Parties' financial prudence could influence election campaign strength

The strength of a party's parliamentary and presidential election campaign may depend on how cautiously the funds were managed. Law and Justice (PiS) has managed to save zł.21 million during the past three years. The party has already spent around zł.500,000 on transmitting commercials on public TV promoting Lech Kaczyński for President. The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) has zł.9 million, which according to party representatives is only a quarter of its needs. The SLD's previous parliamentary campaign cost zł.25 million, while the presidential battle totaled zł.25 million. The Civic Platform (PO), as an opponent of financing parties from the budget, has no savings and plans to obtain a loan to run the campaigns. In 2001 the party was granted a loan of zł.5 million. Self-Defense has around zł.2.5 million of savings. Party representatives admit that they have problems with obtaining loans, therefore candidates will have to pay in contributions themselves. Polish Social Democracy (SDPL) plans to spend zł.5 million on the parliamentary campaign and zł.2 million on its presidential campaign. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 6) A.K.