On Tuesday evening, the Sejm approved a resolution to form a parliamentary inquiry into what has been called the visa scandal. The new committee will be composed of 11 MPs. This marks the second investigative panel created by the Sejm in the current term.
In total, 259 lawmakers voted in favor of creating the inquiry, 79 voted against, and one member abstained. More than one hundred from the governing party did not participate in the vote.
The inquiry commission is tasked with examining the legality, regularity, and purposefulness of actions related to the legalization of residence for foreigners on Polish territory during the period from November 12, 2019 to November 20, 2023. The commission is also to investigate any abuses, negligence, or omissions connected to that process, according to the justification attached to the decision to establish the committee.
Earlier, the Sejm rejected two amendments proposed by Marek Asta of the PiS party. The first sought to extend the investigation window to cover November 16, 2007 through November 20, 2023. The second would have added a provision aimed at strengthening the media’s dissemination of information about the legalization of foreign residence, with emphasis on actions that could influence parliamentary election results and harm Poland’s international image.
This marks the second investigative committee formed by the Sejm in this term. On December 7, the Sejm appointed a separate inquiry into the legality of the 2020 presidential election conducted by postal voting. That committee held its first meeting on Tuesday, electing its leadership and outlining its mandate.
“You lied to the Poles”
Paweł Jabłoński, a member of PiS, stated during the debate that his party would not oppose the resolution because the issue requires reliable and thorough explanation that goes beyond the other side’s approach. He warned that the purpose of the inquiry is to uncover facts, and if findings turn against his party or Minister Sikorski, they will not shy away from them. He asserted that Civic Platform would not escape accountability.
When a committee is in place, the goal is to clarify what happened. Critics say that while the aim is to shed light on the facts, any unfavorable discoveries for the coalition will be treated as attempts to dodge responsibility. Jabłoński insisted that the inquiry would ensure all relevant facts are examined rather than hidden.
In the visa domain, the task could prove challenging due to the breadth of the system. The inquiry is expected to illuminate whether there was a systemic pattern of misinformation and whether it influenced public perception during elections or policy discussions. The discussion also touched on broader questions about migration policy, border security, and the potential implications for Poland’s relations with the European Union.
MPs argued that the inquiry would scrutinize claims of widespread visa issuance in exchange for favors, stressing that there is a need for transparent truth even if it carries politically sensitive consequences. The discussion underscored that the investigation aims to reassure the public by presenting a clear account of the sequence of events and the measures taken to address any identified shortcomings.
With the inquiry now formed, attention turns to how the committee will navigate its mandate. The MPs will be required to examine complex procedural and regulatory questions, verify the accuracy of statements that have circulated in public discourse, and assess the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms established to prevent irregularities. The outcome of the inquiry could influence future how policy is shaped around residence, migration, and related administrative processes in Poland, and may also impact how external observers view Poland’s governance and rule of law commitments.
olnk/PAP
Source: wPolityce