A fortune was spent on 800 plus picnics. NIK files a notice to the prosecutor's office

Piles of advertising gadgets, 800 plus teddy bears, boxes of 800 plus pinwheels, toys, balloons – were left in the premises of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy. – Generally, we found a big mess with a lot of things – sums up Katarzyna Nowakowska, Deputy Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy.

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These things were left – as we hear – from the famous 800 plus picnics, which were organized before the parliamentary elections. Law and Justice politicians shone at them, including Marlena Maląg, former Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy, who now as an MEP moved to Brussels. And maybe she doesn't even remember how many things bought with our public money were abandoned there. Things that were never needed, just like the 800 plus picnics themselves – says the Supreme Audit Office, because no one had to be informed about 800 plus.

– The offices informed, because they were obliged to do so, that the amount had been raised from PLN 500 to PLN 800 plus – says Marcin Marjański, spokesman for the Supreme Audit Office. – We did not need to advertise, which was done here, especially during the election period – assesses Marian Banaś, president of the Supreme Audit Office.

Over nine and a half million for 95 picnics 800 plus – the Supreme Audit Office considers in its analysis as “inexpedient and uneconomical”. NIK files a report to the prosecutor's office, and Law and Justice suggests that this is a conspiracy and a smear campaign.

– A very harsh accusation from Mr. Banaś, who is a humble servant of Donald Tusk – comments Michał Moskal, MP of Law and Justice.

The actions of the prosecutor's office and the charges are political games – we hear. – Organized by Mr. Bodnar and his henchmen – emphasizes Marcin Porzucek, a member of parliament from Law and Justice.

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Words about henchmen, lackeys or games do not change the fact that a fortune was spent on all this, and the picnics clearly promoted Law and Justice politicians just before the elections and this is unfair – says the new government. – Money from the state budget reserve was used for their purpose, which should be used only and exclusively in emergencies – says Katarzyna Nowakowska.

When the current management of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy filed a notification to the prosecutor's office in July, the former head of the ministry from Law and Justice, Marlena Maląg, wrote about demagogy and malice, and that the picnics were supposed to create a positive atmosphere.

The political rivals of PiS were not spoken of positively at the picnics. – This is a Darwinist party, a party of the right hand, of the Wild West, the stronger wins – said Mateusz Morawiecki, then prime minister of Law and Justice, on August 7, 2023. The next day, Andrzej Duda, who was present at the picnic, set the election date, which meant the official start of the election campaign.

READ ALSO: “Campaign on steroids”. Millions to promote PiS

The picnics continued, and the Law and Justice candidates continued to shine, all for money that is not allowed to finance an election campaign. – There cannot be a situation where we all pay for the election campaign and it is beyond the limits of the official election campaign – says Piotr Borys, Deputy Minister of Sport and Tourism from the Civic Coalition.

For the current government, this is another argument that PiS broke the rules of the election campaign and should be punished by taking away subsidies and grants – counted in tens of millions. The National Electoral Commission is to issue a decision on August 29.