Anti Corruption
Possibly Dangerous
Polish Anti-Corruption Changes By Poland's New Government
Warsaw, Poland 6 November, 2007 Poland's new government will expand the Polish anti-corruption program, and though it will make changes to the way enforcement is supervised, it will generally leave the enforcement bureau as it is.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) has been the subject of a great deal of controversy because of the alleged abuses by the now departed Kaczynski Government. As used by the Kaczynski Government, it has been generally a tool to either punish or to set up traps to catch people. Because of alleged illegal practices under the Kaczynski Government, Parliamentary investigations will be set up to uncover any problems with the system.
The new Tusk Government intends to keep the mechanism of anti-corruption program that exists now in place but will add features that are intended to stop corruption before it has a chance to start. It will use as a model a program that is in place in Hong Kong.
First, an organization will be established that will make a comprehensive review of Polish laws and make them clear so that they do not encourage corruption. An attempt will be made to give less discretion on the bureaucratic level where bribes are often given to get the right decision.
Second, a program will be established that will focus on educating people in the government about the implementation of the laws and how the anti-corruption process works.
The current CBA will be the enforcement arm of the overall anti-corruption effort. As it stands there is no information about what changes might be made to the daily operations of the CBA.
Currently the CBA reports directly to the Prime Minister which leaves it open to political manipulation. Changes are expected to be made to eliminate, or at least reduce, that possibility by making the organization subject to control by the Parliament.
Related: A summary of how the CBA works and how it can affect you if you have any contact (email, telephone, letter, fax, personal) with anyone in Poland is at this link. The Polish CBA
