Polish MPs launch probe into cash-for-visas scandal

A special commission on Tuesday started a parliamentary probe into suspected irregularities in the granting of Polish work visas under the country's previous government.

Photo:

PAP/Mateusz Marek

The inquiry is led by Michał Szczerba, an MP for Poland’s ruling Civic Coalition (KO) group.

Polish lawmakers in December voted 259-79, with one abstention, to approve the probe.

The cash-for-visas scandal involves allegations that Polish consulates overseas issued work visas to migrants in exchange for bribes under the previous conservative government.

The 11-member panel has been tasked with investigating "the legality, propriety and efficacy" of measures taken by state agencies between January 2019 and November 2023 to "legalise the stay of foreign nationals in Poland."

The commission aims to probe any instances of "abuse, negligence and omission" of duty during this time, Polish state news agency PAP reported. 

❗️#Sejm podjął uchwałę ws. powołania komisji śledczej do zbadania legalności, prawidłowości oraz celowości działań, a także występowania nadużyć, zaniedbań i zaniechań w zakresie legalizacji pobytu cudzoziemców na terytorium RP w okresie od dnia 1 stycznia 2019 r. do dnia 20… pic.twitter.com/VJcicnySLr

— Sejm RP🇵🇱 (@KancelariaSejmu) December 19, 2023

At its first meeting on Tuesday, the investigative panel voted to summon a host of former top officials, including ex-Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, ex-Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau and conservative leader Jarosław Kaczyński, to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the scandal, the PAP news agency reported.

Jarosław Kaczyński i Mateusz Morawiecki wezwani przez komisję śledczą ds. afery wizowej#PAPinformacje https://t.co/tSDEEd8NXW

— PAP (@PAPinformacje) February 6, 2024

In December, Polish MPs opened an inquiry into measures taken by the authorities to hold the 2020 presidential election as a postal vote.

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Source: IAR, PAP