Getting tough on corruption
A new organisation set up to tackle corruption has been established in Warsaw. Throughout the past decade Poland's image and international reputation has been tarnished due to continuous cases of bribery and illegal dealings in the halls of Parliament and commerce. The ruling rightist Law and Justice party won last year's egenarl election largely on an anti-corruption ticket. The creation of the agency is seen as the first step in the government's effort to clean up Poland.
This report is by Bogdan Zaryn and Matthew Luxmoore.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) is the country's response to large numbers of reported suspicious business deals, many of which smelt of palm-greasing. The new system will employ almost 1500 people. Mariusz Kaminski of the ruling conservative Law and Justice Party, the newly appointed head of the organisation, is confidenthe c an take on Poland's corruption.
"Everything is being built from scratch. The system is one of high technological advancement; each person will be screened accordingly."
The conservative Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz claims that the bureau will be an effective prescence in the fight against dishonest practices. The first target is the football scene, where a series of corruption scandals have just come to light.
"This bureau will monitor and check the administration of my government, every administration. This is an organisation that must create conditions for honest activity within public relations and the economy."
Magdalena Brennek from the Polish Chapter of Transparency Internatioonal argues that Poland has finally decided that it is vital to tackle dubious business practices. She believes the bureau won't just be a toothless watchdog.
"The draft law gives this bureau enormous power as far as investigation and surveilance are concerned. Using these it can really bring to light corruption scandals."
But not everyone agrees that Poland needs such an anti-corruption bureau. Warsaw criminal lawyer Dagmara Woznikowska thinks that it will just double up on other institution's work.
"The thing is that in Poland we have the proper tools to fight corruption. We have prosecutors, tax officers and all the possibilities to punish the people who are taking money illegally, but we don't use it properly, or we don't want to use it. We don't really need another institution to fight wrongdoing of any kind."
But Magdalena Brennek from the Polish chapter of Transparency International thinks that Poland needs to improve its image abroad, also with the help of the anti-corruption bureau. She's not so sure, though, if the bhureau itself can manage to stampm out corruption.
"The law does not provide any provisions for prevention and that's the most important thing. If the new committee is effective then it will certainly change the country's image."
Over the past several years Poland has been involved in several high-profile corruption scandals featuring top politicians and businessmen. Transparency International has placed it on a shortlist of countries which have the highest level of corruption. Observers are hoping that with the new investigative powers, the anti-corruption bureau will steer clear of politics. Link
A new organisation set up to tackle corruption has been established in Warsaw. Throughout the past decade Poland's image and international reputation has been tarnished due to continuous cases of bribery and illegal dealings in the halls of Parliament and commerce. The ruling rightist Law and Justice party won last year's egenarl election largely on an anti-corruption ticket. The creation of the agency is seen as the first step in the government's effort to clean up Poland.
This report is by Bogdan Zaryn and Matthew Luxmoore.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) is the country's response to large numbers of reported suspicious business deals, many of which smelt of palm-greasing. The new system will employ almost 1500 people. Mariusz Kaminski of the ruling conservative Law and Justice Party, the newly appointed head of the organisation, is confidenthe c an take on Poland's corruption.
"Everything is being built from scratch. The system is one of high technological advancement; each person will be screened accordingly."
The conservative Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz claims that the bureau will be an effective prescence in the fight against dishonest practices. The first target is the football scene, where a series of corruption scandals have just come to light.
"This bureau will monitor and check the administration of my government, every administration. This is an organisation that must create conditions for honest activity within public relations and the economy."
Magdalena Brennek from the Polish Chapter of Transparency Internatioonal argues that Poland has finally decided that it is vital to tackle dubious business practices. She believes the bureau won't just be a toothless watchdog.
"The draft law gives this bureau enormous power as far as investigation and surveilance are concerned. Using these it can really bring to light corruption scandals."
But not everyone agrees that Poland needs such an anti-corruption bureau. Warsaw criminal lawyer Dagmara Woznikowska thinks that it will just double up on other institution's work.
"The thing is that in Poland we have the proper tools to fight corruption. We have prosecutors, tax officers and all the possibilities to punish the people who are taking money illegally, but we don't use it properly, or we don't want to use it. We don't really need another institution to fight wrongdoing of any kind."
But Magdalena Brennek from the Polish chapter of Transparency International thinks that Poland needs to improve its image abroad, also with the help of the anti-corruption bureau. She's not so sure, though, if the bhureau itself can manage to stampm out corruption.
"The law does not provide any provisions for prevention and that's the most important thing. If the new committee is effective then it will certainly change the country's image."
Over the past several years Poland has been involved in several high-profile corruption scandals featuring top politicians and businessmen. Transparency International has placed it on a shortlist of countries which have the highest level of corruption. Observers are hoping that with the new investigative powers, the anti-corruption bureau will steer clear of politics. Link
posted by BEING HAD at 4:52 AM
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