The inquiry into the visa scandal is set to begin even before Christmas, according to KO MP Michał Szczerba, who is seeking a seat on the new committee. Left-wing MP Maciej Konieczny has urged that former deputy foreign minister Piotr Wawrzyk and former foreign minister Zbigniew Rau be summoned for questioning as part of the investigation.
On Tuesday evening the Sejm approved a resolution to establish an inquiry into the so called visa scandal. The 11-member committee will comprise lawmakers from multiple parties. This marks the second investigative panel created by the Sejm in the current term. The vote totaled 259 in favor, 79 against, with one abstention. More than 100 members of the ruling party did not participate in the ballot.
Michał Szczerba will represent the Civic Coalition on the committee. In an interview with the press office, he stressed that explanations are expected to come forward. He described the matter as a serious, damaging scandal that tarnishes the country’s international standing and credibility.
The scandal also led to problematic consequences, for instance at the Polish–German border, where partners feared that organized corruption enabled individuals to enter the country on the basis of bribes rather than proper verification of qualifications and documents, according to Szczerba. He also noted that parliamentary inspections at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed documentation indicating that information about visa movements had been known for years.
Szczerba calls for Rau and Wawrzyk to be the first to testify
Asked about his preferred witnesses, Szczerba identified former Foreign Ministry head Zbigniew Rau and former Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk as the initial interviewees for the committee.
The composition of the panel will be finalized by the Sejm on Thursday. Szczerba indicated a desire to meet before the holidays to organize the group and elect its leadership.
Maciej Konieczny, the left’s nominee for the committee investigating the visa scandal, told the press that work could commence early in the new year after the holidays.
He argued that it would be essential to invite several responsible ministers and officials, including Deputy Minister Piotr Wawrzyk and Minister Zbigniew Rau, as well as representatives of the consular department, since these individuals are directly connected to the visa process and the scandal at hand.
Konieczny added that the committee should also examine how Poland’s work permit system operates and whether it fulfills its intended purpose. The investigation would look beyond the scandal itself to assess whether certain companies applying for permits actually employ the people they claim to hire.
In the left-wing MP’s view, the inquiry should become a platform for a rational discussion on migration policy, avoiding fearmongering or politically driven questions about who has brought more workers into the country. The aim is to address the issue sensibly and to organize it effectively.
He emphasized the importance of a balanced approach to migration policy rather than a heated, divisive debate that exacerbates concerns about employment and border control.
gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce