Poland's government will implement controversial policies to disrupt the opposition ahead of a tight election in October, but pressure from the European Union and especially the United States will likely prevent Warsaw from taking an overly authoritarian turn. On May 29, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed into law a controversial bill that establishes a new special parliamentary panel with special powers to investigate Russian influence in the country. The bill has triggered an uproar at home and abroad, with critics arguing that the government could use the panel to ban opposition figures from running in Poland's general election later this year. In response to the backlash, Duda proposed amendments on June 2 that would make it easier to appeal the panel's verdicts, as well as prevent the special commission from penalizing those with alleged links to Russia (like banning them from office). But the changes have done little to ease...
