Senate rejects amendments to finance political parties from state budget

The Senate has rejected amendments to the law on political party financing proposed by the Sejm, according to which the parties would be financed from the state budget. This means that unless the Sejm changes the draft bill back to its own proposals, which would require support of an absolute majority of deputies, the financing regulations will remain as they are now, with parties allowed to conduct commercial activities and collect money from sponsors. The senators also derided the Sejm's proposals to reserve a certain portion of places on election lists for women, and rejected them. (Gazeta Wyborcza, April 7-8, p.A3) T.J.