Komorowski announces plans for institute

During his last official visit to Ukraine, President Komorowski announced plans to open an institute in his name. This plan, which follows the tradition of two former Polish presidents, Lech Wałęsa and Aleksander Kwaśniewski, has been met with mixed feelings. The Bronisław Komorowski Institute plans to focus on Polish-Ukrainian relations as well as bringing Kiev closer to the EU’s orbit.  However, previous attempts by former presidents to form impactful institutions have found varied success. Neither The Lech Wałęsa Institute nor Aleksander Kwaśniewski’s Amicus Europae managed to emerge as important public institutions. Both function mainly as a source of income and travel expenses for their founders. The Lech Wałęsa Institute has often been criticized for being little more than Wałęsa’s travel agency. Wałęsa also came under fire from Donald Tusk and the PO after agreeing to appear at the conventions of euroskeptic parties such as Irish Liberatas (for which he received at least PLN 400,000). Kwasniewski’s Amicus Europae has also come under scrutiny after Kwasniewski lobbied heavily to sell the government’s shares of Azoty Tarnów to Russian Acron (which belongs to a Russian oligarch in Putin's circle) in 2013.  Kwasniewski also served as an advisor to autocratic Kazakh president Nursultan Nazerbajev. The foundation has never revealed a complete list of its sponsors. Thus, Komorowski's announcement has been met with hesitation, as the direction of the planned institute has plenty of chances to fall prey to the influence Ukrainian oligarchs. Ukraine presents former Polish politicians with plenty money-making opportunities, and given the suggested profile of the institute, Komorowski would h