Daniel Obajtek
{{Short description|Polish politician (born 1976)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Daniel Obajtek
| honorific-suffix = MEP
| image = MEP Daniel Obajtek (2024).jpg
| imagesize =
| smallimage =
| caption =
| order = Member of the European Parliament
| term_start = 16 July 2024
| term_end =
| constituency = 9 - Subcarpathia
| predecessor = Tomasz Poręba
| successor =
| office1 = Executive Chairman of Orlen
| termstart1 = 5 February 2018
| termend1 = 5 February 2024
| predecessor1 = Wojciech Jasiński
| successor1 = Witold Literacki
| office2 = Chief Executive Officer of Energa
| termstart2 = 2 March 2017
| termend2 = 5 February 2018
| predecessor2 = Jacek Kościelniak
| successor2 = Alicja Klimiuk
| termstart3 = 2006
| termend3 = 2015
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|1|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = Myślenice, Poland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Law and Justice
| spouse =
| profession =
| religion =
| signature =
| footnotes =
}}
Daniel Obajtek (born 2 January 1976) is a Polish politician and executive manager who has been serving as a member of the European Parliament since 2024. From 2006 to 2015, he was the mayor (wójt) of Gmina Pcim.{{Citation |title = PKN Orlen has a new president. Who is Daniel Obajtek |journal = Business Insider |date = 2018-02-06 |access-date = 2018-05-16 |url = https://businessinsider.com.pl/firmy/zarzadzanie/daniel-obajtek-kim-jest-nowy-prezes-pkn-orlen/642x3l9 |language = pl}} Obajtek has been involved in Polish local and national politics since the early 2000s, having held various positions in local government and state agencies.
Early life
Obajtek was born on 2 January 1976 to Jan and Halina.{{Cite journal |last = Sepioło |first = Mariusz |title = Prymus z Pcimia |url = https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/2036572,1,daniel-obajtek--prymus-prezesa.read |journal = Polityka |volume = 1–2 |issue = 3294 |pages = 36–38 |date = January 1, 2021 |issn =}} {{subscription required}} Daniel Obajtek attended a veterinary vocational school in the Agricultural Schools Complex in Nowy Targ, from which he was expelled, moving to an agricultural vocational school in the Schools Complex in Myślenice, which he graduated from in 1995.{{Cite web |url = https://www.tygodnikprzeglad.pl/obajtek-wszystko-moze/ |title = Obajtek wszystko może |author = Leszek Konarski |work = Tygodnik Przegląd |date = April 3, 2018 |language = |access-date = 2021-02-23}} In 1995, he was employed as a chemical machinery operator at the Elektroplast company in Stróża, run by his uncles Józef and Roman Lis, which produced installation equipment.
Career
From 2002 to 2006, he served as a member of the Pcim commune's council, before becoming the mayor (wójt) of the commune from 2006 to 2015.Elected in the first round - obtaining 55.76% of votes in the 2006 local government elections, 86.61% of votes in 2010, and 84.78% of votes in 2014. He held the position until November 27, 2015.{{Citation |title = Electoral geography - Local government elections - National Election Commission |access-date = 2021-01-31 |publisher = wybory2006.pkw.gov.pl |url = https://wybory2006.pkw.gov.pl/kbw/geoGmina428e.html?id=120904}}, {{Citation |title = Local Government Elections 2010 - Electoral geography - Małopolskie Province - Myślenice County - Pcim commune |access-date = 2021-01-31 |publisher = wybory2010.pkw.gov.pl |url = https://wybory2010.pkw.gov.pl/geo/pl/120000/120904.html#tabs-6}}, {{Citation |title = NEC {{!}} Local Government 2014 |access-date = 2021-01-31 |publisher = samorzad2014.pkw.gov.pl |url = https://samorzad2014.pkw.gov.pl/360_Wybory_Burmistrza_-_I_tura/0/120904.html}}{{Citation |title = National Election Commission: Local government elections |access-date = 2020-11-18 |publisher = wybory2002.pkw.gov.pl |url = https://wybory2002.pkw.gov.pl/grada/gw1/w12/p1209/g120904/index.html}} During this time, he served as the chairman of the committee for physical culture and sports, health, education, and social affairs.