Use of state resources by ruling party made elections “uneven”, find international observers

International observers have reported that Poland’s elections were conducted in a manner that benefited the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, which “enjoyed a clear advantage through its undue influence over the use of state resources and the public media”.

They also noted that the campaign was “characterised by the wide use of intolerant and xenophobic rhetoric” and that the ruling party used a referendum it had called on the same day as elections to evade campaign-finance restrictions. This all created an “uneven playing field”.

OSCE preliminary report, #PolandVotes:

– „contest… characterized by the wide use of intolerant, xenophobic and misogynistic rhetoric”
– „highly polarised environment”
– PiS „enjoyed clear advantage through its undue influence over the use of state resources & the public media” pic.twitter.com/fCmUjhQ9zj

— Jakub Krupa (@JakubKrupa) October 16, 2023

Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) – who were invited by the Polish government to observe the elections – published a preliminary report yesterday, before final results confirmed that PiS has lost its parliamentary majority.

They highlighted a number of concerns over how the elections were conducted. In particular, they noted that during the campaign there was a “blurring [of] the line between state and party, in contravention with OSCE commitments and other international standards”.

“There was a notable overlap between the ruling party’s campaign messages and information campaigns of the government as well as state-controlled companies and their foundations, including on the referendum organised upon the government’s initiative,” wrote the observers.

A pamphlet advising Poles to follow the government line in this month’s referendum is being distributed by the post office.

Produced by a state-funded foundation, it calls for a vote against the „invasion of illegal immigrants” and „Tusk’s secret plans” https://t.co/pKJYkCKUDY

— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) October 5, 2023

The opposition and many experts argued that the referendum was not a genuine exercise in democracy but rather an attempt by PiS to boost turnout among its supporters. It also, noted the OSCE observers, ” enabled circumvention of campaign finance regulations“.

The OSCE’s report also highlighted how PiS candidates, including government ministers, often used “publicly funded events and ceremonies” to campaign, which is “at odds with international standards and OSCE commitments”.

The government has announced it will give 250,000 zloty to rural housewives’ associations, brass bands and local sports clubs in every small district where turnout is above 60% at this Sunday’s elections

The ruling party has stronger support in such areas https://t.co/XPc6rayW3C

— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) October 13, 2023

Meanwhile, the OSCE noted – as it did in its reports on previous Polish elections in 2019 and 2020 – that public media, which have become government mouthpieces, played a role in the campaign by “openly favouring the ruling party”.

State broadcaster TVP, “deliberately distort[ed] events through the promotion of the ruling party…while heavily attacking its main political rival KO [Civic Coalition]”, wrote the observers.

This, they noted, was “contrary to the internationally recognised duty of public media to be independent and serve all segments of society” and also a violation of Poland’s own broadcasting law, which requires public media to be “pluralistic, impartial and well-balanced”.

Leaked emails purported to be from state TV, which is under government influence, suggest that the station was planning to declare Sunday’s opposition march a failure even before it took place.

But the station’s director calls the claims a „manipulation” https://t.co/fVsVVixnBD

— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) October 4, 2023

The OSCE found that, during the period of monitoring, TVP’s main channel devoted 43% of political coverage to KO, of which 80% was negative in tone. It devoted a combined 37% to PiS and the government, “which was almost entirely positive and often framed to amplify the party’s campaign messages”.

It also noted that local media outlets owned by state oil giant Orlen refused to publicise adverts by opposition parties.

However, the observers added that “most monitored private media adopted a critical editorial line against the ruling party and some clearly favoured the opposition”.

A media firm owned by state oil giant Orlen has informed two opposition groups that it will not publish their campaign adverts ahead of next week’s elections because of their “left-wing values” and „understanding of the Polish national interest” https://t.co/3mqy9RZqEz

— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) October 6, 2023

In its report, the OSCE also observed that “the campaign was highly confrontational and often negative”, including “repeated use [of] inflammatory and discriminatory rhetoric”.

It pointed in particular to PiS and the far-right Confederation (Konfederacja), which “used anti-migrant narratives” that were “xenophobic and misogynistic”.

The OSCE also highlighted that changes were made to the electoral code this year that “aimed at increasing turnout predominantly [in] rural areas, which was perceived…to advantage the ruling party”, which has stronger support in such areas.

However, it noted that election day itself was “calm, voters enthusiastically turned out in large numbers, and the process was well-managed in the limited number of polling stations visited”.

Official results from Poland’s elections show that the ruling PiS party has come first, with 35%, but lost its parliamentary majority.

Three opposition parties, with a combined 54%, would be able to form a government.

For our full report click here ⬇️ https://t.co/VUDSi698ef

— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) October 17, 2023

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Main image credit: Rafal Szczepankowski / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.