Poland’s largest opposition party, the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS), faced a major setback when the electoral commission announced its decision to revoke millions in state funding due to the misuse of public funds for campaigning. This decision came as a blow to PiS, which had emerged as the top party in the 2023 general election but failed to secure a majority.
Impact on Polish Politics
The loss of funding for PiS is expected to have significant implications on the political landscape of Poland. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European Civic Coalition (KO) is likely to benefit from this development as it aims to establish itself as the dominant political force in the country. With the presidential election scheduled for 2025, PiS accused the electoral commission of trying to sabotage its chances in the upcoming ballot.
The electoral commission revealed that PiS had illegally spent 3.6 million zlotys ($930,738) on the 2023 electoral campaign. The misuse of funds included electioneering at events promoting military recruitment and an advertisement from the justice ministry. As a penalty, PiS will lose approximately 10 million zlotys ($2.59 million) related to its 2023 election performance, and an additional 10 million zlotys per year until the end of the current parliamentary term in 2027. The commission also cautioned that PiS could lose its annual funding entirely.
In response to the decision, PiS vehemently criticized the electoral commission’s ruling. Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki denounced the decision as “shameful” and accused the current government of seeking revenge and marginalizing the opposition. He insisted that PiS would appeal the decision, highlighting the party’s determination to challenge the outcome.
Prosecutors alleged that lawmakers from PiS ally Sovereign Poland had diverted funds earmarked for aiding victims of crime to win favor with voters in rural constituencies. The arrest of former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski in July on charges related to the misuse of funds further intensified the scrutiny on PiS and its allies. Despite the initial arrest, Romanowski was later released after claims of immunity as a member of a European rights assembly.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk took to social media to comment on the electoral commission’s decision, stating that PiS had now understood the true essence of “law and justice.” The ongoing political turmoil surrounding PiS and the misuse of public funds underscores the challenges facing Poland’s political landscape in the lead-up to the presidential election in 2025.
The loss of state funding for PiS due to the misuse of public funds has sparked a political crisis in Poland, with repercussions that are likely to resonate throughout the country. As the opposition party grapples with the consequences of the electoral commission’s decision, the future of Polish politics remains uncertain.