The discussion centers on recent moves by the Civic Coalition to establish parliamentary investigative committees, and the broader political maneuvering it signals. The head of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Piotr Gliński, expressed concern that the announcements may function as a distraction from the core issues and could inflame tensions in Poland. He noted that more proposed commissions might follow, potentially swelling the number of inquiries discussed in public forums and on television programs.
On Wednesday, the Civic Coalition submitted three draft resolutions to the Chairman of the Sejm proposing the creation of investigative committees, covering the visa scandal, Pegasus software, and what is described as the Envelope Elections of 2020. The drafts appeared on parliamentary websites on Thursday, received form numbers, and were put forward for consideration at the Sejm’s first reading. The Marshal of the Sejm confirmed that the initial debate on these bills was planned for Tuesday during the Sejm session.
Will the opposition press forward with six investigative committees?
During a TVN24 morning program, Barbara Nowacka of KO stated that these three committees have priority. She added that additional committees would follow, noting that there would be at least three more inquiries after these three. She affirmed the possibility of as many as six committees, and hinted that the topics for the next trio would be revealed in due course.
Other topics under consideration include the ventilator procurement controversy and the government’s handling of the pandemic period.
Nowacka also suggested that these inquiries may be part of a broader set of political tactics, rather than strictly technical investigations.
The article referenced various public discussions about the evolving strategy in Polish politics and the role of investigative committees in scrutinizing government actions during recent years.
“Smokescreen”
Piotr Gliński, the culture and heritage minister, commented on Sunday evening about the emergence of investigative committees. He remarked that the number could rise quickly, and suggested that the moves are intended to steer political discourse and potentially ignite conflict within the country. He acknowledged that disagreement and debate are inherent to politics, but argued that the level of rhetoric has deteriorated and hindered constructive dialogue.
According to Gliński, when political discourse hinges on insults and confrontational language, it weakens the public sphere and undermines the quality of discussion around important national issues.
He also indicated a preference for broader program proposals and a focus on stable, long-term policy directions rather than episodic confrontations.
The opposition’s strategy
On Wednesday evening, the opposition’s press service announced that a KO club had submitted draft resolutions to create investigative committees related to the visa scandal, Pegasus, and the envelope elections. The announcement was framed as part of a wider political gambit led by the Civic Platform and its leader, Donald Tusk.
The first draft resolution seeks the appointment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the legality, regularity, and effectiveness of actions related to the stay of foreigners in Poland between January 1, 2019 and November 20, 2023, including measures to prevent abuses or omissions in the legalization process.
The Envelope Elections commission aims to scrutinize the legality and rationale of measures taken in the 2020 presidential elections conducted by postal vote. The draft highlights the actions of senior government figures, including the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, and promises to examine how directives issued by government members were implemented by institutions such as the national postal service and the state printing house.
A separate draft resolution proposed the creation of an Inquiry Commission to examine the use of Pegasus software by government and security entities, as well as related operational and intelligence activities carried out from 2015 to 2023.
These deliberations reflect ongoing political tensions and the ongoing attempt to hold the administration to account through formal parliamentary procedures.