Racing for seats

Since the inception of the blog, before each and every election, I felt a sense of excitement; I felt the election was a meaningful event, a groundwork of democracy, an act by which when casting a vote, a citizen, by entrusting wielding power to authorities, plays a vital role in shaping a future. This year, a week before we elect deputies for the next five-year term in the European Parliament, I feel nothing except for indifference. But next Sunday I will visit the polling station, but only out of a civic duty, because I have been brought up to exercise my rights in democracy, not because I feel it makes sense.

The reasons for my joyless attitude are ample. I could go on about the general fatigue with politics, spurred by seeing politicians making politics rather than pursuing policies, but I will briefly (exam in three weeks, do not expect drawn-out contributions) focus on four aspects I fail to put up with.

Firstly, how big is the influence of Polish deputies on well-being of Poland and Poles? For sure higher than marginal, but nowhere as significant as this exerted by decision-makers in Poland. We need efficient and competent deputies to create good laws and foster interests of Poland in the EU.

Secondly, the reputations deputies from Brussels have earned, on account of their numerous privileges. No matter if they show up on sessions and committee meetings, take part in voting, they deserve sky-high wages, subsidies for running their offices and several perquisites (flats, hotels, flights, etc.). Many candidates race for a cushy job for five years that would allow them to set themselves and their families up for the rest of their lives.

Thirdly, the campaign which revolves around issues we have in Poland. This issue of subcontractors building motorways is a domestic problem and it will not be resolved in the European Parliament, as Mr Liberadzki (SLD) says. Problem of queues to doctors should be tackled by the ministry of health in Poland, not by guys in Brussels, keep it in mind, Mr Palikot. JarKacz, as the spokesman of his party, Mr Hofman, claims, suspends campaign to set off to southern Poland to monitor flood danger. Then JarKacz turns up there and keeps on running campaign, by saying the government is guilty of not modernising enough many kilometres of embankments… Platforma in its spot instead of laying out its agenda of what they want to do for Poland in the European Parliament, ridicules Mr Hofman for showing off the size of his penis, Mr Karski for damaging hotel equipment in Cyprus, while being under influence, Ms Pawłowicz, for her condemnable statements. Voters have heads screwed in and are capable of assessing how much (or rather how little) these PiS politicians are worth. What all parties stand for is a huge crying shame!

Fourthly, the candidates. Everyone who is alive, rushes for European parliament (or put it straightforward, for cash). Mr Kurski, infamous for speeding and absence on parliament sessions, whose presence in European Parliament consists in making politics in Poland, in on every second rear of public transport bus and on every third billboard, makes me want to puke. Parties presumably had serious problems compiling lists, as they had to put in former sportsmen (Otylia Jędrzejczak, swimmer – Platforma, Tomasz Adamek, boxer – Solidarna Polska) or celebrities (Weronika Marczuk, known as victim of anti-corruption bureau – SLD, Izabella Łukomska-Pyrzalska, known from centrefold of Polish edition of Playboy – Twój Ruch Europa Plus). What the hell are competencies of those people to sit in the European Parliament?

If I can advise who to vote for… In short – for those who are well-versed in the European issues and have track record of arduously toiling away in Brussels, not blowing their own trumpets in Poland!