Jarosław Kaczyński, PiS leader, unveils alleged Russian and German lobbying in Polish politics amid the Pegasus scandal.
In a recent parliamentary hearing on the contentious Pegasus surveillance controversy, Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of Poland’s Law and Justice party (PiS), made startling claims. Accusing the opposition of fabricating a narrative of dictatorship, Kaczyński asserted broader influence from powerful Russian and German lobbies.
Kaczyński labeled the Pegasus scandal a political maneuver, stating it aimed to construct a false narrative of dictatorship in Poland. He emphasized the opposition’s significant political freedom and media presence as evidence against claims of authoritarianism. Kaczyński stressed, “The Pegasus affair is the creation of a kind of anti-reality, an imaginary reality.“
Highlighting the necessity for state surveillance capabilities, Kaczyński accused the previous government of employing a more invasive surveillance tool. Echoing President Andrzej Duda’s recent remarks, he alleged substantial Russian and German lobbying within Poland, aimed at undermining the state. Kaczyński added, “There is a huge Russian agency of influence in Poland. And we encounter it many times, on many levels. These are things that really should be investigated.“
Despite Kaczyński’s assertions, the committee chair interrupted, questioning the relevance of his testimony. Undeterred, Kaczyński defended his claims, citing the need to expose past democratic infringements. “This only shows when the elements of democracy were really violated,” he argued.