Improper Gambling Ties Forces Polish Minister's Resignation
Miroslaw Drzewiecki, the Sports Minister of Poland, resigned yesterday when political opponents raised questions about his links to gambling companies and his efforts on their behalf. Enemies of the minister say he used his influence to try to block a law that would tax gaming to help defray the costs of hosting the European soccer championship matches in 2012.
Legislators had looked to the tax to help the troubled planning for the soccer event, which officials have threatened to pull if organizers don't keep up with deadlines. Poland is scheduled to co-host the prestigious tournament with Ukraine.
Polish newspapers reported this weekend that Drzewiecki and Zbigniew Chiebowski, head of the ruling Civic Platform Party, had compromised ethics by working for gambling interests in the lobbying against the tax.
Party stalwarts said the rumors were politically motivated and meant as a challenge to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Tusk defeated President Lech Kacynski's twin brother, Jaroslaw, to win the office.
In addition, the agency acting as corruption watchdog is run by an appointee of Jaroslaw Kacynski's.
Still, recorded conversations released to the media suggest that a member of Parliament was acknowledging to gambling operators that the sports minister would defend their cause.
“I believe that when the media uproar subsides, when all the facts related to changes in the gambling law will be clarified, it will turn out that I was wrongly accused,” said Drzewiecki, even as the Prime Minister accepted his resignation.
