The certificate handover ceremony for the 11th term Senate opened today at noon, marking the official start of a new chapter in the chamber. The group of newly elected senators includes former Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak, former Ombudsman Adam Bodnar, and the current Left MP Magdalena Biejat. The event set the stage for their mandates to begin at the first formal meeting of the Senate for the eleventh term, convoked by the president.
Among the fresh names joining the Senate ranks is Waldemar Pawlak, known for his roles as former Prime Minister and former chairman of the Polish People’s Party. Adam Bodnar, who previously led the office of the Ombudsman, is also taking a seat among the senators. The new term will feature a lineup of current parliamentarians, including Magdalena Biejat, a leader within the New Left, along with former head of the Civic Platform Grzegorz Schetyna, deputy chairperson of the Sejm Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Rafał Grupiński, Tomasz Len z, and Małgorzata Sekuła-Szmajdzińska.
Also debuting in the Senate are Waldemar Witkowski, a respected trade union leader, Ryszard Brejza, father of the outgoing senator Krzysztof Brejza, and Mirosław Różański, a former commander of the armed forces. Rounding out the newcomers are Maciej Żywno, Anna Górska, Marek Brzezin who currently serves as the Marshal of the Warmia-Mazury Voivodeship, and Krzysztof Bieńkowski, the former starosta of Przasnysz.
In the latest Senate elections, PiS secured 34 seats, KO won 41 seats, Third Way captured 11 seats, and the New Left earned 9 seats. Additionally, five senators are slated to lead from their own committees as part of the new arrangement.
The weight of a mandate
The exceptionally high turnout is described as establishing the strongest representative mandate in the history of the Third Polish Republic. During the ceremony, Sylwester Marciniak, head of the National Electoral Commission, underscored this achievement as he addressed the newly elected senators during the election certificate presentation.
Marciniak highlighted the record turnout from this year’s elections, noting the breadth of citizen participation. The election results reflect a historic participation level, with 21,944,000 voters taking part in the Senate races, and 884 individuals voting in a way that shaped the outcome. The turnout reached 74.31 percent, according to the commission’s tally.
He pointed out that the 2015 elections saw a turnout of 50.91 percent, illustrating a substantial increase in civic engagement this cycle. He observed that the average number of votes cast for each senator stands at roughly 64,000, a figure that illustrates the direct connection between voters and their representatives.
Marciniak stressed that turnout is more than a numerical measure. It signals the level of public involvement in the life of the state and serves as a barometer for the vitality of democracy and the legitimacy of political power. It is considered a source of national pride as well as a significant responsibility for those stepping into office. In his address to the incoming senators, he called for stewarding the mandate with seriousness and accountability.
In closing remarks, the chairman invited the senators to reflect on the responsibilities that come with the trust placed in them by the electorate. The ceremony and its outcomes are seen as a testament to broad civic engagement and the enduring vitality of Poland’s parliamentary system.
For further context and commentary on the political landscape surrounding these developments, see related coverage from national sources and parliamentary press outlets. Source: wPolityce