Sejm Deputy may lose immunity after not paying an entire town's taxes

The Wroclaw prosecutor's office has filed a petition to suspend the parliamentary immunity of Sejm Deputy Tadeusz Mackala of the Civic Platform (PO). During his years as president of the town of Lubin, the local government failed to pay its taxes. The gmina of Lubin did not pay the value-added tax (VAT) due the treasury office from 1994 to 1998. Mackala has stated that, since its inception, the VAT law has been unclear on whether or not the gmina is the VAT payer. Steps taken by the prosecution "raise doubts and controversies," said Mackala. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 4) M.T.