In the Sejm, officials indicate plans to reject the Senate’s veto of the Russian Influence Commission law, stated PiS Secretary General Krzysztof Sobolewski. He suggested the opposition’s stance signals fear about the measure, remarking on their decision not to place representatives before the committee when questioned by reporters.
On Thursday, the Senate approved a resolution to overturn the bill that would establish a committee to examine Russian influence. The proposal now returns to the Sejm for consideration.
When the bill returns to the Sejm, lawmakers intend to override the Senate veto, Sobolewski asserted in an interview with PAP. He later noted that the law would proceed to President Andrzej Duda for approval.
“We hope the president will sign it and that the committee will begin its work in this term,” the PiS representative added.
Asked about the opposition’s announcement to withhold their representatives from the committee, Sobolewski commented, “They appear to be afraid of something.”
Further legislative process
To forward the bill to the president, the Sejm must reject the Senate’s position by an absolute majority vote in the presence of at least half the mandated number of deputies.
On December 13 last year, the Sejm held the first reading of the PiS-drafted bill establishing a state commission to investigate Russian influence on Poland’s internal security from 2007 to 2022. The Sejm approved the law on April 14. The commission will operate under rules similar to those of the Warsaw reprivatization verification commission.
The Commission is expected to analyze official actions, create, duplicate, and share information with third parties; assess attempts to influence board decisions; identify harmful decisions; scrutinize directives issued on behalf of a government agency or company; and review contracts or the management of public or corporate funds. Potential powers for the committee include revoking administrative decisions tied to Russian influence, imposing a ban on performing functions related to public funds for up to 10 years, and revoking and prohibiting security clearances for a decade.
This overview aligns with the broader effort to scrutinize state activities and ensure accountability in the context of national security concerns.
– gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce