Money from Srebrna company “last resort”? Former PiS treasurer responds

August 29 National Electoral Commission is to meet on the financial report of the PiS electoral committee from the parliamentary elections. If the National Electoral Commission rejects the report, the party Jaroslaw Kaczynski may lose subsidy and grant.

Meanwhile, according to “Newsweek” findings Law and Justice took out a multi-million loan for the election campaign, which it is now unable to repay. PiS was supposed to repay the entire loan, i.e. PLN 15 million, or an installment by the end of July.

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Stanisław Kostrzewski, economist and former treasurer of the party, spoke more about the financial situation of PiS in “Fakty po Faktach” on TVN24. Asked whether he thought the National Electoral Commission would reject the report, he replied that “it is a very complicated matter”. – Because from the point of view of an accountant, the accounting act and so on, (…), the report will definitely not contain any errors – he added.

He pointed out that “the problem is that Law and Justice conducted a pre-campaign, that is, it conducted a campaign in a period when it should not have conducted one”. He said that in addition to this, we were dealing with a “para-campaign”, that is, “using funds that come from citizens for purposes that are absolutely contrary to both the Electoral Code and ethics and morality in general”.

Stanisław Kostrzewski also said that PiS as a party “does not have any assets” that could be used to repay the loan.

He was asked whether, in the event that the National Electoral Commission rejected PiS's financial report, this party could be supported with money from the Srebrna company, which is close to Jarosław Kaczyński's party. The question is whether it would be possible to pay off the aforementioned PLN 15 million of PiS's debt with money from the potential sale of the company's real estate, which it owns in the center of Warsaw.

– No, absolutely not. It is impossible (…). I have very often appeared in court cases on behalf of Jarosław Kaczyński. And, let's say, I could help a member, acting on behalf of the party, with legal services. But if he was ordered to pay two or three thousand złoty, he would have to pay from his own money. It is said – even one grosz from party funds, devoted to a purpose other than the party's statutory purpose, is unacceptable – he said.

Kostrzewski added, however, that “theoretically” it would be possible if the company made a donation to the party, and considering the attractive location, it might be possible to get even more money for selling such properties than the aforementioned 15 million. – There are two locations there, which few people know about. On Srebrna Street and at Zawiszy Square, on Nowogrodzka – he added.

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He admitted that if PiS were on the verge of bankruptcy, the money from the sale of the Srebrna company's real estate could be the “last resort”. – However, I don't know if it would be legal – who can make a donation to a party and which one. This is also regulated in the act on political parties – the former treasurer noted.

When asked if he could accept the thought that the possible decision of the National Electoral Commission and the unpaid loan could lead to bankruptcy and the end of PiS's existence, Kostrzewski replied that “they can rise up”.

He added that he “imagine” that in a crisis situation, party members could chip in to cover the debt. – I imagine it, because they have what they need, but it's with the money of all the honest people who pay taxes in this country – the TVN24 guest emphasized.