PiS party’s investigation into Russian interference may be used against them

11 months ago 35

The commission established by the ruling PiS party to investigate Russian links to former Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government may be used against PiS once Tusk returns to power, Polish media reported on Wednesday.

The commission that was meant to be dismantled after PiS’ ruling comes to an end could be reopened, but this time focusing on PiS’ eight-year rules and the ties the party could have had with Moscow, Wirtualna Polska reported on Wednesday.

This will require dismissing the commission’s current members and replacing them with newly-appointed ones, Left (S&D/Left) MP Krzysztof Gawkowski told Wirtualna Polska.

“The decision of the coalition partners is that we won’t dissolve the commission. We will be replacing its composition so that it can normally operate,” he said.

PiS “wanted this commission to be established, so it shouldn’t protest,” said a member of Tusk’s Civic Platform (PO, EPP) under the condition of unanimity.

“Until now, it was the case that the commission’s members collected their salaries and did little,” Gawkowski explained the need to replace the composition of the PiS-founded body with “qualified experts.”

Those experts would investigate whether the Russian influence was fostered or combatted over the last eight years, meaning during PiS’ two terms in power, he said, adding that he is convinced that the Kremlin’s interference rose over that time “and it must be investigated.”

PiS, a party that has ruled Poland since 2015, scored the highest result in October’s general elections. Still, it failed to secure a parliamentary majority, unlike the Tusk-led coalition of three opposition blocs: his PO-founded Civic Coalition (KO, EPP/S&D), centrist Third Road (Renew/EPP) and the Left.

This means that the government by PiS’ Mateusz Morawiecki, who took the oath on Monday, is more than likely not to win a vote of confidence in the parliament, which would probably result in the Tusk-led camp replacing PiS in power.

The Commission for Investigation of Russian Influence in Polish Politics between 2007, the year Tusk first came to power in Poland, and 2023 was established by PiS in April, sparking criticism from many political observers and the EU Commission.

As the then-opposition had no doubt the new body was targeted at Tusk and meant to exclude him from Polish politics permanently, the bill establishing the commission was dubbed “lex Tusk” in Poland.

Under the bill’s first version, the person whom the commission would find guilty of having ties with Russia could be deprived of access to any public office related to disbursing the state’s money.

With its opposition taking the helm in the commission, PiS can die of the sword it once attempted to fight with.

“We don’t (intend to) dismantle the commission. It should continue to operate,” Gawkowski declared.

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)