In recent days, the media in Poland have been dominated by information about the dispute over the election subsidy for Law and Justice (PiS), as well as the intense actions of the new government (labeled as the October 15 Coalition) aimed at addressing the abuses of the United Right authorities. The awaited decisions by the National Electoral Commission (Państwowa Komisja Wyborcza, PKW) and the arrest of former Deputy Minister of Justice Marcin Romanowski are the main topics captivating public opinion.
According to the latest reports, the PKW is set to decide in the coming days on the allocation of the election subsidy to the Law and Justice Party. The matter is highly controversial due to suspicions of financial irregularities in the party’s accounts. Experts point to numerous discrepancies in the financial documentation and violations of campaign financing regulations. The PKW has announced that it will thoroughly analyze all submitted documents and consider the auditors’ reports. The possibility of withholding at least a share of the subsidy is considered real, which could significantly impact The Law and Justice Party’s future operations and financial capabilities in upcoming election campaigns.
Simultaneously, the October 15 Coalition, which gained significant support in the recent elections, has initiated extensive actions to address the abuses of the United Right government. One of the main issues is the Justice Fund, which, according to numerous media reports and Civic Coalition’s allegations, was severely misused by those in power.
As part of the October 15 Coalition’s actions, former Deputy Minister of Justice Marcin Romanowski was arrested with the coverage of public broadcast stations. Romanowski is suspected of multiple irregularities related to the management of the Justice Fund, as well as abuse of official powers. The arrest of Romanowski has sparked a wave of comments from both politicians and the public. It is worth recalling that the Justice Fund was created to support crime victims and rehabilitate criminals.
However, according to these largely documented and proven claims, a large percentage of the resources was diverted to uses unrelated to its statutory objectives, such as fueling the campaigns of PiS members before recent general elections by organizing picnics and municipal events in their electoral districts, creating severe doubts about the openness and legality of Romanowski’s conduct.
The actions of the October 15 Coalition have attracted various reactions. Numerous supporters of the endeavor, including mainly the Coalition’s voters, highlight the urgency of correcting abuses and restoring the norms of the rule of law and transparency in the management of public finances. However, its critics, although largely represented by those sympathizing with the previous authorities, claim that these acts are “politically motivated” and reflect Donald Tusk’s intentions to “damage his political opponents”.
The current political atmosphere in Poland is tense since the PKW’s decisions regarding the election subsidy for PiS could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s political landscape. At the very moment, both the public and the media are closely monitoring the developments, anticipating further steps from law enforcement agencies and institutions responsible for overseeing public finances.
Written by Mateusz Gwóźdź
