Parliament speaker Szymon Hołownia: I'm a victim of Collegium Humanum

On Wednesday evening, Newsweek reported that Hołownia had studied at Collegium Humanum. Hołownia denied this claim, asserting that although he had applied for admission, he never began the program. He suggested the article was an attempt to disrupt his presidential campaign and expressed concerns over potential misuse of state resources to disseminate false information.

The Speaker of the Sejm stressed on Thursday that he, like thousands of others, was a victim of Collegium Humanum. "I thought it would be a place to study and complete my education normally, but it turned out that the institution has a questionable reputation," he added.

Speaking at a press conference during his visit to Sweden, Tusk noted that Hołownia's explanations were "absolutely sufficient" and detailed. The Prime Minister declared that any government official found interfering with the presidential campaign would face immediate dismissal. He called for calm amid tensions related to the approaching presidential elections.

Tusk acknowledged the emotional nature of the upcoming campaign and promised to ensure it would not be hostile, particularly towards Hołownia. Despite his support for Civic Platform’s candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, Tusk emphasized that state authority should not be used against any candidate. He expressed confidence that the coalition’s mutual trust would not be compromised by this incident.

Hołownia, on Thursday, announced he was considering legal action against Collegium Humanum for alleged unauthorized use of his personal data. He reiterated that he had no formal involvement with the university, neither attending classes, signing agreements, nor paying fees.

Hołownia also stated he trusted Minister of the Interior Tomasz Siemoniak's assurance that no state security services were involved. However, he voiced concerns about politically motivated efforts to damage his reputation.

Collegium Humanum has been under investigation by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) since February for alleged irregularities, including issuing dubious MBA diplomas. The case has resulted in around 30 arrests, including high-profile figures such as former MEP Karol Karski and Wrocław Mayor Jacek Sutryk. The investigation revealed concerns over the legitimacy of foreign affiliations supporting the university’s MBA program.

This controversy continues to unfold as the elections draw closer, intensifying scrutiny and raising questions about the impartiality of public institutions in the political process.