WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish lawmakers on Friday approved a controversial bill on alleged Russian influence in Poland that targets the opposition and could affect the outcome of fall parliamentary elections.
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish lawmakers on Friday approved a controversial bill on alleged Russian influence in Poland that targets the opposition and could affect the outcome of fall parliamentary elections.
The new law would establish a state commission to investigate Russian influences in Poland. It is widely believed to be targeting former prime minister Donald Tusk, now the top leader of the opposition Civic Coalition, at a time when early campaigning for the autumn election is underway.
The lower house, or Sejm, voted 234-219 with one abstention to approve the law proposed by the right-wing ruling party. It still needs the approval of President Andrzej Duda for it to enter into force.
Tusk, who is not a member of parliament, was present in the chamber during the vote.
Critics say the bill violates Poland’s constitution and the right of citizens to face an independent court, and is a clear example of how the ruling Law and Justice party has been using the law for its own purposes. purposes since he came to power. in 2015.
They view the bill, dubbed “Lex Tusk”, as an attempt to create a powerful and unconstitutional tool that would help Law and Justice continue to wield power even if it loses control of parliament in this autumn’s election.
“This regulation violates all constitutional grounds,” said Slawomir Patyra, a constitution expert at Marie Sklodowska-Curie University in Lublin.
Patyra said the proposed commission would investigate and prosecute “anyone who criticizes the current political or economic order” because the definition of “Russian influences” is vague.
Law and Justice accuses Tusk of being too friendly with Russia as prime minister between 2007 and 2014 and making pro-Russia gas deals before going to Brussels to be president of the European Council between 2014 and 2019.
The bill provides for the creation of a state commission with the powers of prosecutor and judge. It could impose penalties, including 10-year bans, on officials in positions that have control over the spending of public funds.
The Lower House also debated another bill proposed by the ruling party that lowers the required quorum of the Constitutional Court. Its aim is to speed up work on legislation that is bogged down by divisions within the court, which has been brought under political control. Among those laws are new regulations that could unlock massive EU funds that Brussels froze amid the rule of law clash with Warsaw.
At stake is some 35 billion euros ($37 billion) in EU grants and loans, as Poland’s government continues to spend huge amounts on social bonds, pensions and weapons while the war in neighboring Ukraine continues.
A vote has been postponed to the next session of parliament.
During heated debates in parliament earlier this week, one of the ruling party’s key lawmakers, Tadeusz Cymanski, said the bill reducing the Constitutional Court’s quorum is crucial because the party wants to “force the court… to issue a specific ruling that they are waiting for.”
Government policies, especially on the judicial system, have already pitted Warsaw against the EU, which it says go against the principles of the rule of law and democracy. The two bills could increase the gap.
Monika Scislowska, The Associated Press
