What can a town like Bolesławiec gain from having its own MP, as your campaign slogan suggests?

Mirosław Sakowski: Yes, my campaign slogan is “Bolesławiec can have an MP”; I also use a slogan addressed to the residents of the county: “Bolesławiec County can have an MP.” I understand this slogan more broadly because I am also standing as a candidate representing the county; I am a Civic Platform candidate.

Returning to the question, I would like to help local governments resolve current problems. In many cases, local governments need an ambassador for their affairs in Warsaw. An MP’s personal involvement can help resolve the most important issues. The most pressing matters for our town include construction of the bypass for road 297 toward Lwówek and Jelenia Góra, construction of a bridge on road 94 over the Bóbr River, and obtaining external funding to build an operating block. Obtaining funding to build a special-needs school is also an urgent task.

More broadly, for the region I care about abolishing the minerals tax. KGHM’s management spent PLN 100 million on geological work near Bolesławiec; there are copper deposits here, so a mine could be established, but each year KGHM has to pay nearly PLN 2 billion in tax. As a result, there is no funding for further research. This is holding back investment in our region. A mine means more jobs and greater regional appeal. Unemployment in Bolesławiec County is approximately 9%, but in Lwówek it is already 20%. There is much to work for. That is also why I care about building the bypass on road 297: people in Lwówek County could travel to work near Bolesławiec without traffic impediments.

What political experience do you have to aspire to the position of an MP?

Mirosław Sakowski: I am a local government official. For two terms, from 2006 to 2014, I was a councillor on the Bolesławiec City Council. I worked on several City Council committees, and for the past five years I have been the headmaster of II General Secondary School in Bolesławiec, one of the best schools in Lower Silesia. I have many years of experience in local government. I know how local government works, which may help me in my future work in the Sejm.

What national issue is closest to you and would you address in the Sejm?
I have been a teacher for 35 years and have managed a school for the past five years, so I would focus on improving the quality of education. I would like schools to be centres of local communities, open from morning until evening. II General Secondary School, the school I manage, is such a school.

The government is working on changes to the Teachers’ Charter, and a new Education Constitution law is being drafted. I would like to join the work of this committee and propose a simplified teacher remuneration system based on work results.

Civic Platform’s proposals concerning the retirement age for Poles are widely debated during the pre-election period. What is your opinion?

Mirosław Sakowski: A retirement age of 67 for both women and men was introduced by the PO–PSL government. It was a difficult and unpopular decision, and it cannot be reversed for economic reasons. In the Sejm, I will work to ease these requirements and introduce a second criterion for retirement: 40 years of employment history.

Financed by the funds of the Civic Platform RP Electoral Committee