PM rallies behind defence minister amid corruption claims

“[Siemoniak] is an extremely honest person, very diligent and believe me, even if he personally did not participate in the tender formalities - because the deputy defence minister is designated to do so - then he surely oversaw the matter thoroughly,” Kopacz said in an interview with Polish Radio.

“And today, if I believe anyone in this matter, then it is Deputy Prime Minister Siemoniak,” she added.

Siemoniak has already refuted claims made in the Wprost weekly's current edition that the defence ministry “could have falsified the tender”.

The weekly has stated among other factors that competitors in the tender who qualified to the test stage were not informed about a change in the number of aircraft to be built.

Although the ministry signed an agreement with French company Airbus in April, Kopacz has noted that offset agreements are still being discussed, and that the process has not yet formally closed.

Weekly Wprost has argued however that “the ministry is playing for time,” with a general election due on 25 October.

The April agreement sparked protests as Airbus was picked over locally based manufacturers.

However, it is understood that offset agreements would require Airbus to build a facility in Poland for the production of the 50 helicopters. Airbus has already indicated that a facility would be built in Łódż, central Poland. (nh/rk)