1. First and foremost, it should be borne in mind that this was a very short period. The entire term lasted only 18 months. This is far too little time to fully shift to thinking in terms of the country’s real (rather than learned or hearsay) problems. I needed quite a lot of time to move from the field in which I work every day as a teacher to participating in decision-making concerning matters about which I had previously had only a general idea.
Initially, I tried to carefully analyse all parliamentary materials (and there are a great many of them; they are difficult texts, packed with specialist terms, especially from the fields of law, economics and various areas of social life) in order to gain a good understanding of public affairs. I wanted to be competent in everything, thinking that this would be necessary during senators’ duty hours and meetings. After several months, however—in view of the fact that Parliament was “getting into gear” and the number of legislative initiatives was rapidly increasing, along with numerous analyses and supplementary materials—I realised that it was physically impossible to treat all issues equally. I then concentrated on what was closest to me, mainly educational matters.
I attempted to neutralise the antagonism between the School Reform Office and academic circles. My efforts were at the stage of preparing an appropriate meeting at the Senate committee’s forum. The dissolution of Parliament meant that I could not continue this work. The initiative fell through, but the problem remained.
I did, however, manage to organise a conference in Bolesławiec on 22 March 1993, attended by representatives of the Office of the Council of Ministers, for the chairpersons of municipal and city councils, as well as commune heads, mayors and city presidents from the Jelenia Góra Voivodeship, on the subject of “Local Government Reform in Poland”.
Did you achieve your objectives?
2. For a parliamentarian, there is nothing easier—and nothing that earns easier, though cheap, applause—than applying what you called “pressure” to the authorities, preferably central authorities, in local matters. I saw parliamentarians acting this way and, of course, giving their “pressure” as much publicity as possible. The problem, however, is that such “pressure” was usually ineffective, while the publicity surrounding its author remained. And I think that publicity alone was probably the point, rather than resolving the matter, because that was often impossible.
In my view, this model of a parliamentarian is completely distorted. Parliament does not exist so that 560 people entrusted with a mandate of public confidence can exert “pressure” in hundreds of thousands of local matters. The essence of Parliament is that it is a nationwide representation established to enact laws and care for the state as a whole. The deputies and senators who make up this institution must identify with the needs of the entire country, not with the particular interests of their constituencies.
That is, generally speaking, how I saw my role. But, naturally, I received everyone who approached me and repeatedly intervened—for example, with ZUS regarding the calculation of miners’ pensions; with the Minister of National Education regarding the abolition of teacher-training studies; with the Minister of Labour and Social Policy regarding the extension of entitlement to receive unemployment benefits; and with the Tax Chamber in Jelenia Góra regarding “popiwek”.
I also know that Deputy Jan Kisieliczyk took up many local matters—but it would be better to discuss that with him. The issue of the second-level music school in Bolesławiec is among those I did not have time to take up. There were and are many more difficult problems, but please do not be under the illusion that the failure of a parliamentarian to intervene is the reason they have not been resolved.
What is your programme now?
3. At its reporting and electoral meeting on 18 November 1993, the Bolesławiec branch of the Democratic Union obliged the new board to create a broader programme platform—with local-government elections in mind—in cooperation with political organisations, socio-economic entities and the city’s professional communities. We are at the initial stage of work on creating such a bloc and programme. It would be too early to reveal its details. I can only say that it will be a realistic programme, taking into account the needs of residents in various parts of Bolesławiec.
I would also like to sincerely thank you for your interest and for enabling me to speak in “Głos Bolesławca”. I wish the editorial team and all members of the Bolesławiec Enthusiasts’ Society every success in the new year, as well as perseverance in their efforts for the integration and development of our Bolesławiec community.