Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia announced that next week the parliament will hear, among other items, a briefing from Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz on the state of national security, followed by a discussion.
What will parliamentarians do?
Today, after 10, the Sejm resumed its sessions; MPs are set to receive an explanation of the causes behind the recent fires. They will also continue work on the draft law on energy vouchers and amendments to the law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens.
The Sejm is continuing the session it interrupted last Thursday.
Members of the European Parliament will hear from the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration about actions taken to explain fires that occurred on May 10 and 13 in several locations across Poland. In recent days, incidents included a market hall fire in Warsaw, a waste and building materials sorting plant fire in Siekierki (Warsaw), an unused scrap yard fire in Łąki (Lower Silesian Voivodeship), and a hazardous waste dump fire in Siemianowice Śląskie.
The Sejm will also review the government’s draft amendments to the law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the ongoing armed conflict. Provisions include extending residence legality for Ukrainians with a UKR PESEL number until September 30, 2025, and linking payments for next year, including the 800 plus with compulsory education for Ukrainian children.
There will be a second reading of the bill on temporary price controls for electricity, natural gas, and district heating, as well as the energy voucher. The energy voucher is proposed as a one-off monetary benefit for households with lower incomes, with two income thresholds: up to PLN 2,500 for single-person households and up to PLN 1,700 per person for multi-person households.
MPs will also consider the government’s bill to support parents in professional activities and child-rearing — titled “Active Parent.” This introduces three benefits to assist parents: “active parents at work,” “active parents in daycare,” and “active at home.” A family with one child may receive only one of these benefits in a given month.
Voting is scheduled at the end of the meeting.
Plan for the next meeting
The Marshal of the Sejm stated at a press conference that preliminary plans for upcoming sessions have been reviewed. The agenda notes that after finishing the current session, there will be a one-week pause, with a return planned for June 12 or 13.
He explained that the next week’s session will last two days rather than three, noting that election campaigns do not serve constructive parliamentary work.
Hołownia reiterated that next week’s briefing will include a report from Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz on state security, calling the minister’s speech an exposé of the situation.
READ ALSO: Kosiniak-Kamysz: “I have an evacuation backpack ready.” Tension follows the defense chief’s statement. “The last thing he should be thinking about.”
He added that the Sejm would consider a motion to dismiss two members of the annexe on pedophilia from confidential proceedings.
Medical care for protesting farmers
At the session’s start, MP Jarosław Sachajko urged government representatives, including the Prime Minister, to meet with farmers protesting inside the Sejm. He argued they faced hunger and pressed for a break until the government engaged with the protesters.
Hołownia noted that five or six farmers remained in the Sejm, with plans for a hunger strike announced on Monday.
“We have sent a medical rescue team to monitor their health daily, should they agree to receive care,” he remarked.
READ ALSO: URGENT. Peasants protesting in the Sejm began a hunger strike. “We will continue this until the Prime Minister meets us.”
All demonstrators were offered medical care if they wished. Hołownia emphasized that protesters could stay overnight in the parliamentary hotel, though he criticized the use of protesters as campaign props for photos. He described this practice as ethically unacceptable.
He also mentioned a proposal to hold talks with Minister of Agriculture Czesław Siekierski at his request and under his supervision.
“Until the position on this issue changes, there is little we can do,” the Sejm chair declared.
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Source: wPolityce