Poland's Electoral Commission Fines Former Ruling Party for Campaign Violations

Poland's electoral authority has fined the former ruling nationalist conservative party, Law and Justice, for violating campaign funding rules during the 2023 parliamentary election. The penalty, amounting to millions of dollars, will significantly impact the party's resources ahead of the 2025 presidential election. The decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Poland's electoral authority announced Thursday that the former governing nationalist conservative party, Law and Justice, violated campaign funding rules during the 2023 parliamentary vote. The party faces a penalty in millions of dollars, jeopardizing its resources for the 2025 presidential election.

The State Electoral Commission revealed that Law and Justice improperly took 3.6 million zlotys (USD 930,000) in public money. Consequently, the commission has mandated the party to return the funds and imposed cuts in government subsidies amounting to approximately 10 million zlotys (USD 2.5 million) annually for the coming years.

The decision, which is subject to an appeal to the Supreme Court, could be final and binding. Prime Minister Donald Tusk remarked on social media that the party is learning 'the true meaning of the words law and justice.' Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called the decision 'shameful' and accused the current government of playing a 'political game' to weaken their opposition.

(With inputs from agencies.)