I am surprised by the proposal to appoint three investigative committees at the same time. This is incredibly hard work and takes a lot of time. If someone wants to turn the commission’s work into a political game, he may not need any documents or knowledge of the regulations, Małgorzata Wassermann (PiS), chairman of the investigative commission on Amber Gold, told PAP.
The Citizens’ Coalition submitted three draft resolutions to the President of the Sejm on the creation of parliamentary investigative committees: on the so-called visa scandal, Pegasus and the so-called envelope elections 2020. The projects appeared on the parliamentary websites; received form numbers and were submitted to the first reading during the Sejm session. Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia said that they would like to establish three investigative committees at the same time, and that the first reading of draft resolutions on the committees would take place on Tuesday.
“Incredibly hard work”
Being a member of an investigative committee, when you get to know, collect, read and analyze the documents, is incredibly hard work that takes a lot of time. It is with great surprise that I accept the proposal to appoint three investigative committees at the same time, because an investigative committee is a body that is expected to provide knowledge and insight into a certain situation to society. It is difficult for me to imagine that three different, major topics are being discussed in these committees at the same time
– Wassermann told PAP.
I think there probably won’t be any major problems on the part of the Sejm employees, the Sejm is well prepared and works very efficiently
– she added.
Referring to the statement of Sejm President Szymon Hołownia, who said at Thursday’s press conference that the work of the investigative committees would probably not last very long, she said:
I don’t think the marshal knows what he’s talking about.
She pointed out that to draw up a work plan for the committee, “you must first download the documentation available from the relevant institutions.”
After you read it, you can create a work plan or a witness plan, and then you have to interview them. If someone wants to turn the work of the investigative committee into a political game, he may not need any documents or knowledge of the regulations
– she said.
She emphasized that working in an investigative committee “requires a very extensive knowledge of the law.”
I am aware that the investigative committee has advisors, but these advisors also need time to prepare the MPs, at least for the topics they will discuss.
– she noted.
Need for analysis
I am a lawyer, an advocate, but the scope of my assignment included areas of law that I had never dealt with before, for example aviation law. This required me to thoroughly analyze the regulations, familiarize myself with them, commentaries and case law
– the PiS MP told PAP.
She added that she feels “disgusted and terrified when she hears the statements of the Sejm chairman, who encourages Poles to buy popcorn and have fun watching the Sejm session.”
If the Marshal means the work of the committee as he presented it, or as he encourages you to watch next week, then maybe it really will only last a short time and there will just be games. I do not support such a model. I believe that the task that MPs undertake – regardless of whether it concerns a standing committee or an investigative committee – is a very serious task and must be tackled with great seriousness, provided with knowledge, and that takes time.
– she emphasized.
Wassermann admitted that working in the investigative committee for her was “excluded from normal life and functioning for three years, in the full sense of the word.”
During these three years my only attraction was going to church and going to the grocery store on Sundays. Please believe me. I read every document submitted to the investigative committee, and there were tens of thousands
– she noted.
She added that she could not imagine hearings before an investigative committee taking place ad hoc, in front of cameras, without thorough preparation.
gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce