Poland's Justice Ministry audited over 163,000‑zł carnival party

In January 2025, the Polish Ministry of Justice, led by Minister Adam Bodnar, organized a carnival‑themed integration event called “Karnawałowy zawrót głowy” at the upscale The Tides building on the Vistula River. The party hosted 564 participants, of whom roughly 150 were ministry employees; the remainder were family members and contractors.

The event cost 163,600 zł. The Supreme Audit Office (NIK) concluded that the expenditure was non‑purposeful, not linked to the ministry’s statutory duties, and should have been financed from the internal social‑benefits fund rather than the ministry’s budget. The ministry defended the gathering as part of a modern management approach and said future similar events will be funded from the appropriate social‑benefits source in line with NIK’s recommendations.