Could projects like “Latarnik Wyborczy” and “Młodzi Głosują” have been funded with USAID money? A user on platform X, Emilia Kamińska, raised an intriguing point regarding USAID, an agency previously shut down by U.S. President Donald Trump and X owner Elon Musk. According to Kamińska, Trump and Musk are right in claiming that USAID funds were used to influence elections in other countries to overthrow conservative governments, which allegedly happened in Poland in 2023.
USAID Under Scrutiny
In recent days, USAID has been widely criticized. Right-wing and conservative groups worldwide support Trump’s decision to curb the agency’s activities, accusing it of financing questionable initiatives under the guise of humanitarian aid. On the other hand, left-liberal circles lament its dissolution.
🧵 To będzie bardzo ważny wątek‼️
Prezydent @realDonaldTrump oraz @elonmusk mają rację twierdząc, że za pieniądze #USAID wpływano na wybory w innych krajach by obalać konserwatywne rządy. Tak też było w Polsce w 2023 r.
Od kilku dni krąży skonstruowana przez @wirtualnapolska… pic.twitter.com/kcacCSfDzz— Emilia Kamińska (@EmiliaKaminska) February 10, 2025
USAID’s Alleged Influence in Poland
One of the main accusations against USAID is its involvement in shaping election outcomes to remove conservative governments. In Poland, USAID-funded organizations include Campaign Against Homophobia, Krytyka Polityczna, Tour de Konstytucja, and MamPrawoWiedziec.pl, linked to Róża Rzeplińska, daughter of a former Constitutional Tribunal president.
The “Latarnik Wyborczy” Controversy
Latarnik Wyborczy was a seemingly neutral tool designed to help voters choose a candidate. However, Kamińska points out that it was funded by USAID through the German Marshall Fund’s CEBRICS project, which provided grants to initiatives in Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria from 2022 to 2026.
Kamińska claims that Latarnik Wyborczy was heavily promoted across pro-opposition media. It included a set of 20 selected questions, often leading users to align with Civic Platform (KO) or The Left (Lewica). Before the 2023 elections, it was omnipresent in digital media, particularly on Onet, influencing undecided, young voters.
Promotion on Onet and Media Influence
Before the elections, Latarnik Wyborczy was heavily advertised. In an Onet Rano interview, journalist Tomasz Sekielski demonstrated the tool, showing how responses often led to a recommendation favoring KO or left-wing parties.
“Młodzi Głosują” and Youth Targeting
Another project, Młodzi Głosują, also reportedly funded by USAID and the German Marshall Fund, trained over 100,000 teachers and engaged more than 3 million students in mock elections. Kamińska argues that under the guise of civic education, these programs sought to influence young Polish voters.
Foreign Funding in Future Elections?
The allegations raise concerns about foreign financial involvement in Poland’s electoral processes. As the 2025 presidential election approaches, questions remain: Will international funds once again be used to shape the Polish political landscape? USAID was not the only foreign influence into Polish democratic processes. Germany and its NGOs also has tremendous influence in Poland. We describe it in this backgrounder article.