Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has signed a bill to investigate whether the opposition Civic Platform (PO)party has allowed the country to be unduly influenced by Russia. Dubbed ‘Lex Tusk,’ the PO says the law is really designed to destroy support for its leader Donald Tusk ahead of this year’s election. The law is expected to set up an investigative commission that could deliver an initial report in September. The Polish Judges’ Association Iustitia and the U.S. ambassador to Poland have voiced concerns.
Recent opinion polls showed PiS still enjoys the highest support among political parties, but it may not win enough votes to command a majority in parliament. The parliamentary commission will investigate the period 2007-2022 and have the power to ban people found to have acted under Russian influence from holding security clearance or working in roles where they would be responsible for public funds for 10 years.
During Tusk’s time in office, Poland signed a deal with Russia’s Gazprom in 2010, which the official justification of the bill mentions.
Poland’s dependence on Russian energy has progressively declined since then, with the construction of a LNG import terminal and a deal with Russia’s Gazprom in 2010. Top state-controlled refiner PKN Orlen has terminated its contract with Russia’s Tatneft, but it still uses Russian fuel in its Czech refineries.
