A plan to establish a special committee next week to examine Russian influence was discussed by the Deputy Prime Minister and the leader of PiS, Jarosław Kaczyński. He claimed that the former Prime Minister and current head of the PO, Donald Tusk, pursued a policy largely shaped by Germany while also showing a pronounced inclination toward Russia.
During the weekend, a PiS spokesperson from Sokołów Podlaski asserted that the party acts with Poland’s interests in mind and that external stimuli significantly guided actions, with Donald Tusk’s personal ambitions playing a crucial role in the course of events.
Kaczyński reiterated that Tusk led a policy heavily influenced by Germany and, in addition, paid a deep bow to Russia.
The speaker expressed hope that a committee would be formed in the following week to scrutinize these influences and to reveal relevant documents. The assertion was that the public would see the underlying dynamics clearly.
The president of PiS underscored this expectation.
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— Poland’s security was discussed as the opposition is said to want to arm and strengthen themselves; this claim was described as false.
— PiS chair emphasized that a special election is at stake, drawing comparisons to the 1989 vote and suggesting the moment carries similar weight.
Committee of Inquiry on Russian Influence
On May 31, a law creating a commission to investigate Russian influence on internal security in Poland for the years 2007 to 2022 took effect. The president had signed the measure days earlier and indicated that it would be referred to the Constitutional Court. A subsequent draft amendment, submitted by Andrzej Duda to the Sejm on June 2, was approved by the Sejm on June 16, with the Senate’s objection rejected on June 28. The president signed the amendment on July 31, and it came into force in August.
Under the presidential amendment, lawmakers would not be allowed to serve on the committee investigating Russian influence. Some preventive measures embedded in the earlier law were removed, including the prohibition on handling public funds for up to ten years. The committee’s primary task would be to determine whether an individual can properly fulfill duties in the public interest. Decisions of the commission could be appealed to the Court of Appeal in Warsaw.
The law sets the committee at nine members of the rank of secretary of state, appointed and dismissed by the Sejm. Each Deputy or Parliamentary Club can submit no more than nine candidate names for consideration by the Marshal of the Sejm within the deadline established by the Marshal.
According to the Sejm Information Center, the director, Andrzej Grzegrzółka, told state reporters that parliamentary clubs were informed of the candidate submission deadline. The Marshal of the Sejm, Elżbieta Witek, had set Tuesday, August 29, at 20 as the close of submissions.
Several clubs, including KO, PSL, and Lewica, said they would not nominate candidates. The final list of nominees for the committee was presented by PiS.
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olk/PAP
Source: wPolityce