{{Citation |title=Who is Daniel Obajtek? - Finance and law |date=27 November 2015 |url=https://www.farmer.pl/finanse/kim-jest-daniel-obajtek,61169.html |access-date=2022-06-04 |publisher=www.farmer.pl |language=pl}} In 2014, he completed his studies at the Private University of Environmental Sciences in Radom in the field of environmental protection.{{Citation |title = Who is Daniel Obajtek? - Finance and law |date = 27 November 2015 |access-date = 2020-11-18 |publisher = farmer.pl |url = https://www.farmer.pl/finanse/kim-jest-daniel-obajtek,61169.html |language = pl}} In 2019, he completed an Executive MBA program in Polish.{{Citation |title = Company Management - PKN Orlen |access-date = 2020-11-18 |publisher = orlen.pl |url = https://www.orlen.pl/PL/OFirmie/ZarzadSpolki/Strony/default.aspx?mngId=12}}{{Citation |author = Paweł Orlikowski |title = Obajtek's education. He finished his studies "at home" |date = 16 March 2021 |access-date = 2021-03-16 |publisher = www.money.pl |url = https://www.money.pl/gospodarka/edukacja-obajtka-skonczyl-studia-u-siebie-6618821273696864a.html |language = pl}}
In the subsequent 2006 Polish local elections, he was elected as the head of Pcim commune, receiving over 55% of the votes and defeating his opponent, Andrzej Padlikowski, in a landslide. At that time, neither candidate belonged to any political party and ran from independent lists.{{Citation |title = Electoral geography - Local government elections - National Election Commission |access-date = 2022-06-04 |publisher = wybory2006.pkw.gov.pl |url = https://wybory2006.pkw.gov.pl/kbw/geoGmina428e.html?id=120904}} During his first term as the commune mayor, Daniel Obajtek led to the implementation of, among others, a comprehensive project to rebuild and modernize the commune center, which included modernizing roads and sidewalks, installing lighting, a mezzanine, an illuminated footbridge, and erecting a monument dedicated to the soldiers of the Warsaw Uprising. A playground was also built.{{Citation |title = New center of Pcim |access-date = 2022-06-04 |publisher = gazeta.myslenice.pl |url = https://gazeta.myslenice.pl/nowe-centrum-pcimia |language = en}}
In the 2010 Polish local elections, now running from the list of Law and Justice, he achieved an electoral result of 86.6%.{{Citation |title = Local Government Elections 2010 - Electoral geography - Małopolskie Province - Myślenice County - Pcim commune |access-date = 2022-06-04 |publisher = wybory2010.pkw.gov.pl |url = https://wybory2010.pkw.gov.pl/geo/pl/120000/120904.html#tabs-6}} In the 2014 local elections, Obajtek repeated his success from the previous elections, achieving a result of 84.8%.{{Citation |title = Local government elections 2014: Daniel Obajtek the head of Pcim commune |access-date = 2022-06-04 |publisher = Miasto-Info.pl |url = https://miasto-info.pl/myslenice/9897,wybory-samorzadowe-2014-wojtem-pcimia-daniel-obajtek.html |language = pl}}
He resigned from the position of commune head in 2015, due to becoming entrusted with the duties of the president of the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture.{{Citation |author = Editorial |title = Head of commune Daniel Obajtek: from Pcim to the capital. Some praise him, hundreds cry because of him |date = 2016-04-07 |access-date = 2022-06-11 |publisher = Gazeta Krakowska |url = https://gazetakrakowska.pl/wojt-daniel-obajtek-z-pcimia-do-stolicy-jedni-go-chwala-setki-przez-niego-placza/ar/9846802 |language = pl}}
= Activity in state-owned companies =
On November 27, 2015, Daniel Obajtek was entrusted with the duties of the president of the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture, and on January 13, 2016, he was appointed to this position.{{Citation |title = ARiMR President Daniel Obajtek {{!}} Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture |date = 2016-10-24 |access-date = 2020-11-18 |url = http://www.arimr.gov.pl:80/o-arimr/kierownictwo-arimr/prezes-arimr-daniel-obajtek.html|archive-url = http://web.archive.org/web/20161024161808/http://www.arimr.gov.pl:80/o-arimr/kierownictwo-arimr/prezes-arimr-daniel-obajtek.html |archive-date = 2016-10-24 }} In July 2016, he was appointed as the chairman of the supervisory board of Lotos Biopaliwa Sp. z o.o. At the same time, he served as the chairman of the supervisory board of the state-owned company Dalmor S.A.{{Citation |title = Supervisory board - Dalmor S.A.,Gdynia, KRS 0000020227 |access-date = 2020-11-18 |publisher = krs.infoveriti |url = http://krs.infoveriti.pl/Dalmor,Gdynia,Rada,nadzorcza,KRS,0000020227.html}} On March 2, 2017, he was appointed as the president of the management board of the energy group Energa S.A.{{Citation |title = Daniel Obajtek was the head of Pcim commune and the head of ARiMR. He became the president of Energa |date = 10 February 2017 |access-date = 2020-11-18 |publisher = newsweek.pl |url = https://www.newsweek.pl/polska/daniel-obajtek-oskarzony-o-korupcje/pnb4c59 |language = pl}} On February 5, 2018, he was appointed as the president of the management board of Orlen company{{Citation |title = Earthquake in the state giant. Dismissed president of Orlen |date = 5 February 2018 |access-date = 2020-11-18 |publisher = tvn24.pl |url = https://tvn24.pl/biznes/z-kraju/odwolano-prezesa-orlenu-daniel-obajtek-nowym-prezesem-ra812413-4498778 |language = pl}} (he took office on February 6, 2018{{cite web | url=https://www.orlen.pl/pl/o-firmie/o-spolce/organy-i-struktura-spolki/zarzad-spolki/daniel-obajtek | title=Daniel Obajtek }}), replacing Wojciech Jasiński. In February 2024, he was dismissed from the position of Orlen's president{{Citation |title = Official: Daniel Obajtek dismissed from the position of Orlen's president | date=February 2024 |access-date = 2024-02-01|publisher = businessinsider.com.pl |url = https://businessinsider.com.pl/gospodarka/oficjalnie-daniel-obajtek-odwolany-ze-stanowiska-prezesa-orlenu/8fmb355 |language = pl}} (he ended his term on February 5, 2024{{Citation | url=https://energia.rp.pl/energetyka-zawodowa/art39772561-prezes-orlenu-daniel-obajtek-odwolany-ze-stanowiska-to-jest-sprawa-honorowa | title=Orlen's president Daniel Obajtek dismissed from the position. "This is a matter of honor" - rp.pl | publisher=rp.pl | language=pl | access-date=2024-04-22}}). Since 2018, he has served as the chairman of the council of the Polish Olympic Committee.{{Citation | url=https://swiato-podglad.pl/polska/prezes-pkn-orlen-daniel-obajtek-zostal-przewodniczacym-rady-polskiego-komitetu-olimpijskiego | title=PKN Orlen President Daniel Obajtek became the Chairman of the Polish Olympic Committee Council | date=13 January 2024 | publisher=swiato-podglad.pl | language=pl | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927204521/https://swiato-podglad.pl/polska/prezes-pkn-orlen-daniel-obajtek-zostal-przewodniczacym-rady-polskiego-komitetu-olimpijskiego | access-date=2024-04-22| archive-date=27 September 2018 }} In the same year, he became a member of the program council of the Economic Forum in Krynica.{{Citation |title = Program Council |access-date = 2020-11-18 |url = http://www.forum-ekonomiczne.pl/o-nas/rada-programowa/ |language = pl}}
= Electoral history =
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2002 Polish local elections, Gmina Pcim council
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Independent
| candidate = Daniel Obajtek
| votes = 137
| percentage = 34.86
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independent
| candidate = Roman Lis
| votes = 136
| percentage = 34.61
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independent
| candidate = Józef Loch
| votes = 67
| percentage = 17.05
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2006 Polish local elections, Gmina Pcim mayor
