Poland’s National Electoral Commission (PKW) has rejected the financial report submitted by the Law and Justice party (PiS) concerning its income, expenditures, and financial obligations related to the parliamentary elections held on October 15, 2023. The rejection has resulted in PiS losing its state subsidy for the next three years, a decision that could have substantial financial implications for the party.
PKW Chairman Sylwester Marciniak announced the decision, highlighting that PiS’s financial report failed to meet legal requirements, particularly regarding bank loans and their conditions. The financial penalty involves a reduction of 10 million PLN from the originally calculated 38 million PLN subsidy, leaving the party with 28 million PLN. However, the more severe consequence is the complete suspension of state subsidies to PiS for the next three years.
This decision has sparked a heated response from former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who denounced the PKW’s ruling as “shameful” and politically motivated. He accused the current government of attempting to weaken PiS ahead of the upcoming presidential elections, framing the move as an effort to marginalize the opposition.
Morawiecki vowed to challenge the decision in court, emphasizing that PiS would independently raise funds for future campaigns and fight to protect Polish democracy against what he described as an emerging power monopoly.