Wikileaks - PM Tusk brushes off 'Gamble-gate' cables

Donald Tusk; photo - PAP/jacek Turczyk

“None of these leaks make me feel uncomfortable,” Tusk said, Thursday, when questioned on cables from the US Ambassador's office on the so-called Gamble-gate scandal, which saw the resignation of several ministers after allegations of taking bribes from gambling industry lobbyists.

Dated 3 November 2009, one cable writes that, “the recent "Gamble-gate" scandal reminded Poles that the Tusk Government has failed to make good on anti-corruption pledges, including a vow to create a "shield" against abuse of privatization and public tenders”.

The dispatch notes that PM Tusk's “right hand man”, the then interior minister Grzegorz Schetyna, was demoted to parliamentary speaker after allegations that gambling tax legislation was watered down after pressure from lobbying.

The scandal was the most serious to hit the government in two years in office and called into question how serious PM Tusk was in ending possible conflicts of interest between politicians and industry.

The cable writes that: “Experts at the Sobieski Institute and the Adam Smith Center argue that Poland's mid-level bureaucrats form a "bureaucratic state within a state" that blocks the free flow of information among society, entrepreneurs, and decision-making bodies. Lobbyists often encourage these mid-level bureaucrats to impede legislative and regulatory change outside the spotlight of media or law enforcement scrutiny.”

Yesterday, PM Tusk brushed off a series of cables released by Wikileaks at the end of last month which showed US concern over issues affecting both his government and the previous administration led by the Law and Justice party.

“I think there are many people in Poland who may feel embarrassed by these leaks but I certainly do not,” he said. (pg)

See gamble-gate cable here