The inaugural session of the Sejm of the new term took place on Monday. Szymon Hołownia was elected Speaker of the Sejm. The previous speaker, Elżbieta Witek, did not receive parliamentary support. Here are five things to know on November 14.
1. Witek without the support of MPs
In a vote, the Sejm decided that there would be six deputy marshals in its 10th term. In the evening, the MPs elected five of them: Monika Wielichowska, Dorota Niedziela (both from the Civic Coalition), Włodzimierz Czarzasty (New Left), Krzysztof Bosak (Confederation) and Piotr Zgorzelski (Trzecia Droga).
PiS candidate Elżbieta Witek did not receive the required support from MPs. The Marshal of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, announced after the votes that the procedure would continue choice sixth deputy marshal “The Sejm will return at a later date.”
Witek also previously lost the vote for Speaker of the Sejm.
2. Kidawa-Błońska – Marshal of the Senate, Hołownia – Marshal of the Sejm
Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska (Civic Coalition) was elected the new Speaker of the Senate. She received 66 votes. – This is a really great day, because from today Poland is changing – she said after taking up the position.
READ ALSO: Kidawa-Błońska, Marshal of the Senate
Szymon Hołownia was elected Marshal of the Sejm. The joint candidate of the Civic Coalition, Third Way and the New Left received 265 votes. The new marshal announced many changes regarding the Chamber. – First of all, we will rearrange these two letters and the most important word will be “patria” again, not “party” – said Hołownia.
Szymon Hołownia, Krzysztof Bosak (P) and Sławomir MentzenPAP/Paweł Supernak
3. The president “believes” that Morawiecki will “formulate a government”
President Andrzej Duda On Monday evening, he entrusted Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki with the mission of forming a new government. Within 14 days of appointment, the head of government will present an action program to the Sejm along with a motion for a vote of confidence.
– The Prime Minister was again given the portfolio to form the new Council of Ministers. I believe that the Prime Minister will form it, as we discussed, as he assured me, that he will find a majority that will support the new Council of Ministers in the Sejm and that he will be able to continue in agreement, not only within the United Right, but in a broader parliamentary agreement. developing the Republic of Poland – said the president.
4. Barriers disappear in front of the Sejm
“The barriers standing in front of the Sejm on Wiejska Street, erected during the PiS government and being their symbol, were removed on Monday. dismantled by citizens” – informed the Committee for the Defense of Democracy. Activists, together with a group of people gathered at Wiejska Street, moved the barriers aside. The new Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, announced: the barriers will disappear after seven years.
The barriers appeared in front of the Sejm on December 16, 2016. Politicians of the opposition at that time said it was separating politicians from society. Today, people gathered in front of the Sejm decided to dismantle them. Recordings of the dismantling appeared, among others, on the website X (formerly Twitter) of Obywatele RP.
During the night, the barriers were removed in front of the Sejm.
5. Kaczyński talks about the “German man”, he was late for the anthem
Entering the Sejm for the inauguration of the session of the 10th term, Jarosław Kaczyński stated that the political situation in Poland is “dynamic, and not as some people think.” – There is a threat to sovereignty and, in fact, the liquidation of the Polish state, because the proposals that have been presented (concerning changes to the EU treaties – editor’s note) are not only the removal of sovereignty, but the liquidation of the Polish state – he said. The President of Law and Justice said that Donald Tusk is “a man of Germany”.
READ ALSO: Jarosław Kaczyński on “German rudeness” and “the threat of liquidation of the Polish state”
The inaugural session of the Sejm of the new term began with the playing and singing of the national anthem. The leader of Law and Justice, Jarosław Kaczyński and Mariusz Błaszczak, were late for the start of the meeting – the event was captured on cameras.
READ ALSO: Inauguration of the new term of office of the Sejm. Jarosław Kaczyński and Mariusz Błaszczak spthey were late
Main photo source: PAP/Radek Pietruszka