I would like to run in the upcoming elections, I think after these four years, the voters should evaluate my activities in the Sejm – says KO MP Klaudia Jachira, who has just joined the Greens, in an interview with PAP.
Jachira joined the Greens
PAP: Why did you decide to join the Greens? You’ve worked with them before, but you haven’t crossed the line of party membership yet?
Claudia Jachira: It is true that MPs and MPs from the Greens have been the people with whom I have worked most often and most since the beginning of the Sejm term. For us, the formal question of whether I am a member of the Greens was always secondary, because we worked together anyway. It seems to me that my entry into this party is a natural consequence of this cooperation. Because I went to their various meetings and conferences, we decided that we could also join forces in a formal way.
Yet you hear that there are some differences of opinion between you and the Greens, especially regarding the views on the economy. You state that you are in favor of economic liberalism, and the Greens are more left-wing. And that has kept you from joining the party so far?
We certainly have a lot more in common. All issues related to the fight for climate, energy transformation, animal rights, transition to RES, waste separation laws – we are in complete agreement on these matters. In addition, I think the Greens are a little misaligned to the extreme left. When I looked at their economic program, I was positively surprised. For example, there is a lot of talk about simplifying the tax system, which I agree with 100%, about supporting micro and small businesses.
I think hardly anyone realizes that the Greens have this on their agenda. In addition, we share ideas such as permission to encourage private entities to invest in green energy, heat pumps or thermal modernization of buildings. I believe there is a systematic need for state support to ensure that Polish investors want to participate. Of course, these are things I have to compromise on as a supporter of liberalism, but it is perfectly acceptable to me.
Because an acceptable compromise for me is to invest public money in a higher level of public service. What I don’t like about the activities of the current authorities is that there are no money flows for health care, for example, only public money is distributed equally among everyone. This was the case, for example, with the addition of coal. I believe that we should approach the spending of public money with great responsibility and not give it away to those who do not need it.
And what issues do you share with the Greens?
Most of the opposition, including the Greens, were in favor of subsidies for set-top boxes, for example, I was one of the few against. If there was such a mood again, I would probably be against it again. But overall, we don’t differ from each other in many ways.
“Yes, I would like to run
There are also arguments that you joined the Greens, because it makes it easier to get a good place on the electoral list. I assume you plan to run again?
Yes, I would like to run. I think it would even be necessary for the voters to evaluate my activities in the Sejm after these four years. However, the place on the lists is a matter that I do not concern myself with at all. It is up to the party leaders or the Civic Coalition to determine places on the lists.
I understand you count on getting in everywhere because of the name recognition…
Indeed, four years ago I came from thirteenth place (in the Warsaw constituency – PAP). And while traveling through Poland, I convince people that you don’t have to vote for “ones”. That the person from the list we’re going to vote for comes in. Only such a habit has developed that people vote for “one”, but in a perfect democracy that should not be the case. For example, you can agree that everyone will vote for “seven”. Still, as I said, it is up to the party bosses to determine my place on the lists. I have a few things to do and I would like to carry them out, and membership in the party will help me do that.
In your opinion, should the Greens be part of the Civic Coalition, or perhaps independently or in another coalition?
I am an orphan according to the common list. Since 2016 I have been calling for opposition unity. Today it is clear that there will certainly not be a joint list and I am sorry, because I think it is best for all of us to start together. As for the starting formula of the Greens, that is the decision of the co-chairs of the party. I can only say that it is a joint credit to both the Greens and the Civic Coalition that we have worked together for so long.
So they have to go from KO lists?
We should definitely work with the Citizens’ Coalition, because that cooperation is successful. It’s not always easy, sometimes there are differences, and overall, if you add up your collaboration with KO after three and a half years, it turns out to be a plus. I also care about cooperation with the entire democratic opposition, because we do well in committees or parliamentary teams.
Are you personally satisfied with your KO club membership?
If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be in it. I have no problem saying something out loud.
Several times you stood on the carpet with the president of the club…
It was different. As for the carpet, the media rather presented it that way. We just spoke to the president of the club. If we disagreed with something, we said we disagree, that’s what democracy looks like. It’s probably only in PiS that they have to agree on everything else they won’t get another state company. But if I didn’t evaluate the collaboration with KO positively, I wouldn’t be here. After all, the media has seen me in different places.
Since joining the Greens, you may have aspirations for a career in this party. Would you ever run for co-chair?
This is too early a question for me. The Greens are my first political party, I’ve never been in a party, in 2015 I worked with Nowoczesna, but it was just being formed at the time. I’m learning the game now. That I had to join a certain party circle is also recognized by all party organs and organs. I see my membership in the way I want to support leaders in what matters to me.
So for now you don’t have such ambitions, but in the future you don’t rule it out…
You may have noticed in your conversations with women in politics that we don’t come into the party or the Sejm for positions. I entered politics out of deep outrage at what the current authorities are doing and I want to oppose it.
But as a party leader you can do more than an ordinary Member of Parliament…
This is the wrong question. If you were to ask me what I would like to do with the Greens, I would say that, for example, the best possible action is taken against the deposit system and extended producer responsibility. If an ordinary member of the party is not enough to prepare and pass such a law, I will wonder what to do to implement such solutions. However, I think the question is not whether I will be in this or any other position, but whether we will write it or not. I believe functions are just a tool to achieve things that are important to us.
Events in the Parliamentary Hall
Will your style of politics change? Will you continue to organize happenings in the parliamentary hall?
I don’t think I’ve ever organized an event in the Sejm.
And throwing papers during Adam Glapiński’s swearing-in?
It was a speech with props if you can’t speak from the stage. Any of my actions that wasn’t a traditional form of speaking was always when I couldn’t get on stage. Today, parliamentary debate is often curtailed and usually at key moments. When I used subtitles or props, it was always when I couldn’t speak like an MP. And PiS organizes scandals and happenings and creates new institutions to pay millions to its friends. All in all, I don’t think anything will change in my work as an MP. I believe you should just tell the truth and I owe that to the voters.
Interviewed by Piotr Smilowicz (PAP)
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olk/PAP
Source: wPolityce