Controversial Commission Election: Opposition Boycotts Vote and Claims It’s Illegal and Unconstitutional

The conservative majority elected nine members of the commission, while all opposition parties boycotted the vote and refused to nominate their candidates, claiming it was “illegal” and “unconstitutional”.

So far, no date has been set for the commission to start its work.

The commission should check whether, between 2007 and 2022, politicians under the influence of Russia did not make decisions that would threaten the security of Poland. Officials whose actions would be recognized as threatening national security may be subject to penalties.

Among other things, those found guilty could be banned for ten years from holding public positions related to public finances and classified information.

The original version of the law was sharply criticized by both the opposition, the EU and the US, claiming that its real purpose was to target opposition politicians before the autumn elections.

The law was proposed in May by the ruling national conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, and critics say its main target is former prime minister Donald Tusk, who represents the opposition liberal-conservative Civic Platform (PO) party.

In response to criticism of the law, Polish President Andrzej Duda proposed urgently amending it, but the Senate, where the government does not have a majority, also rejected the revised version of the law. However, the Seimas of the lower house of the parliament overcame the veto of the upper house with 235 to 214 votes, with four members abstaining.

2023-08-30 19:43:00
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