The National Electoral Office (KBW) has asked the electoral committee of Rafał Trzaskowski for explanations regarding the scandal involving foreign-funded online advertisements promoting him, “as reported by the portal Niezalezna.pl.” But that’s not all – KBW is also set to reach out to state institutions, such as the Scientific and Academic Computer Network (NASK) and the Internal Security Agency (ABW), as well as foreign entities, including Meta, the owner of Facebook.
As previously reported, Marek Woch, who ran in last year’s Polish presidential election, informed about a letter he received from the National Electoral Commission (specifically KBW) addressed to his electoral committee. The letter requests, among other things, information on the sources of funding for television programs, including presidential debates broadcast by TV Republika.
Letters – not only to Woch. Trzaskowski must explain himself
It turns out that similar letters with questions about various aspects of the campaign were sent to all registered candidates and their committees. This is standard procedure before the submission of financial reports to KBW.
Trzaskowski’s collaborators and Karol Nawrocki also received questions. The inquiries are not limited to debates and their organization. In Trzaskowski’s case, they also concern potential illegal funding of online ads attacking other candidates.
On May 15, the portal Wirtualna Polska reported that the Akcja Demokracja Foundation was linked to the production of online campaign spots promoting Rafał Trzaskowski, which cost hundreds of thousands of zlotys. The day before, the state-run Scientific and Academic Computer Network (NASK) had raised alarms about possible election interference.
Initially, NASK issued not only a delayed but also an absurd statement, implying that the campaign attacking Nawrocki and promoting Trzaskowski, funded by unknown sources, actually harmed the former instead. Subsequently, it published a series of claims almost immediately refuted by Meta, the owner of Facebook. Then NASK withheld from journalists and the public a report identifying those potentially behind the illegal hate campaign.
The OSCE election observation mission in Poland released statements on its preliminary findings and conclusions. The document repeatedly noted entities with unknown funding sources conducting an online campaign in favor of Rafał Trzaskowski. Examples included the Akcja Demokracja organization, which paid for 600 digital billboards, and Fat Frogs Media, which purchased Google ads totaling 131,000 PLN, as well as Facebook profiles Wiesz Jak Nie Jest and Stół Dorosłych.
From April 16 to May 14, the Wiesz Jak Nie Jest and Stół Dorosłych profiles spent a total of around 500,000 PLN on ads promoting Rafał Trzaskowski while targeting Karol Nawrocki and Sławomir Mentzen. The OSCE expressed concern over the authorities’ response to ads promoting Trzaskowski, emphasizing that doubts arose regarding how public institutions handled these cases.
Wp.pl confirmed from several sources that the Austrian-capital company Estratos is behind the illegal political ads related to the Polish presidential election. Estratos’ majority shareholder is the Higher Ground Labs Fund III LP, affiliated with the U.S. Democratic Party.
The case is being investigated by the prosecutor’s office, which has so far not presented any results, and similarly by ABW.
During the campaign, TVP in liquidation provided its materials to Rafał Trzaskowski’s committee at very low rates. These were used in social media and campaign materials. The licensing agreement lasted throughout the campaign – from February to the end of May 2025. The documents we obtained cover most of Trzaskowski’s meetings and conventions, including the debate in Końskie. We asked the KBW spokesperson whether this matter is also under review; we are awaiting responses.
Nawrocki’s committee also submitted explanations
Karol Nawrocki’s committee also received questions from KBW. These concerned, among other things, the broadcast of nearly 1,500 campaign spots over 2.5 months on TV Republika, which, according to Wp.pl, were offered at low rates. The station operated legally. TV Republika’s CEO and editor-in-chief Tomasz Sakiewicz stated that the prices were set with the candidates’ budgets in mind rather than the company’s interests. He also emphasized that the station maintained fairness.
“All committees that wanted to advertise received the same offer. Ultimately, only two chose to proceed. If there had been others, they would have received the same price. The price was calculated so that every candidate could afford it, and that was the main goal,” Sakiewicz stressed in response to WP.pl.