Poland adopts modified ‘Russian influence’ panel
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Polish President Andrzej Duda (second from left) signed an amended Bill into law on Wednesday, following an avalanche of EU and US criticism of the original legislation.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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WARSAW - Poland on Wednesday adopted an amended version of a panel to probe “Russian influence” after an avalanche of European Union and United States criticism of the move, widely seen as targeting the opposition.
Poland – a neighbour and staunch ally of Ukraine, investigating citizens who may have succumbed to Russian influence.
Under the law, those found guilty could have found themselves banned for 10 years from public positions relating to public finances and classified information.
Critics argued the measure, introduced just months before parliamentary elections, would be used to target opposition leader Donald Tusk.
His party has even gone so far as to dub it the “Lex Tusk”, or Tusk Law, due to its suspected aim.
Following the law’s adoption, the EU launched legal action against Poland, while the US expressed concern that the law “could be used to block the candidacy of opposition politicians without due process”.
Faced with the criticism, Polish President Andrzej Duda proposed amendments
Under the revised legislation, a person whom the committee finds to be under Russian influence would not be banned from holding public positions. Instead, the panel will issue a statement that the person has succumbed to Russian influence and cannot be guaranteed to work properly in the public interest.
Additionally, the nine committee members will now be experts, instead of lawmakers and senators.
Committee decisions could be appealed before an appeals court.
Critics say the changes do not go far enough.
Poland’s governing conservatives have been at loggerheads with Brussels since coming to power in 2015 over claims Warsaw fails to fully uphold EU laws, particularly in regard to the judiciary.
Mr Tusk, a former prime minister of Poland and European Council president, is posing a major challenge to the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) ahead of elections later in 2023. AFP
