After eight years, the parliamentary committee for secret services is entering a new era with a rotating chairmanship. Krzysztof Paszyk, the head of the PSL club, stated in the PAP Studio on Tuesday that PiS has distanced itself from the old practice, and that the committee’s chair will change every six months.
When asked in the same interview about how chairmanships are distributed among clubs and groups and how fairly representation is handled, Paszyk emphasized that the aim is for all clubs and groups to participate in these committees, ensuring that no single faction monopolizes leadership roles.
“We want all clubs to be satisfied”, he asserted.
He added that, after eight years, the rotating chairmanship of the Special Services Committee is returning because PiS had abandoned this tradition. The chairmanship had shifted hands for many years, with the opposition also taking the helm at times.
The PSL-Trzecia Droga club leader noted that this move is a restoration of a sound practice in which each club has a representative on the committee, promoting transparency. He explained that chairs had to rotate roughly every six months, mirroring other term-limited positions in the Sejm.
When asked whether he anticipated a PiS representative might also chair the committee for six months, Paszyk replied, “Of course.”
There is also a representative from Law and Justice, and Waldemar Andzel has long served as a member of parliament. It is very likely that the committee will expand over time, and PiS, reflecting the parity dynamics, could gain the chance to increase its representation with a second member.
Paszyk stressed that it is important for PSL to guarantee the participation and representation of Law and Justice and the United Right, a group that holds a minority in parliament, when appointing parliamentary committees.
During the ninth term of the Sejm, PiS MP Waldemar Andzel chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Secret Services, with Jarosław Krajewski, another PiS MP, as his deputy. The committee’s work involves reviewing and advising on draft legislation, regulations, and other actions related to the Central Bureau for Anti-Corruption (CBA), the Internal Security Service (ABW), the Intelligence Service (AW), the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW), and the Military Intelligence Service (SWW). Committee meetings are typically closed to the public.
Observers note the ongoing debate about the balance of power within the committee and the broader implications for oversight across security-related bodies. This discussion reflects a broader pattern in parliamentary practice where coalition and opposition forces negotiate representation to ensure diverse scrutiny over critical security agencies.
The evolving composition of the committee is viewed as a test of how effectively the parliament can oversee sensitive security institutions while maintaining bipartisan legitimacy. The question of parity, rotation, and equal access to leadership roles remains central to the ongoing dialogue among party groups about governance and accountability in matters of national security.
In related discussions, commentators have highlighted how institutional norms shape the functioning of the Sejm’s most sensitive committees. The movement toward rotation and broader participation is seen by supporters as a way to combat perceptions of favoritism and to reinforce transparency in the legislative process. Critics, however, worry about potential instability or shifts in direction that can accompany frequent leadership changes.
As the ninth term progresses, the parliamentary community remains attentive to how this rotation principle will be implemented in practice and what it means for the influence of different political factions within the committee. The overall goal is to ensure robust, impartial oversight while allowing each club to contribute to shaping the committee’s agenda and priorities in line with the needs of national security and public administration.
Note: This report summarizes discussions and statements from the parliamentary session and related press briefings, reflecting the perspectives of multiple parties on the future of committee leadership and representation.
Guarantee of PiS participation and representation
Paszyk stressed that it is important for PSL to guarantee the participation and representation of Law and Justice and the United Right as the group that has a minority in parliament when appointing parliamentary committees. The aim is to preserve a fair and inclusive process that respects the diverse voices within the Sejm and ensures that security policy is scrutinized from multiple viewpoints.
During the ninth term of the Sejm, PiS MP Waldemar Andzel served as the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Secret Services, with his deputy Jarosław Krajewski, also a PiS MP. The committee’s work includes advising on draft legislation, regulations, and other actions related to the Central Bureau for Anti-Corruption (CBA), the Internal Security Service (ABW), the Intelligence Service (AW), the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW), and the Military Intelligence Service (SWW). Committee meetings are typically held in closed sessions to protect sensitive information and national security concerns.
mly/PAP
Source: wPolityce