Poland's Deputy Minister of National Defence, Romuald Szeremietied, has been sacked from his post after his friend and ministerial assistant Zbigniew Farmus was arrested on alleged corruption charges as he tried to board an international ferry. The move comes as the ruling conservative government in Warsaw prepares for an election in September against a background of corruption charges among officials.
Szeremietied held a key position in the Polish MOD where he was responsible for Polish Armed Forces (PAF) procurement including the current bid for transport and fighter aircraft for the Polish Air Force.
The 10 July arrest of Farmus followed allegations of corruption and of his gaining access to classified documentation he had not been cleared to see. Polish media had reported that Farmus had demanded a $100,000 bribe from a Western arms manufacturer. However, Defence minister Bronislaw Komorowski later told the Parliamentary Intelligence Committee that the military intelligence service had been unable to substantiate corruption allegations.
Szeremietied was heavily involved in Polish competitions to purchase a tactical airlifter and a new fighter. Although there are no reports of corruption with either of these bids his dismissal is one of a number of factors which could affect procurement - particularly of the fighter.
A contract for eight EADS Casa C-295 airlifters is ready to be signed in August, but the fighter competition timing is less clear.
The MoD is currently considering proposals from Lockheed Martin with the F-16, Saab/BAE Systems with the Gripen and Dassault Aviation offering the Mirage 2000. A recently revised selection process has targeted selection and contract signature by 14 September.
Although the government favours the F-16, under the current timetable the contract would be signed just prior to a general election which is expected to see a change in government in favour of the Social Democrats opposition.
The timing dilemma has a similarity with the Polish election of 1998 when the outgoing government signed a contract with Elbit of Israel to upgrade military helicopters just days before handing over power. The deal was subsequently cancelled by the incoming government, amid controversy.
Added to the timing difficulties, Poland faces heavy budget shortages which could yet delay a number of new defence programmes as any incoming government re-assesses its commitments.
Source: Flight International