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Independent
| candidate = Daniel Obajtek
| votes = 2377
| percentage = 55.76
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independent
| candidate = Andrzej Padlikowski
| votes = 1886
| percentage = 44.24
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 4263
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2010 Polish local elections, Gmina Pcim mayor
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Law and Justice
| candidate = Daniel Obajtek
| votes = 4178
| percentage = 86.61
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
| candidate = None of the above
| votes = 646
| percentage = 13.39
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 4824
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2014 Polish local elections, Gmina Pcim mayor
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Law and Justice
| candidate = Daniel Obajtek
| votes = 4088
| percentage = 84.78
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independent
| candidate = Edyta Olesik
| votes = 734
| percentage = 15.22
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 4822
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2024 European Parliament election in Poland, Subcarpathia constituency
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Law and Justice
| candidate = Daniel Obajtek
| votes = 171689
| percentage = 27.14
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 632626
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
Controversy
The staff reduction carried out in ARiMR resulted in several dozen lawsuits lost by ARiMR in labor courts and the necessity to pay compensation due to violations of labor law.{{Citation |title = Obajtek's staff purge costs a lot. Those dismissed from ARiMR are winning in courts {{!}} |date = 19 April 2018 |access-date = 2021-02-05 |publisher = agropolska.pl |url = https://www.agropolska.pl/aktualnosci/polska/kadrowa-czystka-obajtka-sporo-kosztuje-zwolnieni-z-arimr-wygrywaja-w-sadach,5248.html}}
= Criminal proceedings =
On April 15, 2013, Daniel Obajtek was detained by the Central Bureau of Investigation of the Police (CBŚP) on charges including accepting a financial benefit of 50,000 PLN. The prosecutor's office requested arrest, but the court ordered the mayor to be released. According to reports from the daily newspaper "Gazeta Krakowska", the District Prosecutor's Office in Ostrów Wielkopolski charged him with "collaborating with an organized criminal group led by Maciej C. 'The President', embezzling 1.4 million PLN from the Elektroplast company in Stróża and sharing this amount with criminals, as well as accepting a 50,000 PLN bribe as the mayor of Pcim".{{Cite web |url = https://gazetakrakowska.pl/wojt-pcimia-to-lapowkarz-czy-ofiara/ar/3366023 |title = Is the mayor of Pcim a bribe-taker or a victim? |date = 15 March 2014 |publisher = gazetakrakowska.pl |access-date = 2021-01-31}}{{Cite web |url = http://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/polityka/artykuly/506803,daniel-obajtek-nowy-szef-rzadowej-agencji-arimr-ma-zarzuty-o-korupcje.html |title = The new head of ARiMR is being pursued by the prosecutor. Daniel Obajtek and his corruption charges |date = 27 November 2015 |publisher = dziennik.pl |access-date = 2021-01-31}}
On October 30, 2013, an indictment was filed with the District Court in Sieradz against eight people operating in the "President's" group, among whom was Daniel Obajtek. The indictment included charges of: accepting a financial benefit of 50,000 zlotys and twice misleading the owners of the Elektroplast plant in Stróża regarding the quantity of goods delivered, for amounts of 315,000 zlotys and at least 1,075,847.62 zlotys respectively.