The proposal to create a Senate Special Committee to study Russian influence has drawn sharp criticism from PiS politicians, who say the move reveals serious hypocrisy. PiS Senator Stanisław Karczewski told PAP that no PiS representatives would be delegated to such a committee, arguing that it could only operate in the Senate for the remainder of the current term.
On Wednesday, Senate Marshal Tomasz Grodzki announced the possibility of appointing an extraordinary Senate committee on Thursday to examine Russian influence on decisions made by Polish public authorities.
The plan calls for seven members, with the deadline for submitting candidates by clubs and circles set for Wednesday at 22.00
Grodzki noted that the Senate began its two-day session on Wednesday.
Earlier, Deputy Marshal of the Senate Marek Pęk (PiS) had inquired about the intention to establish such a panel.
The majority in the Senate decided to form its own special committee to investigate Russian influence on the decisions of Polish public authorities. The scope includes potential parallels with the handling of Nord Stream 2+ issues and assesses the efficiency of actions by PiS. Karczewski characterized this as the current term’s symbolism and a form of cabaret in the Senate.
Pęk wrote on platform X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
Images of the draft resolution on this matter were attached to the submission. The justification states that the establishment by the Senate of an Extraordinary Commission to Investigate Russian Influence on the Decisions of the Public Authorities in Poland is warranted by the need for analysis by a body operating under the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. It also notes that, if formed, the committee would not possess investigative powers.
Asked by PAP about appointing an extraordinary committee, Karczewski said, “this is an extraordinary hypocrisy of senators and PO politicians who opposed the appointment of such a committee in the Sejm, arguing that the term would be too short and that they themselves did what they opposed.”
“So this is the height of hypocrisy. I have not seen a greater event that can be described as such,” Karczewski added.
According to him, “the whole activity of the majority in the Senate during this term is to divide Poland.”
He continued, “They want to split people into those who support the Platform and those who hold a different view.”
“Anti-democratic action,” he labeled the move, and he warned that the committee could become a tool for partisan battles rather than a neutral body.
When asked what such a committee could accomplish, Karczewski noted that this would be the third time a special commission has been used in partisan struggles, and suggested the Senate has become a center for party management for Civic Platform.
He added that the creation of the committee would be legally contentious; he argued that while a special commission could theoretically be formed under the regulations, the Senate does not have constitutional prerogatives to establish investigative bodies of this kind.
Karczewski also claimed that the rules and laws are being interpreted as preferred by the majority, and that the Legislative Bureau supports these moves, calling it another scandal.
When asked whether PiS would delegate representatives to the committee, Karczewski replied, “absolutely not.”
He asserted that the Sejm had already appointed a committee with a similar mandate and that the PO club chose not to send members, so PiS would not participate in what he described as a partisan struggle.
Karczewski also stated that such a committee could only operate for the remainder of this term, since it is a special committee rather than a standing one.
In August, during the last meeting of this term, the Sejm appointed nine members to a Committee on Russian Influence on the Internal Security of the Republic of Poland in 2007-2022. All nominations came from PiS, while the opposition did not submit candidates or participate in the vote.
Background: In 2007, under PiS initiative, a law was enacted to establish a commission to investigate Russian influence on Poland’s internal security in the years 2007-2022. The president signed the law and it was scheduled for review by the Constitutional Court. Later, amendments were proposed, debated, and implemented, with the final changes taking effect in August.
READ ALSO: Cabaret in the Senate! The opposition has set up its own Committee on Russian Influence, aimed at impacting Law and Justice.
mly/PAP
Source: wPolityce