The Law and Justice (PiS) party, Poland’s national conservative faction, has held power for two stints since 2015, pledging to liberate the nation from a self-profit-driven post-communist ruling class. However, having been in opposition since the previous December, the party is currently under scrutiny for allegedly misusing state resources to finance its unsuccessful 2023 election campaign.
If the Polish national election commission (PKW)’s findings, once authorised by the supreme court, hold true, the PiS could lose approximately 75% of its projected state funding, with calculations based on the previous year’s election results. At risk is nearly €10 million of public monies over the current four-year parliamentary tenure, as well as further subsidies endangered by yet another impending commission report.
The PiS is banking on a reversal of verdict by the supreme court, counting on its own nominees. However, the party may find it difficult to stay competitive in next year’s key presidential elections should this not be the case. Mateusz Morawiecki, ex-prime minister from PiS, interpreted the judgement as a political manoeuvre from the ruling body, which he contended was aiming for retribution and side-lining of the opposition.
This argument, however, was negated by detractors of the PiS, who pointed out that the electoral commission comprised appointees under the PiS-friendly outgoing president, Andrzej Duda. Current prime minister Donald Tusk replied, “PiS is discovering the actual definition of law and justice,”. He assumed office in a centre-left coalition the previous December and pledged to probe what he termed the “eight corrupt years under the PiS”.
Szymon Hołownia, head of the Tusk-inclined Poland 2050 and Poland’s parliamentary president, chimed in, “The PiS wasn’t punished by anyone today, the PiS punished itself. It ran an enhanced campaign and simply received today’s invoice for that boost”. Opposition parties specifically criticised the PiS during the previous year’s election for enabling staff members in three ministries to support its bid to get re-elected.
The investigation conducted by the electoral commission concurred with several grievances, particularly focusing on the funding of campaign advertising by the ministry of justice and pro-PiS family gatherings that were organised by the national army during the election campaign. The chairman of PiS, Jarosław Kaczyński, gave a speech at one such gathering, cautioning participants that Donald Tusk is Poland’s embodiment of evil, while surrounded by Polish soldiers.
The commission accuses the PiS administration of using money from the national forest authority to underwrite campaign expenses. It is also accused of allocating €23 million from a crime victim support fund to a foundation managed by a priest who performs exorcisms. Allegedly, this money was utilised for the provision of a television production studio and post-production resources.
Should the PiS lose its claim to a full subsidy, it will only exacerbate its already precarious financial situation. The party is significantly in debt and has reportedly expended 38.8 million złoty (€9.1 million) on the previous year’s election. Without financial reimbursement from the state, the party will fail to repay a campaign loan of 15 million złoty (€3.5 million).