In November, we reported that the region’s new authorities had been elected during the first session of the Lower Silesian Regional Assembly. As announced, the PiS and Nonpartisan Local Government Representatives coalition took power in the region.

Marshal Cezary Przybylski was re-elected head of the Lower Silesian regional government. At the time, he posted the following thanks on his social media profile:

I would like to thank the Councillors of the Lower Silesian Regional Assembly for re-electing me as Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is a great honour for me. I thank all the voters who voted for me. The large number of votes shows that my work during the previous term was well received.

As OKO.press reported on 25 January this year, the new coalition also means new priorities:

The office of the coordinator for equal treatment at the Marshal’s Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship had existed since 2015. Marshal Cezary Przybylski appointed Katarzyna Lubiniecka-Różyło to the position. Thanks to her, Lower Silesia became the first region in Poland to sign the Diversity Charter in 2017. At that time, the region was governed by a coalition of the Nonpartisan Local Government Representatives, to which Przybylski belongs, and PO and PSL. The most recent local elections changed the balance of power, and PiS became the BS’s new coalition partner.

Cezary Przybylski, who remains the region’s marshal, travelled to Warsaw on 9 January for a meeting with Jarosław Kaczyński. On the same day, he issued an order abolishing the position of coordinator for equal treatment.

The UMWD spokesperson explained to OKO.press that this was not the abolition but the reorganisation of the position:

The subject matter and coordination of tasks concerning equal treatment have been entrusted to the same person. The change is formal in nature, concerning the name and place within the Office’s structure; the substantive scope of activities related to coordinating compliance with the principles of Equal Treatment at the level of the regional government—at the Marshal’s Office and in local government units—remains unchanged.

The person concerned, K. Lubiniecka-Różyło, claims, however, that her powers have been “limited only to activities within the office,” while the most important ones have been taken away.

More details at OKO.press. What do you think? We invite you to join the discussion.