During the meeting, PKW members considered two versions of the draft letter addressed to the Ministry of Finance. In voting on granting a full amount of PLN 26 million, there was a draw – 4 votes “for” and 4 “against”, which meant the inability to accept this option. On the other hand, a proposal assuming a reduction in subsidies by PLN 11 million, i.e. to PLN 15 million per year, obtained the majority – 4 votes “for” against 3 “against”. It was this version that was approved and transferred to further actions.
The budget subsidy is a permanent, annual financing of political parties from the state budget, which is entitled to groups exceeding the specific election threshold. Its amount depends on the number of votes won by the party in parliamentary elections – the more votes, the greater the amount.
These funds are to serve the statutory activities of the party, and their The goal is to limit the dependence of groups on private donors and ensuring transparency of politics financing.
The condition for paying the subsidy, however, is a positive assessment of the financial statements of the Electoral Committee by the National Electoral Commission. If the PKW finds that significant irregularities have occurred, it may reject the report, which in practice results in the limitation or loss of subsidies.
The PiS finance dispute has been going on for months
It was this condition that became the subject of a long -term dispute between the PKW and Law and Justice. In August 2023, the Commission rejected the financial statements of the PiS election committee from parliamentary elections, Pointing to irregularities in the use of PLN 3.6 million for the election campaign. The party appealed to the Supreme Court.
The case was considered by the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs of the Supreme Court, whose legality and independence was repeatedly questioned by legal environments and the current government.
Despite the controversy, the Chamber accepted the PiS complaint and repealed the previous decision of the PKW. As a result, the Commission formally accepted the report on December 30, but at the same time noted that it did not prejudge the legal power of the Supreme Court decision issued by this chamber.
From that moment An intensive exchange of positions between the PKW and the Minister of Finance, which expected a clear and unequivocal opinion on the legitimacy of paying the subsidy. The latest PKW decision closes this stage of the dispute – at least at the administrative level – and means that PiS will receive some of the funds due this year.
