Poland’s nationalist-controlled parliament on Friday passed a controversial law establishing a commission of inquiry into “Russian influence in Poland”.
Composed of nine members elected by the lower house of parliament, the commission will be able to decide whether or not the targeted person succumbed to Russian influence between 2007 and 2022, and then convict him.
The government does not provide for the possibility of appeal against these decisions, except in case of formal irregularities in the operation of the commission.
A target can be banned from holding public office for 10 years with regard to access to public finances and classified information in order to “prevent him from acting again under Russian influence to the detriment of the interests of the Republic of Poland,” says the law quoted law. agency France – Press (AFP).
Critics of this law believe that it violates the constitutional principles of the separation of political and judicial powers, as the body assumes the powers of a prosecutor and a court.
According to the opposition, the law was designed to endanger opponents of the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party ahead of elections before the end of the year and to prevent politicians from changing their beliefs, such as former Prime Minister Donald Tusk (2007 – 2014). , can take positions of responsibility if they win the elections.
At the beginning of the month, the text was rejected by the upper house, controlled by the opposition, and the nationalist majority now managed to pass it in a second vote in the lower house, by 234 votes to 219.
The head of the commission will be appointed by the country’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, and its members will not be held accountable for its decisions.
To enter into force, the text still needs to be signed by the Polish President, Andrezej Duda, who has not yet spoken out on the matter.
Source: DN
