The Association of (Non-Party) Politicians

A recent interview with the current mayor of Bolesławiec was broadcast on local television. It was an interview in which important matters for us—the residents—were raised. And that is good. After all, conversation and an exchange of ideas have value in themselves. It is worse that several of these matters were presented imprecisely and in a strongly politicized or even party-political manner. This is interesting because, paradoxically, one of the interview’s most important messages was the slogan quoted by the current mayor: “Stop political parties in local government.”

Bonds, investments and the bad opposition

What did we learn from the mayor? Well, the opposition did not want the bonds and opposed many investments in the city, including the construction of a swimming pool and a Social Welfare Home. And yet bonds are a way for the city to raise money that will make it possible to obtain more—this time, European Union—funds. This is a classic example of the mayor’s sophistry: a little truth and untruth mixed together. And what is the purpose of this maneuver? To convince residents that the opposition is “bad”! After all, the political effect is more important than the facts… But things were and are different. Here is the truth, albeit in very brief form. Councillors from the Civic Platform Club did not question the issuance of bonds at all—as a way of raising money. We were concerned by the provisions of the resolution that allowed the bonds to be incurred. Without going into the full academic disputes over interpretation, I will merely recall that the resolution was worded poorly. It stated (I quote from memory) that the bonds were to be incurred—ATTENTION!—to cover the budget deficit in 2009. Yet a “deficit” (the difference between revenue and expenditure) is a one-year category. So if the deficit was covered with approximately PLN 10 million, why were bonds worth PLN 28 million issued FOR THE PURPOSE OF COVERING IT? The concern was justified, because using the bonds contrary to the purpose of their issuance exposes the local government to a penalty of… PLN 5 million. And that is what we were afraid of. At one point, the mayor was afraid of it too, since city officials consulted the matter with the Regional Chamber of Audit. Apparently, everything is OK. And we are very pleased, because Bolesławiec’s welfare is the most important thing. For the opposition too. And as for the fact that the current mayor called the remaining PLN 18 million a budget surplus (although it is not one)—we forgive him. We put it down to overwork. Although malicious tongues say that this is another political and propaganda ploy.

Were we opposed to building the swimming pool? Of course not! The mayor promised it more than seven years ago. And he has almost managed to build it. It is a pity only that it is in such a terrible location. So we are not AGAINST BUILDING THE SWIMMING POOL, but against its LOCATION. Because the truth is that the underground car park—which has significantly increased the cost of this investment—is too small, and we will be “trudging” to the pool with a towel in hand from wherever we manage to park (which, unfortunately, may not be nearby).

Are we opposed to building a Social Welfare Home? No; we are only asking why specifically in 2010? Since the construction of this facility will be financed entirely with municipal funds—that is, our money—perhaps there was no need to wait so many years. Perhaps it should have been built two, three or five years ago? But 2010 is exceptional. The mayor puts it this way: “It is an exceptional year in terms of investment, although from the perspective of recent years, every year has been exceptional, because every year has brought fairly large investments.” But we know that the issue is not only the size of the investments. In 2010, compared with 2009, the city’s share in the investments being carried out is increasing… tenfold. So what makes the current year exceptional? An easy question—a simple answer: it is a local election year. So who prevails in the mayor’s actions: the local-government official or the politician?

The revitalization of the city is another interesting issue. A fountain is a “nice thing,” but if the mayor had managed to reach an agreement with the housing associations earlier, renovations of the façades of Bolesławiec’s tenement buildings could also have been co-financed with European Union funds. As it is, we will pay for it with “our” money. The city will withstand the planned PLN 70 million in debt. But there could be somewhat less of the money that we will be repaying for many years.

“Eastern railway station”—a never-ending topic. Is it true that opposition councillors pressured the mayor to buy this site (the station) for PLN 7 million? No. The councillors urged and continue to urge the city authorities to… acquire the station grounds. And this does not have to happen for such a large amount of money at all. Another matter is that if the mayor had managed to sell another municipal plot for the amount for which those who bought it from the city managed to sell it, we could have afforded… a great deal. Isn’t that so?

“Stop political parties in local government”!

The “political-party” thread is equally interesting. The claims are impassioned but difficult to defend. We learn that “councillors who are members of party clubs do not make decisions independently.” I wonder how the mayor knows this. After all, he does not participate in meetings of opposition councillors, where they develop their positions on the resolutions being put to a vote. And is it not the case that the coalition councillors are more deprived of independence in their votes and decisions—those for whom the mayor is, directly or indirectly, an employer? After all, in the city he is the “boss of all bosses.” The mayor states firmly: “For me, the residents’ opinion […] matters more than the directive of any political party.” How pleased that makes me! At last, we have an issue on which we agree with the mayor one hundred percent! Yet not everything divides us…

The interview also contains a thread that is amusing and mysterious at the same time. A councillor who whispers in the mayor’s ear that the budget is very good but that he must oppose it because of party discipline (who was it?). Candidates for councillor and mayor brought in briefcases from Warsaw and Wrocław. Perhaps they will speak up and tell us about the hardships of that journey? I should add that, for example, I was not brought in in a briefcase. I became a candidate for mayor of our city as a result of being selected by members of the Civic Platform—residents of Bolesławiec. Perhaps the mayor is referring to other parties? Could he mean the PiS, which was close to him not long ago and of which he was a member? And with which he strongly sympathizes (after all, he joined the electoral committee of that party’s candidate in the election for President of the Republic of Poland—Jarosław Kaczyński)? It is a pity that he did not reveal a corner of the secret.

The interview also included a point that personally concerns me. Apparently, the current mayor learned “from the mouths of some opposition figures” (I ask publicly, because it is important: whose mouths are these?) that we are facing a “dirt campaign,” that “provocations will be prepared,” and that “it will be an exceptionally brutal campaign.” Creating an atmosphere of danger does not serve the upcoming campaign. It must be a time for discussing Bolesławiec’s future. I publicly declared that “the fight does not have to be bloody,” and I stand by that declaration. I know that the current mayor—who is also a candidate for mayor—wants this too. I hope that we can compete with dignity. Let the arguments that convince the majority of residents decide. Attempting to create an alleged opposition of “bad parties” and “good non-parties” (although they are often so “party-political”) is an attempt to divert the campaign onto side tracks—ones unrelated to substance. We will deal with that too. But I believe that promoting the idea that associations of (non-party) politicians are superior to parties is a ploy that “the people of Bolesławiec” will not buy. Because they are not stupid.

Dariusz Kwaśniewski