It is difficult to expect a politician to take a vacation, especially when he holds a position enshrined in the constitution, Sejm Chairman Szymon Hołownia said when asked whether he would go on vacation during the presidential campaign. Hołownia emphasized that he intended to continue serving as marshal.
In mid-November, the leader of Poland 2050 announced that he would stand as a candidate in next year’s presidential elections. Journalists asked him yesterday whether he would go on leave during the election campaign. Such an appeal to others who wanted to run for the position of head of state was made by the presidential candidate supported by PiS, the president of the Institute of National Remembrance, Karol Nawrocki. Nawrocki stated that he will go on leave from the Institute on the day of the presidential elections – which will take place on January 8.
It’s hard to expect a politician to take a vacation, especially if he holds a position that’s written into the constitution
– the Marshal of the Sejm told journalists when asked whether he would take a leave of absence for the duration of the campaign.
I have already stated that I intend to continue to serve as Chairman of the Sejm, to fulfill my constitutional duties – this is my responsibility, my duty.
– he pointed out.
However, he admitted that there may be situations where it will be necessary to take a leave of absence. Then – as he stated – he will most likely hand over his duties to the Deputy Chairman of the Sejm, Piotr Zgorzelski (PSL). As he assessed, “it is technically and logistically impossible to reconcile fulfilling the position of chairman of the Sejm with conducting an election campaign, especially at a later stage.”
According to Hołownia, campaigning will be more difficult for him because he “doesn’t have to campaign for three or four days every two weeks because he will have to sit in the Sejm.”
While others will drive and encourage (…) I will be in the middle of this parliamentary battle
– he said.
Referring to Nawrocki’s statement on leave, the Marshal emphasized that the person acting as head of the Institute of National Remembrance must, in accordance with the law, be apolitical. He added that “the chairman of the Sejm is by definition a political person.”
According to Hołownia, Nawrocki “should not only take leave, but also resign because he is apolitical.”
He (Nawrocki) is not playing in the same sandbox, in the same game, under the same rules as the politicians running in these elections
– said the politician.
There is discussion in the public space whether Nawrocki should resign as president of the Institute of National Remembrance in connection with his participation in the presidential elections. According to some politicians and experts, this results from the Law on the Institute for National Remembrance, which is stated in art. 11 states, among other things, that the president of this institution “may not be a member of a political party or trade union, nor may engage in public activities incompatible with the dignity of his office.” The opinions differ, among other things: PiS politicians.
The election campaign officially begins in January, when the Sejm chairman will announce the date of next year’s presidential elections. It is known that they will take place in May. The following people have announced their intention to participate in the elections: PO Vice-Chairman Rafał Trzaskowski, Karol Nawrocki, supported by PiS, leader of Poland 2050, Szymon Hołownia, Confederation co-chair Sławomir Mentzen and group’s MP Marek Jakubiak Free Republicans.
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— Candidates on leave. Trzaskowski “bounces the ball” to Nawrocki: he has a serious problem, because as president of the Institute of National Remembrance he should be independent
Hołownia issues an ultimatum to the coalition partners
Poland 2050 will not appoint a successor to the dismissed deputy head of MAP, Jacek Bartmiński, until the separation of state finances of the parties is taken seriously by the coalition partners, Sejm chairman Szymon Hołownia said. He added at the same time that “the coalition continues and continues.”
Jacek Bartmiński from Poland 2050 was dismissed from the post of Deputy Minister of State Properties on Friday. According to Bartmiński, his dismissal is the Prime Minister’s assessment of the supervision of LOT Polish Airlines. The head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, Jan Grabiec, announced that Bartmiński had been dismissed by the Prime Minister at the request of the head of MAP.
Yesterday, Poland 2050 leader Szymon Hołownia was asked about Bartmiński’s resignation. The Sejm chairman admitted that he assessed the situation differently than Prime Minister Tusk, but “it is clear that the Prime Minister is the head of the government and has the right to make such a decision.” Hołownia also ruled that Bartmiński “said everything that should have been said” in his statement.
He also said that Poland 2050 will not propose Bartmiński’s successor.
We want to make sure that when we take responsibility for something, it looks the way it should look, and in our opinion we have not yet guaranteed these standards
– said Hołownia.
However, he assured that “the coalition will continue and move forward.”
However, Poland 2050 will not appoint a new Deputy Minister of State Assets until the issue of the widely understood separation between state-owned enterprises and parties is actually taken seriously by the coalition partners.
– he pointed out.
The head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, Jan Grabiec, said that Prime Minister Donald Tusk – at the request of the head of MAP, Jakub Jaworowski – dismissed Bartmiński from the position of deputy head of the ministry.
According to Bartmiński, his dismissal is the result of the Prime Minister’s assessment of the activities of the supervisory board of one of the supervised companies.
Under Polish law, the owner’s formal influence over the company’s supervisory board is limited to appointing its members. In the case of LOT, as a result of the change of the supervisory minister, I expressed the expectation to the supervisory board that it would refrain from making important decisions during this transition period, including personnel decisions.
– he said in a statement.
On Tuesday, the supervisory board of PLL dismissed LOT president Michał Fijoł from his position, citing the results of audit procedures. On Wednesday, pursuant to a regulation, ownership control of Polska Grupa Lotnicza and PLL LOT was transferred from MAP to MI. On the same day, the head of MAP, Jakub Jaworowski, said that the case of President Fijoł’s dismissal was scandalous and stated that he would work with the Minister of Infrastructure to clarify this. On Thursday, the head of MI, Dariusz Klimczak, stated that lawyers will analyze whether the president of LOT has actually been fired.
In Friday’s statement, Bartmiński said that “the formula for the participation of the Representative of Poland 2050 in the management of MAP has been exhausted.”
Poland’s exclusion in 2050 from the supervision of state-owned enterprises, due to the lack of consent for their secession from the partisans, does not mean the end of the coalition. Poland 2050 will continue to strive for full implementation of the coalition agreement of October 15, 2023
– he pointed out.
Bartmiński: The transfer of certain assets to another ministry was hidden from me
It was hidden from me that part of the assets I oversaw would be transferred to another ministry – said former Deputy Minister of State Assets Jacek Bartmiński.
When Bartmiński was asked in PN about LOT’s results, he admitted that the company made profits under Fijoł, but that in his view this was largely the result of support from public funds, as well as “the rising trend in the aviation market”.
He pointed out that only “last Thursday” he heard about the entire Polish Aviation Group (PGL, shareholder of LOT – PAP) from MAP to the Ministry of Infrastructure.
It was hidden from me that some of the assets I oversaw would be transferred to another ministry
– he said.
tkwl/PAP
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.