Completion of the Stage of Interviewing Witnesses by the Investigative Committee
Sejm fee of inquiry into the so-called the visa scandal ended the stage of questioning witnesses on Friday; PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński was the final to testify – each in an open and closed session.
Throughout a press convention, Michał Szczerba summarized the progress of the committee’s work to date. “For me, the visa scandal was a betrayal of Polish beliefs, a betrayal of European values. It was an settlement {that a} bribe decided who was to enter Poland or the Schengen space,” stated the KO MP.
Abstract of the Committee’s Work
Szczerba additionally stated that the committee is at present engaged on the report and it’s to incorporate the listening to of the PiS chief. He famous that the categorised half would in all probability not be made obtainable to the general public. “The circumstances have been confirmed, the identify that appeared within the context of the visa scandal has been confirmed. It’s the identify of an individual related to the PiS atmosphere,” Szczerba stated, referring to Kaczyński’s secret interrogation. He famous that he couldn’t share this individual’s knowledge.
“We are going to put together a report, clarify this matter, and the federal government will introduce acceptable laws,” he declared.
Getting ready the Report and Ready for the Report
When requested when the committee would current a report on its work, Szczerba stated that subsequent week the committee members would meet to summarize the actions undertaken to date, together with the state of preparation of the report. As he defined, “there was a big shift on the subject of the listening to of Jarosław Kaczyński and we even have to attend for the minutes of the open and closed listening to.”
When requested whether or not the preliminary report might seem subsequent week, he didn’t rule it out.
Kaczyński’s absence on the Session and the Order Penalty
The PiS chief was initially speculated to be questioned on Wednesday, however he didn’t seem on the listening to because of his journey to Brussels. For this he was fined PLN 3,000. zloty.
Szczerba additionally introduced that there can be stories to the prosecutor’s workplace. When requested by journalists how many individuals can be affected, he stated that he couldn’t state it clearly in the intervening time. “There can be no less than a number of functions and notifications about particular suspicions of committing crimes. They’re of various caliber,” Szczerba introduced.
Quite a few Neglects in Migration and Visa Coverage
The chairman of the committee, referring to Kaczyński’s listening to, stated that “we’re satisfied that there was no management over migration coverage, there was additionally no management over visa coverage.” He assessed that visas have been issued in “completely large portions, by way of numerous channels.” “Not solely by way of the standard formulation of labor and scholar visas, but in addition by way of strictly outlined codecs that had no authorized foundation and, specifically, didn’t have the character of presidency choices,” Szczerba stated.
As he identified, that is the Poland.Enterprise Harbor program, which assumed a simplified visa process for corporations, startups and IT specialists, with out the necessity to get hold of a piece allow. Initially, it was supposed for residents of Belarus, after which was prolonged to different international locations. The Chancellery of the Prime Minister and GovTech have been liable for one of many program paths. On the finish of January this yr, the PBH program was suspended.
Deliberate Amendments and Dissenting Opinions of PiS MPs
The deputy head of the committee, Daniel Milewski (PiS), introduced that he and the second PiS MP sitting on the committee, Piotr Kaleta, would submit amendments to the report on the committee’s work and submit a dissenting opinion. He emphasised that PiS MPs have ready a “white guide” of violations, negligence and omissions within the work of the committee, which refers, amongst others, to: to the style of finishing up work, which – in his opinion – violates all requirements offered for within the laws. He added that one of many committee’s biggest omissions was not listening to all of the witnesses the committee wished to name.
He expressed hope that after the European Parliament elections, “when the electoral mud settles”, the politicians of the ruling coalition “will come to their senses and admit that they used the visa lie.”
Accusations of Manipulation and Detection of Corruption
Milewski additionally assessed that Szczerba’s statements {that a} PiS politician or his partner “competed with Edgar Kobos in corruption” are manipulation; they might additionally reveal the key of the investigation. In accordance with the PiS MP, the individual talked about by the chairman of the committee is a constructive hero of this case, as a result of it was because of this case and the suitable report that the providers handled irregularities in issuing visas.
The PiS president introduced throughout Friday’s listening to that he might say extra in a closed session about how corruption in visa issuance was detected “by chance.” He defined that he couldn’t speak about it throughout a public listening to due to somebody he knew.
Whistleblowers and Corruption Allegations
Szczerba instructed journalists that the particular providers had alerts about irregularities since mid-2022, however they didn’t take care of the case as a result of “a powerful PiS identify” appeared in it. “A corrupt provide was made to this individual to rearrange visas on the Ministry of Overseas Affairs. Edgar Kobos was costly, and this individual wished to succeed in him by way of one other, various supply,” Szczerba stated. He didn’t specify whether or not this individual accepted the corruption provide.
Throughout Friday’s listening to, Kaczyński stated that the marketing campaign of lies about visas influenced the outcomes of the 2023 parliamentary elections, which undermines their democratic nature. He additionally testified that he had not obtained any details about the threats posed by the Poland.Enterprise Harbor program.
The influence of the Lie Marketing campaign on the 2023 Election Consequence.
In his opinion, “there was just one crime with a scope that coated a fraction of a per mille of visas issued,” and the state responded to this follow appropriately. “The perpetrators have been detected, some arrested, and political conclusions have been drawn, i.e. the individual whose position firstly was not clear, it was withdrawn from the federal government and the PiS electoral checklist,” Kaczyński stated.
Targets and Scope of Actions of the Investigative Committee
The Fee is investigating abuses, negligence and omissions within the legalization of the keep of foreigners in Poland within the interval from November 12, 2019 to November 20, 2023. (PAP)
writer: Rafał Białkowski, Karolina Mózgowiec
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