A parliamentary panel in Poland investigating the cash-for-visas scandal has announced its intention to forward evidence of alleged breaches of law to prosecutors. The scandal revolves around irregularities at the Foreign Ministry's visa department, particularly during the years 2018-2023. It is alleged that Polish consulates in Asia and Africa accepted payments in exchange for issuing work visas, allowing migrants to enter the European Union.
One concerning instance involved Indian farmers being falsely identified as Bollywood filmmakers in their visa documents. The head of the special commission, Marek Sowa, presented a preliminary report detailing the panel's findings, which include allegations of negligence, corruption, and abuse of office.
The panel plans to notify prosecutors regarding former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, ex-internal affairs minister Mariusz Kaminski, former foreign minister Zbigniew Rau, and eight other senior officials implicated in the scandal. The report suggests that the Law and Justice government, led by Morawiecki, inadvertently facilitated the uncontrolled influx of migrants into Poland and the EU.
An investigation conducted earlier this year by Poland's Supreme Audit Office corroborated the claims of visa irregularities. The audit revealed a lack of transparency at the foreign ministry, along with an environment conducive to corruption and inadequate supervision. As a response to these findings, Poland has since implemented stricter visa regulations to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
