In Monday’s session, the Social Policy and Family Committee elected its leadership and key officers for the current term, marking a significant moment for the panel’s direction and priorities. Katarzyna Kotula, a left-leaning member of parliament, was chosen as the committee chair. She stood as the sole candidate for the top post, and the assembly approved her selection with broad support. A total of 27 MPs voted in favor, there were no votes against, and three members abstained from the ballot.
The election of the chair did not occur in isolation. In the same session, three of the committee’s four vice chairs were also chosen. The MPs filling those roles were Joanna Frydrych, Jagna Marczulajtis Walczak, and Urszula Rusecka, representing two major parties in the chamber. Their selection was achieved through a joint vote, and the tally reflected strong cross-party backing, with 31 MPs voting in favor.
During discussions, it was decided to keep a fourth vice chair position open for the representative of the Law and Justice party. The appointment for that vacancy was expected to be completed immediately, underscoring the urgency with which the committee intends to finalize its leadership balance. No additional items were reported at that time.
The scope of the committee’s activities covers a broad range of social policy concerns and labor issues. It encompasses shaping the state’s social policy, addressing social problems, and managing social insurance, benefits, and assistance programs. The committee also scrutinizes municipal housing matters, the welfare of disabled and veteran populations, and a wide array of labor concerns. These include protections for employees, working conditions, and health and safety standards in the workplace. The committee’s mandate also covers equal treatment in the labor market, wage systems, and the cost of living. It actively engages in efforts to combat unemployment, to analyze labor market dynamics, and to assess employment costs. Additionally, the committee considers the protection of Polish citizens working abroad within the European Union, the education and employment of graduates, and various family related issues. It examines proposals for legal regulations on these topics and addresses matters that influence the protection of women’s rights and the guarantee of equal opportunities for women and men in both professional and social life. In all these areas, the committee aims to ensure alignment with the constitutional principle of equal rights for all genders.
This session reflected a deliberate effort to craft a leadership structure that balances party representation while signaling a proactive stance on social welfare programs, employment policy, and family related issues. The decisions taken set the stage for future debates and the development of policy proposals that could impact a broad spectrum of citizens. The members emphasized the importance of timely appointments, especially for vacancies within the leadership that could influence the committee’s ability to move forward on critical issues.
Cited sources follow the event reporting and official summaries from parliamentary briefings and contemporaneous news outlets. The information provided here reflects the sequence of events as reported by public media outlets and parliamentary communications.