The Polish State Electoral Commission (PKW) convened on Monday for a contentious meeting that culminated in the rejection of the 2023 financial report of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party. The session was marked by a sharp exchange of accusations among PKW members, with allegations of illegal actions and overstepping authority.
The meeting also saw a narrow 5-4 vote in favor of a resolution declaring decisions by the Supreme Court’s Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs illegal. This chamber has been a focal point of disputes over judicial independence in Poland.
Tensions Run High
During the debate, critics of the resolution, including PKW chairman Sylwester Marciniak, Wojciech Sych, and Arkadiusz Pikulik, argued that the PKW lacked the authority to pass such measures, calling them “illegal actions.” In contrast, Ryszard Balicki, an opposition-aligned member, supported the resolution, citing the need for a legitimate appeals process and referencing European rulings to justify the measure.
Marciniak also proposed delaying a decision on state subsidies to PiS, pending a Supreme Court ruling on the matter. However, this motion was rejected. He argued that withholding judgment was prudent until the Court resolved the dispute over PKW’s earlier decision to reject PiS’s financial report.
PiS Pushes Back
PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński responded harshly to the PKW’s decision, pledging to appeal. “We are living in a state of complete anarchy—a dictatorship-anarchy,” Kaczyński said on Tuesday, signaling the party’s determination to contest the rulings.
The clash underscores ongoing tensions between the ruling party and state institutions as Poland grapples with legal and political controversies ahead of crucial elections.