Please introduce yourself and say a few words about yourself.

My name is Szymon Cołokidzi, I am 27 years old, and I have lived in Bolesławiec since birth, apart from a five-year break to study in Wrocław. I hold a master’s degree in administration from the University of Wrocław. I am a graduate of postgraduate studies in Modern Human Resources Management at the Wrocław University of Economics. I hold an FCE certificate in English and have completed a German-language course at the Goethe Institute in Berlin. For two years, I have been president of the management board of “Ekonaft” Bolesławiec sp. z o.o. The company is involved in the wholesale and retail sale of liquid fuels, the production of cardboard packaging, and operates the “Relaks” holiday resort in Tarnów Jezierny near Sława.

Why did you decide to run, and why did you choose this particular grouping?

.Nowoczesna, contrary to what is said about it, is a group of people active in many areas of life. They include lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, academics and people from the cultural sector. Most of them have professional experience and are not career politicians. However, we do not follow the principle that anyone who has merely come into contact with politics is a pariah to us. We do not promise to give anyone anything. We say that we want to repair the state so that it functions more efficiently and fairly.

I decided to take matters into my own hands. I simply do not believe that the parties currently represented in the Sejm are capable of bringing about positive change. They have become too detached from the reality of ordinary people. Even when signals about problems reach them, they are unable to resolve them in a systemic and citizen-friendly manner. The leaders of the old parties are people who have been sitting in parliamentary seats for several decades, devoting all their energy to political games over influence and power, leaving too little time to implement projects for citizens. It seems that there is a constant election campaign and a festival of unfunded promises. This harms Poland and future generations, because it is impossible to fulfil all these commitments without damaging the budget. Too many matters have been neglected so far. That is why .Nowoczesna supports limiting Sejm deputies and Senators to two terms.

What would you mainly like to deal with in the Sejm?

I would like to focus on improving the situation of small and medium-sized enterprises. I believe that they are the driving force of the Polish economy. I would like to sit on the Economy Committee and the Committee for European Union Affairs. Excessive tax and bureaucratic burdens are blocking the development of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs cannot afford to give employees pay rises or purchase new equipment or machinery, which would significantly improve work efficiency. This is especially difficult because they must not only compete on the market, but also struggle against their own state.

It cannot be the case that obtaining a building permit takes more than a year. Instead of devoting their time to work, entrepreneurs have to waste a great deal of it filling out applications and forms for various offices. They lose sleep wondering whether they filled them in correctly and whether they will be fined in the event of an inspection, particularly after leaks from the Ministry of Finance suggesting that 80% of tax inspections are to end with an additional tax assessment. As .Nowoczesna, we believe that this is not the way forward. We must restore the state’s trust in citizens and citizens’ trust in the state. Taxes should be simple, transparent and taxpayer-friendly. Simple taxes mean easier inspections and greater collection. Hundreds of laws are passed that produce no results, and at such a pace that officials cannot keep up with learning the regulations.

The second matter is an active, decentralised social policy. Activation and work instead of benefits, more social services and fewer financial payments. Temporary employment agencies mean more work and fewer benefits. The structure of the minimum wage needs to be changed. It is obvious that wages are different in large cities such as Warsaw or Wrocław than in small towns or villages. The minimum wage cannot be increased drastically from above and centrally, detached from economic growth. Employment subsidies should be introduced in selected regions and for selected social groups, along with programmes to activate older people professionally (60+).

What is the biggest problem facing Bolesławiec and the region? What proposals do you have for the city, and what proposals do you have for the region?

As a young person and an entrepreneur, I know that the biggest problem in our region, as in the entire country, is low wages. I also know that many employers are looking for workers but cannot find them because those workers are not suited to the labour market. Entrepreneurs realise that you cannot make a good employee out of a slave, and they would be willing to offer higher wages if they faced lower burdens. Many experts say that labour in Poland is taxed too heavily in relation to the capital generated by businesses. As a result, they cannot grow or grow too slowly.

An engaged, experienced employee who is good at their profession is a treasure to an employer, and these are precisely the people employers should compete for by offering higher wages or non-wage benefits. Money is a motivator only up to a point; after that, opportunities for development and promotion, and having an influence on how the company operates, become important. This problem could be resolved by strengthening cooperation between business and both vocational schools and higher-education institutions. Polish schools are too theoretical; students should learn through experience. Entrepreneurs would co-finance compulsory internships or training and, in return, receive employees ready and prepared for the profession. Every professional experience is valuable for development. You need to know how to use experience to your advantage and strive to be the best at what you do.

What is the greatest advantage of our city and region?

Our greatest asset is the proximity of the A4 and A18 motorways, while the S3 expressway is under construction. I would focus on attracting Polish-owned companies to Bolesławiec that manufacture technologically advanced, highly processed products. This would provide employment in our area for many specialists. Only such companies guarantee high wages because they sell their goods at much higher prices. One example is the local company “Elektros”, which has grown significantly and built a production hall in the economic zone. These are precisely the companies that should be supported. I would draw attention to the unrepaired section of the A18 road from Olszyna towards Wrocław. The road’s tragic condition causes drivers to avoid this section; they prefer to add several dozen kilometres rather than damage their cars.

Why should people vote for you?

I ask you to vote for a young, energetic, entrepreneurial Poland.

Thank you for the interview.

Thank you.

Funded by the Nowoczesna Ryszard Petru Electoral Committee