Roman Giertych
Election Spoiler?
Poland's Political Eavesdropping Scandal Shuts Down Polish Parliament
Warsaw, Poland 29 August, 2007 The testimony by Poland's Former Minister of Interior about Polish Government use of special services organizations to spy on political opponents has stopped proceedings of the Polish Parliament. And the stoppage may end up being long term. Parliamentary Speaker Ludwig Dorn said if the opposition continues to demand breaks the current session could "go on for months".
Yesterday, during the reading of the secret testimony of Former Minister of Interior Janusz Kaczmarek, Former Minister of Education Roman Giertych exploded when he learned that conversations between him and Former Deputy Prime Minister Andrzej Lepper were recorded and transcripts of their conversations given to Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
Making accusations of a "Polish Watergate", Giertych demanded a delay in Parliamentary proceedings until next Tuesday. Giertych wants to hear what the Former heads of the National Police and the Anti-Corruption Bureau have to say when they testify before the Parliament Special Service Committee. (For Previous claims of a Polish Watergate, see Polish Watergate? The time has come for transparency in Poland!
The delay stops all work of the Parliament.
And the delay stops the process to the necessary vote to dissolve the Polish Parliament and hold early elections. Though the Prime Minister wants the elections held on the 21st of October, such parliamentary maneuvering is creating delays that make that date not likely.
Law And Justice Party MP Joachim Brudzinski said on TVN24 that "Giertych is trying to destabilize parliament." "He wants to make it impossible to dissolve the chamber on Sept. 7."
Giertych also seems to have support from the opposition party that submitted the motion to dissolve the Parliament, the Civic Platform. The Civic Platform is now saying that they may vote against their own motion to dissolve.
The Civic Platform is demanding an investigative committee be set up to examine the allegations made by Kaczmarek. But while claiming there is no basis for the allegations, Kaczynski is fighting any examination of secret service and Anti Corruption Bureau activities.
Kaczynski needs new elections to avoid losing subsidies for his party due to its violation of Poland's election laws. See Polish Election Laws May Bring Down Poland's Government
If he does not get a vote for dissolution, he can have his government resign and through an involved process, elections can be ordered by the President.
Perhaps seeing something afoot, he said that the government will only resign if the Prime Minister is sure that there will be new elections. He will not make the reservation a present for a destructive opposition.
It is reported that he is prepared to enter into some agreement with the Civic Platform to get their support for new elections. That agreement may include written guarantees.
The wrangling over elections aside, the Parliament is on break until next Tuesday and nothing is being done.
Next Tuesday MP's will hear about new testimony. This new testimony from more Former officials, now in great abundance in Poland, is expected to be interesting. And what Giertych will do if he hears more that allows him to raise his ire is unknown.
But if what Brudzinski said is true, Giertych is likely to find something and the Parliament is likely to be shut down again.
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