WARSAW Poland~ On Monday, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced his intention to sign legislation creating a powerful commission, ostensibly to investigate Russian influence in Poland but widely seen by critics as a tool to eliminate opponents of the ruling party, most notably opposition leader Donald Tusk, from political life.
The rule, presented by the right-wing ruling party and approved by parliament on Friday, might alter the outcome of parliamentary elections this fall, in which the rule and Justice party is running for a third term in office. The opposition has urged Duda to reject it on the grounds that it violates Poland’s Constitution. Because of ongoing debates over Russian meddling in American and European politics, Duda said he was endorsing the bill. He advocated the establishment of a European Union-wide commission to look into Russian interference in EU institutions and member states. He indicated Poland would make a push for it at the next meeting of the European Council.
He emphasized the need of open government and said that Poland has a strong track record of public commissions studying significant social and political issues. “Transparency in clarifying important public and political matters is of tantamount importance to me,” Duda stated in his address. Ultimately, “the public should form its own opinion on how well its representatives are.. taking care of its interests.” He reassured skeptics that the bill would not vest the panel with the authority to remove anyone from public or political office.
Within a week following the bill’s publication, it will become law. The naysayers were quick to react. On Saturday, Tusk tweeted Duda, “Mr. President, let me invite you for public consultation on June 4,” ahead of Sunday’s pro-democracy march he will organize in Warsaw. From the rooms of your palace, you’ll be able to see and hear us with no trouble at all.
Opponents argue that the investigative commission, with its authority to remove people from public office and reverse administrative and business decisions, is yet another example of Law and Justice’s politicization of the legal system since taking power in 2015. Law and Justice’s opponents see the law, which they have called “Lex Tusk,” as an attempt to give the party unchecked authority in the event that it loses the parliamentary majority in the upcoming fall elections.
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