The prosecution requested the waiver of the immunity of Mateusz Morawiecki, accusing the erstwhile Prime Minister of unduly spending PLN 56 million while preparing for the alleged enveloped election in 2020. According to investigators, these activities were carried out without legal basis and violated the principles of transparency.
Prosecution charges
In his motion, the prosecution indicates that Mateusz Morawiecki commissioned the Post Office of Poland and the Polish safety Printing Works (PWPW) to prepare for the presidential election which was to take place on May 10, 2020. The problem was that these decisions had been taken before the bill on the correspondence vote was passed. The motion was based on evidence from respective twelve witnesses, including employees of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, ministries and institutions active in organising elections.
No legal basis
The Public Prosecutor's Office points out that the draft law on correspondence voting has not been consulted with the State Election Commission or the National Election Office. The bill was passed in the Sejm at an express pace – in just 2.5 hours. However, as early as April 2020, meetings were held in the Ministry of State Activities and the Ministry of abroad Affairs with representatives of the Polish Post Office and PWPW, which, according to the prosecutor, shows that the preparatory activities were started earlier. These meetings did not draw up authoritative minutes or notes, which is simply a breach of the principles of transparency.
Legal opinion ignored
The decision of Mateusz Morawiecki on the organisation of envelope elections was based on the alleged anti-covid Act, which, according to legal analyses of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and the lawyer General of the Republic of Poland, did not give emergence to specified actions. "There is no basis to claim that the above analyses and doubts were not known to the Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki" – the prosecution's application stated.
The prosecution besides points out that both the Constitution of Poland and the Electoral Code do not supply for the Prime Minister to organise presidential elections. specified actions fall within the competence of the State Election Commission.
Court decision and investigative charges
It is worth recalling that in mid-September 2020 the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw found that the Prime Minister's decision to oblige the Polish Post Office to prepare correspondence elections grossly violated the law. According to the court, this decision was incompatible with the Constitution and another applicable provisions.
The prosecution estimates that the actions of Mateusz Morawiecki caused a failure of PLN 56 million to the detriment of the state budget. This amount includes costs related to the printing of electoral cards, the preparation of infrastructure and another logistical activities which proved unnecessary erstwhile the planned election was not held.
Surrender of immunity
On Thursday evening, Mateusz Morawiecki reported that he waived immunity, which opens the way for further prosecution proceedings. The substance was to be discussed at the committee's parliamentary gathering on Friday, but the decision of the erstwhile Prime Minister changes its course. Now the D.A. can bring the indictment to trial.
"Wide-Elections" – wider context
In 2020, the Warsaw territory Attorney's Office received over 100 notifications on alleged election-spectrum. These notifications afraid mainly the anticipation of the Prime Minister Morawiecki and the Polish Minister of State Assets, Jack Sasin, supervising the Post Office. Members of the opposition, including the Left and the PO, made notifications. At the time, the prosecution refused to initiate an investigation, claiming that the actions of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister did not bear the marks of the crime.
What's next?
The case of Mateusz Morawiecki is 1 of the loudest cases of accusations against the erstwhile Prime Minister in the past of modern Poland. If the charges are confirmed in court, it may have serious consequences not only for him personally, but besides for Polish political life.
Will Morawiecki answer for his decisions? The investigation and possible process will surely be widely commented on in the media and observed by the public. These events can become an crucial test for the Polish judiciary and regulation of law.
Continued here:
The prosecution reveals the allegations that Morawiecki will make
