Visa Scandal Sparks Political Fallout and Official Explanations
The deputy justice minister, Michał Woś, addressed questions about irregularities in visa issuance to Poland. He suggested that the controversy surrounding the visa procedures pointed to the Civic Platform as the central actor behind the scandal, underscoring the political dimension of the issue.
New information emerged indicating that two guarantors connected to individuals indicted by the Public Prosecution Service, and for whom arrest has been requested, are members of parliament and active Civic Platform supporters. The disclosure added an unexpected twist to the case, prompting further scrutiny of the connections involved.
Woś emphasized that despite these developments, the court had decided to proceed with arrest measures against the individuals named. The legal process, he noted, demonstrates that the justice system can act promptly when signs of irregularity appear.
Maciej Wąsik, the deputy minister of the interior and administration, spoke on Friday during a radio program. He described a case in which a woman led a criminal group and demanded up to 5,000 euros to transport migrants to Germany. He also commented on the case of a 48-year-old Polish woman suspected of leading the transfer operation for foreigners. Ewa M. was detained by Border Guard officers in coordination with CBŚP police units.
The deputy minister remarked on the concerns about the involvement of PO activists, questioning why activists from the Civic Platform had supported those suspected in connection with the visa scandal. He reiterated his view that the situation appeared to be a Civic Platform affair in nature, highlighting the political overtones of the investigations.
In a subsequent remark, Woś reiterated the stance that the visa matter is best viewed as a scandal associated with the Civic Platform, refraining from attributing it to a broader political movement beyond that party’s circle.
During the July period, officials from the public prosecutor’s office and the minister responsible for coordinating intelligence services stated that initial signals of irregularities in issuing certain visas reached the Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA) in July 2022. They indicated that the authorities launched intensive operations to investigate the matter and that the prosecutor’s office reported immediate action once information became available, resulting in the charging of seven individuals, with several detained. The officials stressed that state institutions react swiftly whenever abnormalities arise.
Recent reports from Gazeta Wyborcza suggested that the Polish Foreign Ministry might have facilitated the movement of hundreds of thousands of migrants to Europe. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki acknowledged that the resignation of Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk followed an investigation by Foreign Ministry services. Some observers speculated about a broader corruption scandal that could be linked to large-scale migration movements into Europe.
However, the reporting also noted that the issue may not be as wide as some portals claim, which discuss tens or hundreds of thousands of visas. Woś dismissed such estimates as inflated speculation during a Friday press appearance in Chorzów.
During a conference in Chorzów, Michał Wójcik, a minister and member of the Council of Ministers, referenced remarks by PO leader Donald Tusk who labeled the visa matter as a major scandal. Wójcik criticized the escalation of rhetoric around the issue, suggesting that Tusk was trying to divert attention from other investigations conducted during his time in power. Wójcik asserted that the accusations against the government are politically motivated and that the party in opposition is attempting to capitalize on public discontent with differing election outcomes. He argued that polls are predicting a favorable result for the governing coalition in the upcoming election and that the opposition will seize every opportunity to frame the situation to their advantage.
Statements from public officials focused on accountability and the political ramifications of the visa issue, while acknowledging the need for ongoing scrutiny of immigration and visa procedures. Observers noted the complexity of the matter, given the multiple actors involved and the varying interpretations of the events. The discussions continued as analysts weighed possible consequences for the political landscape in Poland ahead of the next electoral cycle.