Poland
Winning The Hearts And Minds
Posted 20 February, 2006 The ruling Polish government party PIS continues on its crusade to crush corruption and reform the country. Nothing, no organization and no person, is above criticism, unless, maybe, there is some association with the PIS or a support group. The criticism being rendered by PIS party members now may, however, be making enemies of people whose cooperation will be necessary in order to accomplish reform.
As a case in point, recently there was a debate in the Sejm that concerned the formation of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau. During the debate PIS member Przemyslaw Gosiewski opined that the new office could take and interest in the Supreme Lawyers Council. Comments were made that the help of the Supreme Lawyers Council was the last help that was really needed since, it was implied, that the Council or members of the Council were themselves corrupt.
The comments have not gone down well with either the Supreme Lawyers Council or Polish lawyers. The Council has demanded an apology. The President of the Supreme Lawyers Council, Stanislaw Rymarz has taken the position that they do not ignore corruption and that corrupt lawyers are removed from practice immediately.
Gosiewski has refused to back down on his comments. He further stated on Polish Radio that lawyers were not immune to corruption.
The logic of attacking the Supreme Lawyers Council has left many shaking their heads. If there is any organization whose cooperation will be necessary to reform the legal system, it is the Supreme Lawyers Council. To make an enemy of them, even before the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau is formed, is to create an immediate obstacle to reform. They are likely to work against the PIS government not only in the matter of reform of the legal system but in any other matter on the government agenda.
The Polish legal system does have a reputation of being a corrupt. And people do want reform. But reform requires the cooperation of the people within the system. If those who might be willing to work for reform are immediately made enemies and their advice and cooperation passed off with a stunningly impolitic remark, the success of achieving meaningful reform is brought into question.
The PIS government , like all governments before, and those that will follow, is temporary. The Supreme Lawyers Council will outlast them. And in this case it will probably win the contest of wills.
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