025, Daniel Stenzel, spokesperson for the president of Gdańsk, announced significant steps the city is taking regarding the controversial acquisition of an apartment by Karol Nawrocki, a candidate for mayor supported by the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS). The city is sending a notification to the District Prosecutor's Office in Gdańsk-Śródmieście concerning suspected criminal activities related to Nawrocki's purchase of the apartment from Jerzy Ż., a senior citizen from Gdańsk.
The notification raises serious allegations, including the suspicion of false statements in notarial deeds, which could have led Jerzy Ż. to dispose of his property unfavorably. Additionally, the city alleges that the transaction was detrimental to the municipality by allowing the sale of the apartment to its tenant at a staggering 90% discount.
Stenzel emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "The city of Gdańsk is asking Karol Nawrocki whether he still stands by his statement regarding lifelong care for Jerzy Ż." This inquiry refers to a document disclosed by the news portal Interia, wherein Nawrocki pledged to cover the senior's living expenses and funeral costs.
In a formal request, the city is urging Nawrocki to enter into an agreement concerning his commitment to Jerzy Ż.'s lifelong maintenance, as outlined in a declaration made on August 10, 2021. Furthermore, the city is also asking Nawrocki to formalize an agreement to cover the costs of Jerzy Ż.'s stay in a Social Welfare Home.
Jerzy Ż. has been under the care of Gdańsk's Social Welfare Center (MOPR) since 2007, receiving various forms of assistance, including financial aid, food support, and social worker assistance. Since April 2024, he has been residing permanently in a Gdańsk Social Welfare Home (DPS), where the average monthly care cost is approximately 8,000 zł.
Legal experts from the city have raised concerns about potential false statements in the notarial deed and a breach of notarial ethics. The notarial document pertaining to the purchase of Jerzy Ż.'s apartment by Nawrocki and his wife indicates that they were supposed to pay 120,000 zł to the senior. However, Nawrocki has publicly stated that giving the full amount would pose a risk to the senior's life and health, claiming that he and his wife intended to provide Jerzy Ż. with agreed-upon amounts from 2011 to 2025.
As the political landscape unfolds, the implications of this controversy on Nawrocki's candidacy are being closely monitored. Political analyst Professor Jarosław Flis commented on the recent election polls, indicating that while the apartment acquisition issue might not sway Nawrocki's core supporters, "political errors come with a cost."
Recent polling data shows that in the latest five presidential polls, candidate Rafał Trzaskowski from the Civic Coalition (KO) leads with 32%, while Nawrocki follows with 25.5%. Other candidates include Sławomir Mentzen at 13.9%, Szymon Hołownia at 6%, and Magdalena Biejat at 4.9%. These results were compiled from various polling organizations, including IBRiS and CBOS.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Gdańsk apartment, a Wednesday poll for TVN indicates that Nawrocki did not suffer significant consequences, losing only one percentage point compared to previous surveys. However, Professor Flis warns that the ramifications of this issue might become evident in future polling, as public discourse evolves and voters share their opinions.
In a separate survey conducted by United Surveys for Wirtualna Polska, nearly half of Poles expressed skepticism towards Nawrocki's explanations regarding the acquisition of the apartment. Only 26.6% of respondents found his explanations credible, with 17.8% answering "definitely yes" and 8.8% saying "rather yes." Conversely, 49.7% of respondents did not believe Nawrocki's account, with 38.5% stating "definitely no" and 11.2% answering "rather no."
Among voters from the ruling coalition, a staggering 93% expressed distrust towards Nawrocki's assurances. In contrast, 61% of PiS and Konfederacja voters considered his explanations credible, while 24% could not provide a definitive answer. Interestingly, 61% of voters who do not align with any political party have no opinion on the apartment issue, with 39% indicating a lack of trust in Nawrocki's explanations.
This unfolding situation highlights the complexities of political accountability and public trust, as the Gdańsk mayoral race intensifies. As the election date approaches, the ramifications of these controversies will likely shape voter perceptions and influence the candidates' strategies moving forward.
