Poland's political leader on unprecedented defensive
Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Poland's most powerful politician, suddenly finds himself embroiled in revelations over his involvement in complex business dealings and the presence in his inner circle of people with alleged communist ties
FILE- In this photo taken April 12, 2017 in Warsaw, Poland, is seen Poland's ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski before a news conference. Kaczynski, whose public image is of restraint and honesty, is at the center of a scandal involving him negotiating a multi-million euro construction project, even though the law bans political parties from doing business.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Poland's most powerful politician, suddenly finds himself embroiled in revelations over his involvement in complex business dealings and the presence in his inner circle of people with alleged communist ties.
The stakes are high, given two crucial elections this year — for the European Parliament in May and for the national parliament in the fall.
The Gazeta Wyborcza daily published transcripts of secretly recorded business negotiations between Kaczynski and an Austrian developer about plans Kaczynski had to build twin skyscrapers on a plot of land in Warsaw owned by a foundation linked to the ruling party.
Kaczynski says the plan was to finance the foundation, in line with the law. Commentators say it was also to finance Kaczynski's political circle and the party
