The Commission for the Study of Russian Influences does not violate the separation of powers; ultimately his decision can be appealed to the court and it is the court that decides in this situation – said government spokesman Piotr Müller.
President Duda’s decision
President Andrzej Duda announced on Monday that he had signed the law establishing a commission to investigate Russian influence and would submit it to the Constitutional Tribunal.
At a later press conference, a government spokesman was asked whether members of the commission would not be given excessive powers, such as access to classified information or exemptions from secrecy.
Müller replied that the members of the commission are elected by parliament – a group of people elected through democratic elections. He added that many positions are appointed in this way, he mentioned the ombudsman, the president of the National Bank of Poland and the judges of the Constitutional Tribunal.
This is the democratic legitimacy to hold this position. If anyone is surprised in any way by this or objects that this is something inappropriate, I encourage you to look at the Constitution, because there are many sensitive, very important bodies that are appointed by the Sejm. Accordingly, these elected persons will have the promise of Parliament
Muller said.
He added that “at the end there is a judicial review of the decisions made by this committee.”
It is therefore not the case that there is no possibility for judicial review of the decisions of this committee
he said.
According to him, in the case of reprivatization commission, there were also objections in this regard at the beginning, and “later it turned out that the commission had successfully won many good decisions contrary to this Warsaw reprivatization lobby”.
Then – strange or not strange – many people protested because we violated a very strong lobby, which committed illegal and moral actions in Warsaw for many years
– he said.
Report on the activities of the committee
Müller was asked about the date on which the committee would present its report on its work, namely September 17, and whether the person found guilty would be able to participate in the parliamentary elections.
If the committee decides to do so legal remedies or decide to terminate, i.e. appeal to a court. Therefore, this person will continue to perform his duties until the court decision. I really don’t understand the concerns of people making these comments here
he answered.
Fodder for the propaganda of Minsk and Moscow?
Müller was also asked if he feared that what emerged during the committee’s work would be used by Russian or Belarusian propaganda.
On the contrary. If Russia or Belarus need to use anything right now, it’s that they have knowledge of people who influenced decisions in the Polish state. About different types of decisions related to energy or other matters that have taken place in Poland in recent years and through which these people can be blackmailed. If such matters come to light, it would only be good for Polish affairs
– he assessed. At the same time, he pointed out that authorities investigating Russian influences are already active in France and Germany.
The government spokesman further states that the commission has not violated the separation of powers, because “ultimately, the decision in this case can be appealed to the court and the judge will decide in this situation.”
READ ALSO:
— The president signed the law on the committee on Russian influence and referred it to the Constitutional Tribunal! “Such a commission should also be set up at European level”
Does the opposition hear? Chairman: Let people who have decided to participate in public life have the courage to stand before the committee
— OUR INTERVIEW. The Russian Influence Act does not include judicial review? Nonsense! Smoliński: The party has the right to file a complaint with the Provincial Administrative Court
Impact on KPO negotiations
Müller was also asked whether PiS is not afraid that the appointment of the committee will not have a negative impact on the negotiations with Brussels on KPO.
This is the story the opposition is repeating and I strongly disagree
he said.
I understand that they want to take this kind of action, because some people, like Gerhard Schroeder in Germany, are afraid of this kind of action. They are afraid that things will come out that will not please public opinion, on the contrary – they will depress, because the magnitude of certain types of behavior may come to light
added a government spokesman.
Commission at EU level
The government spokesman was asked how the Prime Minister and the government intend to implement President Duda’s suggestion to create a similar commission at EU level. Piotr Müller stressed that Prime Minister Morawiecki has repeatedly raised the issue of confiscation of Russian property and securing it for the reconstruction of Ukraine during European Council meetings.
We wish that such entities or institutions would also appear at the level of the EU or individual EU countries that could study Russian influences (…). Unfortunately, we also see that the willingness is not too great in many countries, although we also see good examples, such as in France or in one of the German Länder
Muller said.
He added that, according to media reports, “Russia most likely influenced environmental organizations in Germany, which lobbied for certain activities, such as the closure of nuclear power plants or other activities that served to increase the supply of Russian gas to Germany.”
If such entities appeared in other countries or actions could be taken, for example, in the field of evaluation of the legislative activities of the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament in the framework of the representation of the Russian lobby, then we will of course such activities, and I will say more, we will also try to initiate such activities
said a government spokesman.
He said that “recent reports of corruption in the EP show that such influence could come from other countries.”
So it would be naive to say that Russia has not taken similar steps in terms of its interests in the EP or other EU institutions.
said a government spokesman.
He was also asked if he was concerned that the law establishing the State Commission for the Study of Russian Influence on the Internal Security of the Republic of Poland would have negative consequences for the European Commission.
I am convinced that every possible lobby currently active in the EU institutions will want to take all kinds of actions at all costs to misinterpret this law to the public in Europe. However, the purpose of this law is clear: to clarify all issues of dangerous Russian influence in Poland – in energy, economic affairs and other issues that could have been an element of influence in Poland for many years.
he answered.
According to him, “certainly these influences were also implemented throughout the EU and, of course, the lobby that is against the clarification of this kind of case, the clarification of this case, will work, and some politicians from Poland will also try to distort the meaning of this act in this way.”
All decisions of this body are subject to judicial review, so I don’t know what the EU would be afraid of here
– added.
Committee work schedule
Müller was also asked about the possible planning of the commission’s work.
A government spokesman stressed that it is the role of parliament to define it. He stated that it would be possible to elect committee members at the next session of the Sejm or the next.
I hope it will be possible at the next session of the Sejm
he noticed.
The Sejm on April 14 this year approved the law establishing the State Commission for the Study of Russian Influences on the Internal Security of the Republic of Poland in the Years 2007-2022. They started setting it up in December last year. PiS Delegates. They pointed out that the commission should operate under principles similar to those of the verification commission for the re-privatization of Warsaw.
May 11 this year The Senate passed a resolution to reject the law establishing this commission. On Friday, the Sejm voted against the Senate resolution.
The committee would analyze official activities, create, duplicate, share information with third parties; influencing the content of board decisions; making harmful decisions; making advance directives on behalf of a government agency or company; entering into contracts or disposing of public or corporate funds.
The decisions that the committee could take include: revoking an administrative decision issued as a result of Russian influence, issuing a ban on performing functions related to the disposal of public funds for maximum 10 years, and revocation and prohibition of security clearances for 10 years.
wkt/PAP
Source: wPolityce