Polish Electoral Body Says Former Ruling Party Violated Campaign Rules, Imposes Penalty
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- 04 Sep 2024
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Poland's State Electoral Commission has ruled that the former governing nationalist conservative party, Law and Justice, violated campaign funding rules in the 2023 parliamentary vote. The commission has imposed a penalty worth millions of dollars, which would significantly reduce the party's resources for the 2025 presidential election.
The commission found that Law and Justice improperly took 3.6 million zlotys ($930,000) in public money and ordered the party to repay the amount. Additionally, the commission cut the party's government subsidies for the coming years, amounting to about 10 million zlotys ($2.5 million) per year. This decision is a significant blow to the party's financial resources, which will make it challenging for them to compete in the upcoming presidential election.
The decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court, where Law and Justice still holds some sway. The court's verdict would be binding and final. However, it is unclear whether the party will be able to overturn the decision, given the evidence presented by the electoral commission.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has welcomed the decision, saying that Law and Justice is now "learning the true meaning of the words law and justice." This statement is seen as a dig at the party, which has been accused of violating the rule of law during its time in power. Tusk's government has been investigating the party's activities, and this decision is seen as a major victory for the current administration.
However, Mateusz Morawiecki, a former Law and Justice prime minister, has called the decision "shameful" and part of a "political game" to weaken the opposition before the presidential election. Morawiecki claims that the government is trying to undermine the party's chances of winning the election, and that the decision is politically motivated.
The penalties would significantly reduce Law and Justice's resources for the 2025 presidential election, in which it will seek to maintain its control of the office. Incumbent President Andrzej Duda, who hails from the party, is serving his second and final term, which ends next year. The party will need to find a new candidate to replace Duda, and the lack of financial resources will make it challenging for them to mount a successful campaign.
The rivalry between Law and Justice and Tusk's centrist and pro-European Union government has been ongoing for years, and this decision is seen as a major escalation in the political battle between the two sides. The outcome of the appeal to the Supreme Court will be closely watched, as it will have significant implications for the political landscape in Poland.
