Celebrity Filip Chajzer recently shared his thoughts on neoTVP regarding how the Polish state supports Warsaw insurgents. He suggested that the state does not care enough, a claim echoed by Jan Józef Kasprzyk, former head of the Office for Veterans and Victims of Repression, in a discussion with wPolityce. Kasprzyk indicated that, in his view, the state has been adequately supporting the insurgents for several years, including in social matters. He noted that this conviction is shared by many veterans he has spoken with in recent years, and he implied that the current management of UdSKiOR should address Chajzer’s remarks publicly.
During the program Dangerous Liaisons on neoTVP, Grzegorz Nawrocki and his guests explored what patriotism means today. One guest was Filip Chajzer, a public figure known for charitable efforts supporting the Warsaw uprising, though his actions have sparked controversy. His foundation faced accusations of not distributing all raised funds, and his past on television has drawn scrutiny. Critics questioned whether such a controversial figure is a suitable guest for public television when discussing a topic of national importance.
Chajzer on the Warsaw insurgents’ situation
The statements made by Chajzer in the program drew attention. The discussion in the studio, viewed from Gdańsk, emphasized that many remarks were theoretical. The conversation highlighted how the term patriotism has been interpreted in different ways, while a broader perspective on the daily lives of Warsaw rebels was missing. Questions were raised about care for those still living in Warsaw, the state of the labor market for elder care, and the financial means available for veterans with pensions today.
– He questioned.
I reflected on a moment from 2016 when he saw a handwritten plea from a Warsaw Uprising veteran requesting help, noting lost electricity and a looming cut from STOEN. It stood as a reminder that a country can misinterpret patriotism while ignoring the basic welfare of those who bore arms. The speaker continued to press for attention to those who did not speak loudly but carried a burden during the conflict.
Kasprzyk: the Warsaw rebels have long been under state care
The former head of the Office for Veterans and Victims of Repression, Jan Józef Kasprzyk, spoke in depth about the support extended to the rebels in recent years. He described the rebels as heroes of freedom who have benefited from sustained state care, particularly in daily living and overall functioning.
As veterans of the struggle for independence, Warsaw rebels receive special veterans’ benefits. In difficult cases, they can apply for financial assistance from the UDsKiOR, with resources for such aid increasing in recent years, according to Kasprzyk.
– He noted that when he began his tenure in 2015, the budget for direct veteran support was around PLN 8 million per year. By the time he handed over the office, funding had risen to about PLN 130 million annually.
– He added.
He reminded readers of a key decision: by the autumn of 2023, all independence fighters, including Warsaw insurgents, received special pensions funded by the Chancellery of Independence. These lifelong, monthly benefits supplement existing pensions and are awarded without regard to income.
– The former head of the Office for Veterans and Victims of Oppression emphasized.
The conversation noted progress in recent years, including the efforts to recognize Warsaw residents displaced during the German occupation and housed in Pruszków’s Dulag 121 transit camp. For years they lacked rights, but the government’s initiatives helped align their status with others persecuted during World War II. The Warsaw rebels and other independence veterans received appropriate government support and protection. While social initiatives to assist rebels are welcomed, the speaker argued that claims of poverty and urgent fundraising were unfounded.
– The wPolityce.pl interlocutor stressed.
Will the new UDsKiOR leadership speak up?
Kasprzyk previously addressed his successor at UDsKiOR, Lech Parella, on social media. The office and its new head were encouraged to comment on the public remarks aired on TVP. The rebels have long received substantial state care, according to Kasprzyk, and a clear stance from the current administration was desired.
In the same interview, Kasprzyk urged the present authorities to speak out on the matter. He argued that the government should reaffirm that the Polish state has provided adequate shelter and support to Warsaw insurgents for several years, a view he says is shared by many veterans he has met recently.
– He concluded.