Covid-19 forced many sectors to close, including tourism, gastronomy and recreation (gyms). Many thousands of employers and employees were left without the means to live. There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic is the greatest challenge facing the world in more than 75 years.
The PiS government’s short-sightedness means that it fails to see the connection between the functioning of individual sectors of our economy and the proper operation of local government. From the perspective of local-government units, dysfunctions in the local economy mean a significant fall in revenue from shares in personal income tax and corporate income tax receipts. These funds have always been allocated to the day-to-day maintenance of local communities. Their shortfall means disruptions in public transport, municipal services and the maintenance of cultural institutions.
Recognising this lack of engagement on the part of the government, The Left submitted nearly 200 amendments to the so-called Anti-Crisis Shield during the first wave of infections. They addressed the needs of entrepreneurs, employees, the healthcare system and local government.
As an MP taking a seat in the Sejm for the first time, I have held more than 40 meetings with local-government officials, commune heads, mayors and city presidents. I also took part in sessions of Commune and City Councils. We discussed both pandemic-related problems and current, extremely difficult issues arising from the closure of entire sectors. I raised many issues, from a pavement in Chmielenie to the difficult situation of workers at the Turów mine and power plant in Bogatynia. Among more than 1,070 parliamentary questions were also those concerning assistance for local government and support for sectors affected by the crisis. As an MP, but also as a former local-government official, I try to remain in constant contact with residents and the heads of communes and cities in my constituency. As an opposition MP, I use every opportunity to ensure that the voices of those overlooked or forgotten by the Law and Justice government are heard not only in the region but also in the Sejm.
