The World Briefly
May 30, 2023The Purge
Poland
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Polish President Andrzej Duda is set to sign a bill that will create a powerful commission aimed at investigating Russia’s influence in Poland, raising concern that the ruling Law and Justice party will use the measure against opponents ahead of parliamentary elections this year, the Associated Press reported Monday.
The bill, approved last week, could reverse administrative and business decisions, as well as impose punishments such as banning accused politicians and officials from positions of power.
Duda said the bill’s approval follows discussions about Moscow’s influence on politics being held in other countries, including the US and other European Union member-states.
He recommended that a similar commission be established at the EU level to look into Russian influence on European institutions and bloc nations.
But opposition politicians and legal analysts said the legislation violates Poland’s constitution and called it another example of the governing party’s efforts to use the law for its own ends.
Critics believe the law will target opposition leader and former Prime Minister Donald Tusk as the country prepares for elections later this year.
The Law and Justice party has accused Tusk of being too friendly toward Russia during his 2007-2014 term and making gas deals favorable to Moscow.
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