The Stefan Batory Foundation

Anti-Corruption Program

Monitoring of selected public funds spending

contact: przeciw-korupcji@batory.org.pl

Grażyna Kopińska - Program Director
phone: (48 22) 536 02 58
Grażyna Czubek, phone: (48 22) 536 02 71
Adam Sawicki, phone: (48 22) 536 02 57

The goal of the project is to analyze ties between politics and business. We want to investigate the nexus between public procurement awards and the contributions of winning bidders to electoral campaigns at various levels of power. Experience indicates businesses frequently contribute to election campaigns. Where campaign finance laws forbid such, company managers and owners make the contributions. Subsequently, the companies often receive profitable orders and contracts from public institutions. Amendment of the public procurement act may further compound these negative tendencies. Recently introduced changes deregulate tender regulations and limit appeals – they are intended to facilitate absorption of European Union funds. However, these changes may also lead to abuses.

In the framework of the project we will analyze lists of businesses that have won public procurement orders in several cities and government ministries and investigate connections between those who own and serve on the boards of winning companies and donor lists for local and national candidates. This analysis may also uncover other defects in the public procurement processes not necessarily connected with the politicians reciprocating for campaign support. The project will be completed in 2008 with a report presenting the problem and recommendations for changes in the law and law application.