Polish Sejm Debates the Future of the Russian Influence Committee
A political maneuver is underway to obscure certain facts, as Jacek Ozdoba, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, spoke in an interview with PAP about the possibility that the Sejm would dismiss members of the commission tasked with investigating Russian influence on Poland’s security between 2007 and 2022. PiS MP Radosław Fogiel called this move a way of “knocking out the teeth of the committee”.
On Wednesday, the Sejm will vote on the dismissal of members of the State Commission for investigating Russian influence on Poland’s internal security during the 2007–2022 period. By law, the Sejm both appoints and dismisses the members of this commission.
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The Prophecy in the series “Reset”
According to Jacek Ozdoba, removing the committee members would be a “typical political step” designed to obscure the truth.
The documents presented by Professor Sławomir Cenckiewicz and editor Michał Rachoń, creators of the series, are acknowledged beyond dispute, according to the minister.
As stated, the Polish television production, which deals with ties to the Russian Federation, did not trigger the creation of the commission. Still, its materials could be used. Ozdoba argues that the documents offer public evidence suggesting there was a pro-Russian government.
What new findings might this committee uncover? Only time will tell what actions Donald Tusk took when he served as prime minister, said Ozdoba.
PiS MP Fogiel accused the current ruling majority of not addressing the real concerns of citizens.
“Either you serve the Polish people from day one of your term, or you serve your own interests and those of your colleagues,” he said.
An attempt to remove the committee investigating Russian influence, since dismissing its members would accomplish that goal, should be read in this light, he added.
Declassified documents from the period of Donald Tusk’s government raise questions about the PO-PSL era’s approach to Russia, Fogiel noted.
The country faces a war on its eastern border as imperial Russia wages conflict in Ukraine. Several European nations reportedly saw Russian influence in their political life. In Poland, there are documented cases from the surrounding environment, including Germany. Investigators say examining whether similar influence occurred in recent Polish years falls within the interests of the political class. Yet the majority, under Tusk’s leadership, could halt such actions by resisting new appointments after any resignations, signaling a broader effort to block the committee’s ability to act.
The PiS MP emphasized this reading of events.
Last Tuesday, Donald Tusk, the head of the PO, announced the resignation of the committee’s members. The party now faces questions on the future of the body once nicknamed the “lex Tusk.” During the Sejm’s next session, the composition of the committee will be debated, and its fate reconsidered.
“We will assess the committee’s composition during the next part of the first Sejm session and decide on its future work,” a piqued voice from the opposition stated.
Critiques of the Committee
The committee charged with examining Russian influence has been accused of violating constitutional rights and living under heavy scrutiny and public emotion. Critics argue that the move represents a political spectacle meant to suppress competition.
Public demonstrations in Poland underscored the scale of opposition to what some called a political manipulation of the process. The PO leader explained why the committee will not be liquidated, noting that a law would be required for such a move. He suggested that the president’s cooperation could not be relied upon in these circumstances, so the House would reject the committee’s composition by a formal resolution.
As announced, on August 31, the Sejm of the 9th term appointed nine members to the commission investigating Russian influence on Poland’s internal security from 2007 to 2022. All nominees were put forward by PiS; the opposition presented no candidates and did not participate in the vote.
Appointed members included notable figures such as the Director of the Military Historical Bureau, Sławomir Cenckiewicz, adviser to the president Prof. Andrzej Zybertowicz, and other prominent experts including Prof. Przemysław Żurawski vel Grajewski, Łukasz Ciegotura, Michał Wojnowski, Józef Brynkus, Marek Szymaniak, Arkadiusz Puławski, and Andrzej Kowalski.
Gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce