Former Polish ministers to be questioned in spyware investigation

Lawmakers in Poland are set to question senior figures from the previous government over allegations of using spyware to target critics. An inquiry will investigate claims that the Law and Justice (PiS) administration used the powerful Pegasus software to monitor opponents' phones. The PiS government, which lost power in October, has denied these allegations. Among those who could be questioned are PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński, ex-prime minister Beata Szydło, former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, and former interior minister Mariusz Kamiński. New justice minister Adam Bodnar expressed shock at the scale of the hacking. The head of the commission, Magdalena Sroka, stated that there is no doubt that the Polish security services used the spyware. Last year, the European Parliament accused Poland and other member states of employing Pegasus spyware against journalists, politicians, lawyers, and businesspeople. It was claimed that the Polish Central Anti-Corruption Bureau paid $6.2 million for the software, using funds intended for crime victims. The PiS government admitted to acquiring the spyware but stated it was used legally to combat organized crime. The commission will investigate the use of the Justice Fund to purchase the software, as well as identify the targets of surveillance. Former interior minister Mariusz Kamiński accused the commission of seeking political revenge, while also claiming government agencies operated lawfully.