A recent CBOS survey explored which Polish Members of the European Parliament are most widely recognized by the Polish public. The findings show that familiarity gravitates toward figures from the Law and Justice party, reflecting its strong presence in national politics. The survey asked Poles to name the Polish MEPs from the 2019 to 2024 term without prompts, aiming to understand which names endure in public memory.
Participants were asked to recall Polish MEPs they could name off the top of their heads. The prompt was direct: “Do you remember the names of Polish MEPs of the current term (2019-2024)? Write down the names you remember.”
The results placed Patryk Jaki at the pinnacle of recognition, with 23 percent of respondents naming him. Beata Szydło followed, named by 14 percent. In a middle position stood Leszek Miller, a former Prime Minister, recognized by 7 percent. Beata Kempa ranked fourth with 6 percent, while Robert Biedroń appeared fifth with 5 percent. Róża Thun und Hohenstein and Dominik Tarczyński each earned 5 percent, and Janusz Wojciechowski was eighth with 4 percent.
These numbers illustrate a pattern where prominent national figures who have held executive or ministerial roles tend to be the most memorable European Parliament representatives in public perception. The top eight demonstrate a concentration around well-known party figures with direct public profiles rather than broad awareness of the entire Polish MEP slate for the term.
Observations from respondents and the ranking itself offer insight into how media exposure, prior political experience, and the closeness of an MEP’s work to national policy areas influence recall. The leading position of Patryk Jaki aligns with his visibility in national discussions, while Beata Szydło’s ongoing public presence reflects her enduring profile after serving as Prime Minister. The inclusion of former national leaders like Leszek Miller suggests that past national leadership can leave a lasting imprint when those figures move to legislative roles abroad.
Beata Kempa acknowledged the recognition she has earned in comments reflecting on the survey. She thanked the public for naming her among the top five MEPs they remember and associate with. This kind of feedback highlights how national political branding can extend into European representation, shaping voters’ views of MEPs beyond national borders.
The rankings invite a broader discussion about the link between national prominence and European Parliament visibility. For political scientists and commentators, the CBOS results suggest that recognition within Poland does not always translate into proportional awareness of a party’s European delegation. Yet they also show that the public’s mental map of the European Parliament is heavily influenced by familiar faces who have already earned trust or notoriety in national narratives.
From a media and governance perspective, the implications are clear for how MEPs engage with voters across Poland. Clear communication about policy priorities, defined roles, and the tangible impact of European decisions on daily life can bridge the gap between name recognition and understanding of parliamentary work. When voters recognize a name, there is an opportunity to connect that recognition to concrete policy positions and legislative outcomes at the European level.
Thus the CBOS survey offers more than a snapshot of recall. It serves as a prompt for those elected to the European Parliament to present their work with transparency. By doing so, they can reinforce public understanding of how European institutions operate and how Polish MEPs contribute to the legislative process. The results remind readers that recognition is just a starting point—one that can lead to a more nuanced appreciation of how national and European politics intersect and affect everyday life across Poland and beyond. The findings are marked as CBOS data, providing a basis for ongoing discussion about the visibility and accountability of Polish representatives in the European Parliament.
The discussion continues within the wider context of political reporting and public opinion research, inviting further surveys that track shifts in recognition as new elections approach and as the European agenda evolves. The observed naming patterns may serve as a reference point for journalists, scholars, and voters seeking to understand how attention is distributed among Poland’s leaders who operate on the European stage, with CBOS serving as the cited source.
— End of summary of the CBOS findings and their implications for public memory and European representation.
This dialogue persists as part of ongoing coverage and analysis, with the CBOS results functioning as a touchstone for evaluating which Polish figures stay in the public eye when European responsibilities are involved.