New Hope, the organization of Sławomir Mentzen, was in serious trouble. The State Electoral Commission has requested the territory Court of Warsaw to remove the group from the registry of political parties. Reason? No or illegal submission of the required financial statements for 2024.
Although the organization does not plead guilty and announces a fight in court, the procedure is clear: if the court recognizes the arguments of the PKW, Nowa Hope will cease to be as a legal formation.
The PCW stresses that the deadline for submitting the yearly study was 31 March and that it is the work of each organization to submit the full documentation together with the statutory auditor's opinion. In the opinion of the committee, Mentzen's organization failed to fulfil this obligation, so, according to the law, the case had to be brought to court. It's legal automation that leaves no area for interpretation.
Both organization members and its sympathizers accepted this information in disbelief. The organization claims that the study was submitted on time and that PKW is wrong. Explanations have been submitted, and representatives of fresh Hope declare their willingness to defend their right in court. From the point of view of the procedure, however, this is of small importance. past shows that in akin cases courts usually support PKW's conclusions, even if deficiencies were tiny or formal. The Act does not supply for indirect sanctions – if the organization fails to comply, it is deleted from the register.
The chances of saving the organization are minimal.
Although fresh Hope’s representatives argue that everything was done in accordance with the regulations and the papers influenced the time, the situation seems very difficult. According to representatives of PKW, the problem lies not only within the deadline, but in the completeness of papers and the fulfilment of formal requirements. If the court shares that opinion, the organization will be removed. specified cases have already occurred, although so far they have afraid smaller marginal groups. This time it is about an crucial political entity which has had a real impact on public debate in fresh years.
Party Vice president Bartłomiej Pejo assures that all the required papers have been sent to PKW in the last possible time, and the formation spokespersons talk about the continuation of actions and full preparation for possible court proceedings. The problem is, the rules are inexorable. The Political organization Act does not give much area for manoeuvre. The absence of a formally correct financial message means that the organization must be banned. The PKW's application to the court is so not a discretionary act – it is simply a consequence of the pre-established law.
It is worth noting that courts usually regulation on specified matters rapidly and firmly. Even if the organization appeals, the way to repeal a possible conviction will be long and complicated. This means that fresh Hope may in practice vanish from the organization registry before the fall. The failure of formal position means the deficiency of the right to grant, the launch of elections as a political party, as well as the possible failure of infrastructure and local structures.
Emergency plan and policy implications
However, the fresh Hope does not intend to give up. In the event of an adverse judgment, it is planned to set up a fresh organization – with a fresh name, but thus management and programme. Registration of a fresh formation requires only a collection of a 1000 signatures, which should not be a problem with the current back office. Nevertheless, the fresh organization starts from scratch – no money from the budget, no established position, no symbolism and recognition, which Nowa Hope gained for years.
At political level, the issue is even more important. fresh Hope is 1 of the 2 main pillars of the Confederation, alongside the Krzysztof Bosak National Movement. This may weaken the full formation, especially before the run for subsequent parliamentary and local elections. Mentzen, as the leader of 1 of the most recognizable currents within the Confederation, will gotta rapidly rebuild the organizational facilities to keep the influence and position.
The image dimension is besides important. The possible organization delegation will undoubtedly be utilized by political opponents as evidence of incompetence or deficiency of professionalism. At the same time, for fresh Hope itself, this can become a communicative of the persecution by the "system", which in turn can bring its fresh sympathizers – especially in anti-establishment environments.
The full issue besides raises serious questions about the application of the law to political parties. Should 1 formal error, even if it did, lead to the liquidation of a legally acting group with public support? Should the law not supply for indirect sanctions that make it possible to correct errors without having to be wound up? For now, the law is clear – and leaves no area for flexibility.
