Poland's Anti-Corruption Bureau Survives Veto After Spyware Scandals
Poland's Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) faces abolition under new legislation proposed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government. The move follows years of controversy, including the bureau's use of Pegasus spyware and allegations of political interference. However, the bill is set to fail after President Karol Nawrocki signalled a veto.
The CBA was created in 2006 under the previous Conservative (PiS) government. Over time, it became embroiled in scandals, particularly during PiS's 2015–2023 term. The bureau's purchase and deployment of Pegasus spyware—allegedly to monitor political rivals—sparked outrage. The European Commission responded by freezing recovery funds, launching infringement proceedings, and intensifying rule-of-law scrutiny under Article 7.
In 2024, Minister Tomasz Siemoniak introduced a bill to dismantle the CBA, citing its politicisation. The proposal would shift its duties to the police, including a new specialist unit. But opposition from PiS remains fierce, with claims that scrapping the bureau would weaken anti-corruption efforts and harm national security. The controversy deepened after former CBA heads Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Waszczyński were convicted for abusing power in a sting operation against the Civic Coalition (KO) party. PiS defended Pegasus, insisting it was mostly used in criminal cases, with only a fraction targeting politicians. Yet President Nawrocki's chief of staff, Zbigniew Bogucki, confirmed the President would block the legislation, ensuring the CBA survives—for now.
The bill to abolish the CBA is unlikely to proceed, leaving the agency intact despite its troubled history. The standoff highlights ongoing tensions between the current government and opposition over corruption oversight. With the President's veto, the bureau's future remains tied to Poland's wider political battles.
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