Poland’s state-controlled oil and gas company plans to sell its media subsidiary as its new chief executive strives to show investors that his group’s strategy is no longer subject to political influence. In his first interview since becoming CEO of Orlen in April, Ireneusz Fąfara told the Financial Times: “I must emphasise that the media company Polska Press is absolutely unnecessary for us . . . We will seek an investor who will be able to buy it from us at a fair price”.
In contrast Obajtek, 48, is a PiS politician who started out as a village mayor and was elected this month to the European parliament. Polish prosecutors are targeting Obajtek in connection with different fraud-related investigations linked to his time at Orlen, which he could seek to fend off by claiming legal immunity as an MEP. Obajtek denies wrongdoing and has not so far been charged.