Officials stated that all duties of the Central Bureau for Anticorruption would be absorbed by the police, with a clear commitment to continue pursuing corruption with resolve, as announced by Rafał Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw, to PAP.
On November 10, leaders from the Civic Platform, Polish People’s Party, Polski 2050, and the Association of Journalists began formalizing a coalition agreement. Clause 19 of the initial segment specifies the dissolution of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau and instructs that its resources and authorities be reassigned to other agencies, including the Anti-Corruption Crimes Department of the Police Central Criminal Investigation Bureau.
The document asserts that such changes will bolster the fight against corruption, an effort it claims was neglected under the previous administration.
During the day, Trzaskowski, who had repeatedly called for ending the CBA during the campaign, was questioned by PAP about the proposed liquidation plan. He reiterated that the state would safeguard anticorruption efforts by transferring functions to the police, yet he expressed concern about politicization in the agency’s past. He argued that expertise should reside with professionals, ideally independent police officers who operate free from political influence, rather than individuals advancing narrow political interests.
– the Warsaw mayor remarked.
Żaryn: A Harmful Postulate
Stanisław Żaryn, the Deputy Minister coordinating Special Services, weighed in on Thursday remarks concerning the decision. He described the proposal as a damaging premise for the CBA and for the Polish state as a whole. He warned that liquidating a body like the CBA would likely cause tangible harm to the nation.
The stance of opposition figures featured prominently as the debate continued. Even as some retreat from earlier campaign pledges, their position remains cautious about the implications of dissolving the CBA. It raises questions about the political calculus behind such a move and the anticipated impact on oversight and anticorruption capabilities.
gah/PAP