The call was made to dissolve the provisional committee tasked with examining Russian influence, a move framed by critics as the body having outlived its purpose after its members were dismissed. In remarks to journalists in the Sejm, Borys Budka, the head of the KO club, stated that the committee had effectively served its time and should be disbanded following the recent dismissals of its members.
On the evening session Wednesday, the Sejm voted to remove eight members from the State Commission charged with investigating Russian influence on Poland’s internal security during the period from 2007 to 2022. The dismissed were Sławomir Cenckiewicz, Andrzej Zybertowicz, Przemysław Żurawski vel Grajewski, Łukasz Ciegotura, Marek Szymaniak, Arkadiusz Puławski, Andrzej Kowalski, and Michał Wojnowski. The decision sparked a wave of commentary from observers and politicians alike about the future direction of oversight on this issue.
In the wake of the vote, discussions emerged about what comes next. Budka emphasized that the primary concern was refining the legal framework governing such commissions and suggested that any forthcoming iteration would need to reflect changes in law and governance. He pointed to potential shifts under a new government that could solidify a majority capable of passing the required formalities, noting that today’s votes demonstrated a stable parliamentary alignment that could enable structural reforms moving forward.
Budka warned that the committee, as it stood, was largely non-existent following the mass dismissal of its roster. He proposed that, beginning December 12, a new governing majority would be in place in Poland, with Polish services in a position to provide clearer explanations about events in the energy sector over the past eight years. He cited how earlier governments influenced energy policy, including the strategic role of coal and the relationships with external actors, as an area where the state must offer thorough accountability. He also called for investigations into the conduct of officials and the broader impacts of policy choices on national security and economic resilience, including the activities of certain officials within the military and public institutions, and the parallel question of banking relationships involving state-linked advisors.
Budka underscored that a reliable and constitutionally grounded approach by security services would be essential to any future inquiry. The aim, he said, is to ensure that oversight is conducted with integrity and transparency, respecting the constitutional framework that governs state institutions while addressing past concerns about influence and policy outcomes.
Historically, the commission was established to examine Russian influence on Poland’s internal security from 2007 to 2022. On August 31, during its last session under the previous parliamentary term, the Sejm appointed nine members to the commission. The opposition did not nominate candidates or participate in the vote, and all nine members were associated with the ruling party at that time. The body’s composition reflected that political moment, and the recent changes have sparked debate about how future inquiries should be structured and who should lead them to ensure broad legitimacy and bipartisan trust.
The group initially included a range of figures connected to security, historical research, and governmental advisory roles. The appointments included the Director of the Military Historical Bureau, a presidential adviser, and a chair of the President’s Security and Defense Council, among others. The shifts in membership have raised questions about accountability, the proper scope of investigations, and the balance between civilian oversight and security services in Poland’s ongoing effort to scrutinize past actions and safeguard national interests.