{{Cite web |url = https://www.money.pl/gospodarka/wiadomosci/artykul/prezes-agencji-restrukturyzacji-i,117,0,2013557.html |title = The president of the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture will not avoid trial. Charges: corruption and fraud |date = 9 February 2016 |publisher = www.money.pl |access-date = 2021-01-31}} For almost three years, the trial could not begin. The District Prosecutor's Office in Piotrków Trybunalski withdrew the indictment in September 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/spoleczenstwo/1711638,1,kim-jest-daniel-obajtek-nowy-prezes-pkn-orlen.read|title=Who is Daniel Obajtek, the new president of PKN Orlen?|date=5 February 2018 |publisher=polityka.pl|access-date=2021-01-31}} In mid-February 2017, the investigation involving Daniel Obajtek was taken over from the prosecutor's office in Piotrków Trybunalski by the National Prosecutor's Office and transferred to the Małopolska branch office of the National Prosecutor's Office. In September 2017, the investigation against Daniel Obajtek was discontinued.{{Cite web |url = https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/wydarzenia/artykuly/552227,daniel-obajtek-zarzuty-korupcja-wyludzenie-energa-prokuratura-sledztwo-umorzenie-pis.html |title = Investigation against Energa's president Daniel Obajtek discontinued. "I never swept the matter under the rug" |date = 14 June 2017 |publisher = dziennik.pl |access-date = 2021-01-31}}
= Obajtek tapes =
On February 26, 2021, the daily newspaper "Gazeta Wyborcza" revealed recordings containing telephone conversations of Obajtek from 2009, i.e., from the time he held the office of mayor of Pcim commune.{{Cite journal |author = Paweł Figurski, Jarosław Sidorowicz |title = Obajtek's Tapes |journal = Gazeta Wyborcza |volume = 47 |issue = 9631 |pages = 1 |date = February 26, 2021 |issn =}}{{Cite web |url = https://next.gazeta.pl/next/7,151003,26829464,tasmy-obajtka-orlen-broni-prezesa-chociaz-nagrania-nie-dotycza.html |title = Obajtek's Tapes. Orlen defends the president, although the recordings do not concern his activities in the company |author = Robert Kędzierski |date = 2021-02-26 |publisher = next.gazeta.pl |access-date = 2021-02-26}}{{Citation |author = Paweł Figurski; Jarosław Sidorowicz |title = Obajtek's Tapes. Dirty business in the dizzying career of Orlen's president |date = 2021-02-26 |access-date = 2021-02-26 |issn = 0860-908X |publisher = Wyborcza |oclc = 225759598 |url = https://krakow.wyborcza.pl/krakow/7,178492,26825282,tasmy-obajtka-brudne-interesy-w-zawrotnej-karierze-prezesa.html}} The extensive material contained the content of hours-long telephone conversations between Obajtek and his business partners, which were supposed to prove that he had made false depositions regarding the division of his functions as mayor and managing the TT Plast company. In the following days, "Gazeta Wyborcza" published an article presenting Obajtek's family and social connections with several people, including Zofia Paryła, who became the president of the oil company Grupa Lotos in 2020; Obajtek and Paryła worked together at the Elektroplast company in Stróża.{{Cite journal |author = Paweł Figurski, Jarosław Sidorowicz |title = Relatives and friends of Orlen's president |journal = Gazeta Wyborcza |volume = 49 |issue = 9633 |pages = 1 |date = March 1, 2021 |issn =}}
The publications concerning Obajtek sparked a series of comments in public and media debates.{{Citation |title = Daniel Obajtek's Tapes. Did the former mayor of Pcim lie under oath? |date = 2021-02-26 |access-date = 2021-02-26 |publisher = Onet Wiadomości |url = https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/daniel-obajtek-na-tasmach-jako-wojt-pcimia-klamal-pod-przysiega-w-sadzie/yn6cl2n |language = pl}}{{Citation |title = Obajtek as mayor "directed the company from the back seat", allegedly lied in court. "Wyborcza" publishes tapes |work = TVN24 |date = 26 February 2021 |access-date = 2021-02-26 |url = https://tvn24.pl/polska/daniel-obajtek-jako-wojt-pcimia-mial-kierowac-spolka-czego-zabrania-ustawa-gw-publikuje-tasmy-nagrania-5029913 |language = pl}}{{Citation |title = PiS Senator on "Obajtek's tapes": This is shocking material |date = 26 February 2021 |access-date = 2021-02-26 |publisher = TOK FM |url = https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7,103087,26829417,senator-pis-o-tasmach-obajtka-wstrzasajacy-material.html |language = pl}}{{cite web|url=https://fakty.tvn24.pl/ogladaj-online,60/tasmy-daniela-obajtka-ma-to-drugie-dno-politycy-pis-u-bronia-obecnego-prezesa-orelnu,1051190.html|title="Second bottom", "fight against Mr. Obajtek". This is how PiS politicians talk about the Orlen president's case|publisher=tvn24.pl|date=February 28, 2021|access-date=2021-03-27}} Civic Coalition MPs submitted a request to the prosecutor's office regarding Obajtek's assets,{{cite web |url = https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7,103087,26830436,tasmy-obajtka-ko-i-lewica-chca-by-sprawa-prezesa-orlenu.html |title = "Obajtek's Tapes". KO and The Left want the prosecutor's office to deal with the Orlen president's case, with special supervision from Ziobro |date = February 26, 2021 |publisher = tokfm.pl |access-date = 2021-03-17}} and to the Supreme Audit Office they directed a request to investigate the subsidies that companies associated with Obajtek allegedly obtained from public funds.{{cite web |url = https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/polska/news-opozycja-chce-by-nik-skontrolowala-daniela-obajtka-jest-wnio,nId,5108367 |title = The opposition wants NIK to audit Daniel Obajtek. There is a request |date = March 15, 2021 |publisher = interia.pl |access-date = 2021-03-17}} The Left MPs demanded that the Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General Zbigniew Ziobro initiate ex officio proceedings against Daniel Obajtek, and in order to investigate potential irregularities related to Obajtek's assets and financial activities, they submitted a request to the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau.{{cite web |url = https://tvn24.pl/polska/daniel-obajtek-majatek-koalicja-obywatelska-powoluje-zespol-sledczy-zapowiada-wniosek-do-nik-lewica-zawiadamia-cba-5043685 |title = Investigative team, request to NIK and notification to CBA. "I don't have good news for Daniel Obajtek" |publisher = tvn24.pl |date = March 15, 2021 |access-date = 2021-03-17}} They also appealed to Obajtek to disclose his own asset declarations.{{cite web |url = https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/kraj/artykuly/8121310,lewica-obajtek-ujawnienie-oswiadczenie-majatkowe.html |title = The Left appeals to Obajtek to disclose his asset declaration |date = March 16, 2021 |publisher = gazetaprawna.pl |access-date = 2021-03-17}} Politicians from the ruling PiS camp spoke in defense of Daniel Obajtek as well as the spokesman for President Andrzej Duda.{{cite web |url = https://oko.press/pis-broni-obajtka-metoda-na-skecz-z-martwa-papuga/ |title = About the uncle who wasn't an uncle: Spychalski defends Obajtek with a dead parrot |publisher = OKO.press |date = February 28, 2021 |access-date = 2021-03-17}} The information contained in Gazeta Wyborcza's publications was denied by PKN Orlen, as the published content concerned, among other things, alleged property connections between PKN Orlen, Prowbud company, and Daniel Obajtek, which according to PKN Orlen was untrue and put in a bad light the Company's activity of supporting athletes, which is one of the most important elements of the Company's CSR. The reports of Gazeta Wyborcza were also denied by Prowbud company and the Football Academy Beniaminek Krosno, which were also slandered in Wyborcza's article.{{Citation |title = Beniaminek, Profbud, Orlen, Partyzant. There are statements |date = 2021-03-15 |access-date = 2022-06-04 |publisher = terazkrosno.pl |url = https://www.terazkrosno.pl/wiadomosci/12009-beniaminek-profbud-orlen-sa-oswiadczenia |language = pl}}
In a segment of Wiadomości on TVP, the vulgarities and insults used by Obajtek in the recorded conversations were justified by Tourette syndrome, which Daniel Obajtek allegedly suffered from.{{Citation |title = Another dud from Gazeta Wyborcza |access-date = 2021-03-04 |publisher = wiadomosci.tvp.pl |url = http://wiadomosci.tvp.pl/52515301/kolejny-kapiszon-gazety-wyborczej |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231102043038/https://wiadomosci.tvp.pl/52515301/kolejny-kapiszon-gazety-wyborczej |archive-date = 2 November 2023 |language = pl}} In response, the Board of the Polish Tourette Syndrome Association issued a statement critical of the TVP material, stating: "we do not agree to the use and manipulation of the image of people suffering from Tourettes".{{Citation |title = Obajtek swore because he's sick? There's a statement from experts |access-date = 2021-03-03 |publisher = oko.press |url = https://oko.press/obajtek-klnie-bo-jest-chory-stowarzyszenie-syndrom-tourettea-zaprzecza/}}{{Cite web |url = https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114883,26835357,polskie-stowarzyszenie-syndrom-tourette-a-nie-mozna-kazdego.html |title = Obajtek's Tapes. Tourette Syndrome Association: Not every curse is a symptom of the disease |publisher = wiadomosci.gazeta.pl |date = February 28, 2021 |access-date = 2021-03-04}}
In March 2021, in response to a series of articles suggesting illegal origins of his assets and unclear business dealings, Daniel Obajtek decided to disclose his financial documents for the years 1998-2020 and make them available for inspection by interested journalists.{{Citation |title = Obajtek reveals his ASSETS. The head of Orlen showed documents |date = 2021-03-24 |access-date = 2022-06-04 |publisher = gospodarka.dziennik.pl |url = https://gospodarka.dziennik.pl/news/artykuly/8127459,daniel-obajtek-majatek-szczegoly-lista-nieruchomosci-dochody.html |language = pl}}
On June 8, 2021, the court in Warsaw fully dismissed Obajtek's demands for Gazeta Wyborcza to cease publishing information about his multi-million assets and informal arrangements with developers sponsored by PKN Orlen. The court found that public interest and press freedom are arguments for disclosing such information.{{Cite web | url = https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,27185626,sadowa-kleska-obajtka-nie-zaknebluje-wyborczej.html | title = Obajtek's court defeat. It won't gag "Wyborcza" | author = Roman Imielski | publisher = wyborcza.pl | date = June 11, 2021 | language = | access-date = 2021-09-25}} In February 2022, the Court of Appeal in Warsaw dismissed with final effect Daniel Obajtek's lawsuit for the publication of a correction to the article "Obajtek's Tapes...".{{Citation |title = Wyborcza does not have to publish Daniel Obajtek's correction. It won legally |publisher = Press |url = https://www.press.pl/tresc/69448,wyborcza-nie-musi-publikowac-sprostowania-daniela-obajtka_-wygrala-prawomocnie |date = 2022-02-19 |access-date = 2022-06-24}}
= 2024 recordings =
In March 2024, Onet reported that it had a recording from a wiretap that the CBA had placed on the then-president of Orlen. The tape contained a conversation between Obajtek and investigative journalist Piotr Nisztor, who is seen asking the president for a job for his wife and father, revealing he has blackmail material on PiS regarding the GetBack scandal.{{cite web |access-date=2024-03-15 |date=2024-03-14 |language=pl |title=Onet reveals. Nisztor comes to Obajtek and asks for a job for his wife and father. "We will take care of her and look after her. The same with the father. Maybe I'll fire someone" - promises the president of Orlen |url=https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/szokujace-nagrania-u-daniela-obajtka-gwiazdor-prawicowych-mediow-zalatwial-prace-dla/ch7lnpx |website=Onet Wiadomości}} Commenting on these reports, Nisztor stated that he had heard that his conversations with Obajtek might have been recorded, but he does not know whether the recordings are credible or manipulated. For his part, Obajtek, in a post on Twitter, claimed that both recording him and passing on these recordings is 'pathological' and announced that he would file a complaint with the prosecutor's office regarding the ordeal.{{cite web |access-date=2024-03-15 |author=Wirtualna Polska Media S.A |language=pl |title=Journalist on Obajtek's tapes. New information is coming to light |url=https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/dziennikarz-na-tasmach-obajtka-na-jaw-wychodza-nowe-informacje-7005986207820672a |website=wiadomosci.wp.pl|date=14 March 2024 }}
Onet previously released a transcript of a phone conversation between Obajtek and Adam Burak, a former Orlen executive board member. The call was intercepted by the CBA between 2020 and 2021. According to Onet, Obajtek, then CEO of Orlen, exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to create internal conflict within PiS and enhance his own image. Despite Poland's shortage of medical supplies, Orlen reportedly distributed over 3 million zlotys worth of disinfectants, masks, and hazmat suits to the Vatican City to achieve this goal.{{cite web |access-date=2024-03-15 |date=2024-03-01 |language=pl |title=Szokujące taśmy. Obajtek o Sasinie i swoich wrogach w PiS: chcą mnie za***** |url=https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/tasmy-obajtka-prezes-orlenu-o-jacku-sasinie-trzeba-zrobic-tak-zeby-go-za/p0exw8s |website=Onet Wiadomości}}{{cite web |access-date=2024-03-15 |author=Polsat News |date=2024-03-01 |language=pl |title=Taśmy Obajtka. Kolejne nagrania z byłym szefem Orlenu w roli głównej |url=https://www.polsatnews.pl/wiadomosc/2024-03-01/cba-mialo-podsluchiwac-daniela-obajtka-nagrania-ujrzaly-swiatlo-dzienne/ |website=polsatnews.pl}}{{cite web |access-date=2024-03-15 |date=2024-03-01 |language=pl |title=Stenogramy rozmów szefów Orlenu. Siemoniak: Nie może być zgody na to... |url=https://www.wprost.pl/polityka/11603824/cba-podsluchiwalo-obajtka-w-sprawie-wycieku-stenogramow-glos-zabral-siemoniak.html |website=Wprost}}
Personal life
Daniel Obajtek has a brother, Bartłomiej, the former Regional Director of State Forests in Gdańsk.{{cite web |access-date=2021-03-13 |archive-date=2021-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025140132/https://www.tvp.info/52764959/brat-daniela-obajtka-bartlomiej-wyszedl-na-konferencje-poslow-platformy-obywatelskiej-oklamujecie-ludzi-poslowie-nie-chcieli-pokazac-dokumentow |date=13 March 2021 |title=Brat Obajtka wyszedł na konferencję PO przed swoim domem. "Okłamujecie ludzi" |url=https://www.tvp.info/52764959/brat-daniela-obajtka-bartlomiej-wyszedl-na-konferencje-poslow-platformy-obywatelskiej-oklamujecie-ludzi-poslowie-nie-chcieli-pokazac-dokumentow |website=tvp.info}}{{cite web |access-date=2024-01-15 |language=pl |title=Odwołano Bartłomieja Obajtka. Wszczęto postępowanie za udzielenie mu bonifikaty na zakup mieszkania za 51 tys. zł |url=https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/skandal-w-rdlp-gdansku-odwolanie-bartlomieja-obajtka-po-aferze-mieszkaniowej/m6dqtx0 |website=wiadomosci.onet.pl|date=15 January 2024 }}
A divorcee, Daniel was married to Agnieszka, the mother of his son Piotr Obajtek.{{cite web |access-date=2023-12-02 |date=2023-12-01 |title=Daniel Obajtek podarował działki synowi. Zostawił sobie prawo użytkowania |url=https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/daniel-obajtek-podarowal-dzialki-synowi-zostawil-sobie-prawo-uzytkowania-6968709846989312a |website=WP.pl}}{{cite web |access-date=2023-12-02 |date=2021-03-15 |title=Kim jest Paulina Sala, nowa partnerka Daniela Obajtka? W czasie pandemii zaczęła budować... osiedle |url=https://natemat.pl/343675,kim-jest-paulina-sala-partnerka-zyciowa-daniela-obajtka-sylwetka |website=naTemat.pl}}
Notes
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References
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Category:Mayors of places in Poland