Police Requested at Regional Assembly After Councillors Wear Campaign T-Shirts

A session of the Lubuskie Voivodeship Assembly in Zielona Góra took an unexpected turn when three councillors from the Law and Justice (PiS) party attended wearing black T-shirts in support of a presidential candidate. The move sparked controversy, with Sławomir Kotylak, a councillor from the Civic Coalition (KO) party, demanding that the police be called to intervene, citing a violation of electoral regulations.

Council chairwoman Anna Synowiec attempted to de-escalate the situation by suggesting the councillors button their jackets to cover the slogans. Despite repeated requests, the PiS councillors refused to remove their T-shirts, leading to a heated debate over whether their actions constituted illegal election campaigning within a government office.

Kotylak formally requested law enforcement to handle the matter, but Synowiec declined to involve the police, stating that anyone aware of a legal violation could file a report themselves. After a break, she announced that the National Electoral Commission would be informed and that a legal opinion would be sought to clarify campaigning rules for councillors in official settings.

The PiS councillors defended their actions, with some claiming that the controversy was a distraction from real provincial issues, such as budget management and railway problems. Others argued that simply wearing a T-shirt under a jacket did not constitute election agitation.

Despite the disagreement, the session resumed with a focus on scheduled agenda items. However, the incident highlighted ongoing political tensions and the challenges of maintaining neutrality in official proceedings during an election period.

Source: GL