Łukasz Mejza, Jacek Protasiewicz and Michał Jach are at the top of the list of MPs who have the most air travel in the period from January to November 2022, according to data provided to TVN24 by the Chancellery of the Sejm. For parliamentarians, the flight is free, but in reality it is paid for by the taxpayer. The cost of one ticket is PLN 658.80, regardless of the route on which the flight was made.
Members’ flights. Here are the leaders
According to the list prepared by the Chancellery of the Sejm, the largest number of flights for the first 11 months of 2022 (December settlement is still in progress) was performed by an MP Lukasz Meza (unaffiliated). He made 119 air trips, which cost PLN 78,397.20. He was in second place Jacek Protasiewicz from the Polish-PSL Coalition (101 flights, PLN 66,538.80), and the third – Michał Jach from PiS (100 flights, PLN 65,880.00).
Also at the forefront were: Boris BudkaCivic Coalition (96 flights, PLN 63,244.80), Slawomir NitrasKO (95 flights, PLN 62,586.00), Ireneusz Raś, Poland-PSL Coalition (94 flights, PLN 61,927.20), Jarosław Rzepa, Poland-PSL Coalition (94 flights, PLN 61,927.20), Robert Kropiwnicki, KO (93 flights, PLN 61,268.40), Grzegorz SchetynaKO (92 flights, PLN 60,609.60), Marcin Porzucek, PiS (92 flights, PLN 60,609.60), Paweł Kowal, KO (90 flights, PLN 59,292.00), Arkadiusz Mularczyk, PiS (87 flights PLN 87,57,315.60), Monika Wielichowska, KO (89 flights, PLN 58,633.20, Dariusz Wieczorek, Lewica (89 flights, PLN 58,633.20), Andrzej Szlachta, PiS (89 flights, PLN 58,633.20 PLN), Zbigniew Ajchler, non-member (86 flights, PLN 56,656.80), Teresa Pamuła, PiS (73 flights, PLN 48,092.40), Jerzy Polaczek, PiS (70 flights, PLN 46,116.00).
“In the case of domestic flights of Members of Parliament, we can talk about a negotiated unit ticket price, which in 2022 was PLN 658.80 gross for one flight, regardless of the route on which the flight was carried out” – explained the Sejm Information Centre.
The cost of rail travel
In response to the question about the cost of rail travel for MPs, the CIS explained that “in 2022, PLN 2,495,454.48 gross was spent on rail travel for MPs in carriages with seats.”
As stated, “this is a flat-rate price, calculated on the basis of data from previous years, which shows that MPs use 15,300 journeys on average annually. for PLN 151.02 net”.
It was also clarified that pursuant to Art. 43 sec. 1 of the Act on the performance of the mandate of a deputy and senator, deputies and senators have the right, in the territory of the country, to, inter alia, to free travel on public collective transport and flights in domestic air transport.
“The mode of using these rights was defined by the Minister of Infrastructure in the regulation of 28 December 2001 on the mode of using free travel and flights by deputies and senators in the country. The Sejm is responsible, among others, for creating conditions for deputies to perform their parliamentary mandate and to participate in the work of the Sejm and its bodies, the Chancellery of the Sejm concludes appropriate agreements with national carriers in order to exercise the statutory rights of deputies.
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