For the election of Włodzimierz Czarzasty to the position of Speaker of the Sejm MPs from the government coalition, i.e. KO, Lewica, PSL and Polska 2050, voted. MPs from PiS, Konfederacja, Konfederacja Korona Polski and Razem Party were against it.
Read also: Włodzimierz Czarzasty's declaration of assets is surprising
Of the MPs constituting the government coalition, in accordance with their previous declaration, MP Agnieszka Buczyńska from the Poland 2050 parliamentary club voted againsta KO MP Michał Kołodziejczak and Polish 2050 MP Sławomir Ćwik abstained from voting.
Włodzimierz Czarzasty, one of the most recognizable figures of the Polish left, is to take up the position of Speaker of the Sejm on Tuesday – the highest position in his political career.
Włodzimierz Czarzasty – the position of Speaker of the Sejm returns to the left after 20 years
This change results from the provisions of the coalition agreement of November 2023, according to which, after half the term, the presidency of the lower house is taken over by a representative of the Left. The last time such a role was played by a politician from this camp, Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, in 2005.
Czarzasty emphasized after the parliamentary elections that taking over the function of marshal was a symbolic return of his circle to exercising real power. “After 18 years, the Left is returning to co-rule. No one will take this away from us” – he said on election night in 2023.
The political path of Włodzimierz Czarzasty. From ZSP to KRRiT and the Rywin scandal
Czarzasty's political biography is full of phrases. Born in 1960, he started as an activist of the Polish Students' Association, an organization supporting the authorities of the Polish People's Republic. Until 1990, he was also a member of the Polish United Workers' Party. After the political transformation, he went into business – he co-founded the Muza publishing house and was involved in media projects. In 1999, he joined the National Broadcasting Council, where from 2000 he served as secretary, de facto managing the work of the council.
Read also: The latest survey. Poles do not want Włodzimierz Czarzasty as Speaker of the Sejm
It was during this period that the Rywin scandal broke out, which burdened his public image for years. The investigative committee investigating the background of demanding a bribe from Agora also interrogated Czarzasty.
The politician himself claimed that he learned about Rywin's proposal from the media, and he considered it groundless to attribute to him the role of one of the people responsible behind the scenes of the scandal. Zbigniew Ziobro's report, identifying him as a member of the so-called “the group holding power”, was considered biased, and the subsequent court judgment did not confirm his participation in the procedure. Nevertheless, the turmoil led to his resignation from the National Broadcasting Council in 2005.
Włodzimierz Czarzasty and Donald Tusk
|
Jacek Dominski/REPORTER / East News
Return to politics and the path to the top of the Left
After several years of social activity and work in the “Ordynacka” Association, Czarzasty returned to the front line of politics in 2012, taking over the leadership of SLD in Mazovia. Four years later, he became the chairman of the entire party, becoming one of the main leaders of the leftist scene, alongside Adrian Zandberg and Robert Biedroń. Under his leadership, the Left first returned to the Sejm and later became one of the pillars of the coalition government after the 2023 elections.
In recent years, Czarzasty won a parliamentary seat with the support of over 22,000. voters and took up the position of deputy speaker of the Sejm. He also sits on the committees for secret services and state control. He is also known for his characteristic, informal style – including colorful sweaters, which have often become the subject of media commentary. One of them – the famous yellow one – even put the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity up for auction.
Czarzasty's assumption of the marshal's seat will be a breakthrough moment for the Left, and for the politician himself it will be the culmination of over forty years of presence in public life – from his student activities, through the gravity of the Rywin scandal, to his return to the top of national politics.
