The leader of Poland’s largest opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), Jaroslaw Kaczynski, has asked supporters to donate money to the party for the election campaign due to declining government funding.
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Earlier, the State Electoral Commission of Poland, due to financial irregularities expressed in the financing of the PiS election campaign in last year’s parliamentary elections from the state budget and state enterprises, reduced the amount of electoral subsidies to the party by 10 million zlotys (about 2.6 million dollars), and also deprived state annual subventions in the amount of 10 million zlotys per year.
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“This is a scandalous decision,” Kaczynski said, commenting on the decision of the State Election Commission.
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He expressed confidence that it was initiated by the current ruling coalition led by Donald Tusk in order to prevent PiS from winning the presidential elections due to take place next year.
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“We can say about a certain change in public opinion, and this change is not in favor of the current authorities. The danger of losing elections if they are held according to legal rules, I am primarily talking about presidential elections, is very great for them. Therefore, they remembered the budget intended for elections,” the head of the party said.
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He saw the fact that Law and Justice was cut off from state funding as “an attempt to eliminate the only opposition party, at least the only strong opposition party.”
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In a situation of lack of money, Kaczynski asked his supporters to donate money to the party in the run-up to the presidential elections.
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“I ask that all patriots, everyone who supports us, transfer even small amounts to our account, even 10 zlotys (about 2.5 dollars). This will allow us to hold elections, because if they win the presidential elections, they will be able to change everything in general,” the head of PiS said.
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In turn, former Minister of National Defense of Poland Mariusz Blaszczak said that all deputies of the Sejm and Senate of Poland from PiS pledged to donate at least one thousand zlotys (about $260) to the party, and deputies of the European Parliament – at least 5 thousand zlotys (about $1,300) .
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There is less than a year left before the Polish presidential elections. The current head of state, Andrzej Duda, will not be able to take part in them, as he holds his post for the second time in a row.
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Earlier, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that Prime Minister Tusk could nominate his candidacy for the post of president of the country.
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Tusk said that he does not intend to run for president. In addition to Tusk, various politicians named Sikorski himself, Sejm Speaker Szymon Hołownia, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysh and a number of other politicians as potential candidates for the presidency. The opposition also names a number of potential candidates, including ex-prime ministers Beata Szydlo and Mateusz Morawiecki.
