The Polish parliament, known as the Sejm, has given its approval to a controversial bill that aims to establish a state commission responsible for investigating Russia's influence on Poland's internal security during the period from 2007 to 2022, DW reports.
On May 26, the bill received 234 votes in favor, 219 against, and one abstention in the lower house of parliament. For the law to take effect, it must be signed by President Andrzej Duda.
The proposed legislation includes provisions that would prohibit any politician found guilty by the nine-member commission from holding public positions associated with the allocation of funds for a period of ten years. The Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, has the authority to appoint the head of the commission.
Opposition parties have strongly criticized the decision, denouncing it as a "constitutional coup" that transforms politicians into judges. Critics argue that the ruling Law and Justice party, a national conservative party, is utilizing this law to undermine their primary opponent in the upcoming parliamentary elections, former Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who leads the liberal opposition. Marchin Kwieciński, the General Secretary of the Civic Platform party, described the law as an attempt to force Tusk out of the political arena.
Donald Tusk, the former President of the European Council, served as the Prime Minister of Poland from 2007 to 2014. Conservatives accused him of signing unfavorable gas agreements with Russia, among other allegations. Tusk represents the main political rival of Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of the Law and Justice party. Tusk currently leads the Civic Platform, which is Poland's largest opposition party and holds liberal-conservative principles.
Comments (0)