You have to learn to win and you have to learn to lose. We must learn to work together in parliament, said Sejm Chairman Szymon Hołownia when asked about the Sejm’s rejection of Elżbieta Witek’s candidacy for the position of Sejm Deputy Chairman.
On Monday, the Sejm elected as deputy speakers of the House: Monika Wielichowska (KO), Dorota Niedziela (KO), Włodzimierz Czarzasty (New Left), Piotr Zgorzelski (Trzecia Droga) and Krzysztof Bosak (Confederation). However, PiS candidate Elżbieta Witek did not win a majority. Two hundred and three MPs voted in favor of her candidacy, two hundred and fifty-two voted against, and three MPs abstained.
CHECK THE DETAILS: REPORT. Session of the Sejm of the 10th term. Four hundred sixty parliamentarians took the oath. Elżbieta Witek was not elected Deputy Speaker of the Sejm!
“Not everyone can be this vice-chairman – according to the House, according to the MPs.”
When asked to comment on the fact that Elżbieta Witek did not win a majority and become deputy chairman of the Sejm, Hołownia stressed that one crucial outcome had emerged: seats in the Sejm Presidium were allocated to all parliamentary clubs present in the chamber.
“That is a positive development. I’m glad about it,”
the Sejm Marshal noted, emphasizing that the chamber’s will was clear: the PiS candidate would not assume the role of deputy marshal.
The deputy chair position, he explained, is a right of the parliamentary club, but not everyone is suited or should hold that role, according to the chamber and its MPs.
“These decisions deserve respect,”
Hołownia added.
He acknowledged that there were questions about Mrs. Witek’s suitability for the deputy chair post. “Ladies and gentlemen, she is a Member of Parliament. Voters entrusted her with their trust, and that must be respected. Yet for the position of Deputy Marshal, the Sejm decided today that this seat will remain vacant for now, and we will revisit the procedure,”
the Sejm Chairman remarked.
“It is currently owned by the PiS club.”
Hołownia noted that if there is a possibility of filling the seat, “of course, sooner or later we will have such a vote.”
“It is currently owned by the PiS club. If a different candidate is nominated, the Presidium of the Sejm will decide whether to include it on the agenda of the next meeting,”
Hołownia explained.
“You have to learn to win and you have to learn to lose.”
Responding to claims that the failure to elect Witek signals a collapse of the rule of law and dictatorship, the Sejm chairman said the accusation was misplaced.
“This is not a breakdown of the rule of law nor a dictatorship. The PiS party had the right to nominate their candidate, and that right was respected by the chamber. But the chamber judged that this person, in its view, did not meet the criteria for the deputy chair post. The decision was made through a democratic process with parliamentary majority,”
Hołownia stated.
He added that when the Sejm’s decisions favored PiS, democracy looked healthy and vibrant, but when PiS loses votes, some call it dictatorship or Belarusian-style norms.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you have to learn to win and you have to learn to lose. We must learn to work together in parliament,”
the Sejm Chairman urged.
“If there is any chance the Presidium could be complemented by a candidate from PiS, I would welcome that, because it would complete the set this chamber needs. I hope that will happen,”
he stressed.
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– Jarosław Kaczyński: We are ready for the lack of a deputy marshal. The PiS club will not nominate a new candidate. If there is any change, it will come from that side
– Witek speaks out: “It cannot be the case that someone will nominate candidates for the largest club, the party that won these elections”
olnk/PAP
Source: wPolityce