More than 31% of members of the Polish parliament (the Sejm) are running for an MEP seat, in what Dr. Bartłomiej E. Nowak, a political scientist from Vistula University, described to the Polish Press Agency (PAP) as “an unprecedented situation.”
According to Nowak, the reason for the political exodus is not only the significantly higher salaries of MEPs but also the better working conditions guaranteed by the European Parliament.
In the June elections to the European Parliament, 154 current parliamentarians are vying for the seat of MEP: 146 deputies and 8 senators.
According to Dr. Nowak, the European Parliament is an ideal place to start or end a political career.
In the June elections to the European Parliament, 154 current parliamentarians are vying for the seat of MEP: 146 deputies and 8 senators.
According to Dr. Nowak, the European Parliament is an ideal place to start or end a political career.
“The EP is a place where you can learn a lot at the beginning. On the other hand, if you are a former minister or prime minister, you automatically have a higher status in European politics; you are a person whose words are given more weight,” he said.
He added that so far in Polish politics, it is this pattern that has dominated.
However, as he pointed out, the situation in which as many as 154 parliamentarians, including heads and deputy heads of many ministries, are running for the EP is unprecedented in the history of Polish politics.
“This is the first such case since Poland joined the EU,” Novak stated.
Asked about the reasons for such great interest in the MEP mandate, he replied: “If someone is an MP from a ruling party, his work is unlikely to be fascinating. MPs usually approve what the government proposes. They have little opportunity to break out. From this perspective, the European Parliament appears extremely attractive.”
Novak also pointed out that the role of a politician is one of the professions with the lowest level of trust and social prestige.
“Perhaps a political career in Poland is no longer attractive. If someone is a deputy in Poland, you have to admit that financially he suffers, because in the market, if he is reasonably good, he will certainly earn more,” he said.
He pointed out. “It used to be that MP salaries were significantly higher in relation to the national average. Now this is no longer the case,” Novak went on to say.
“Polish parliamentarians earn much less than their Western counterparts, so the attractiveness of the EP is significantly higher for them,” he said.
Dr. Bartłomiej Nowak is a lecturer at Vistula University, a political scientist, and has a PhD in economics. He is also a member of the Forecasting Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Team Europe Direct, a team of experts at the European Commission.
He added that so far in Polish politics, it is this pattern that has dominated.
However, as he pointed out, the situation in which as many as 154 parliamentarians, including heads and deputy heads of many ministries, are running for the EP is unprecedented in the history of Polish politics.
“This is the first such case since Poland joined the EU,” Novak stated.
Asked about the reasons for such great interest in the MEP mandate, he replied: “If someone is an MP from a ruling party, his work is unlikely to be fascinating. MPs usually approve what the government proposes. They have little opportunity to break out. From this perspective, the European Parliament appears extremely attractive.”
Novak also pointed out that the role of a politician is one of the professions with the lowest level of trust and social prestige.
“Perhaps a political career in Poland is no longer attractive. If someone is a deputy in Poland, you have to admit that financially he suffers, because in the market, if he is reasonably good, he will certainly earn more,” he said.
He pointed out. “It used to be that MP salaries were significantly higher in relation to the national average. Now this is no longer the case,” Novak went on to say.
“Polish parliamentarians earn much less than their Western counterparts, so the attractiveness of the EP is significantly higher for them,” he said.
Dr. Bartłomiej Nowak is a lecturer at Vistula University, a political scientist, and has a PhD in economics. He is also a member of the Forecasting Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Team Europe Direct, a team of experts at the European Commission.
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