I've adopted a model of work focused not only on operating strictly within the Sejm building, but also across the country and abroad. I'm aware that I took a lot of flights, but it was all due to the model of work that I adopted - the Marshal of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński said on Monday.
Kuchciński stressed in his statement on Monday that since November 12, 2015, when he was appointed Marshal of the Sejm, he "adopted a model of work focused not only on operating strictly within the Sejm building, but also across the country and abroad".
"Hence, such a high number of meetings and trips to events, in which I participate and participated after being invited by the organisers. There were over 900 such events since the start of my tenure, often more than one a day, including Saturdays and Sundays," Kuchciński said.
He also pointed out that his participation in many of the said meetings required taking the special air transport.
"All my flights, including those to Rzeszów, as well as those to any other destination in Poland and abroad, to local and regional conferences, current affairs meetings and national and foreign anniversaries, were connected to my my work as the Marshal of the Sejm," Kuchciński said.
He also said that he was aware that the number of flights he had taken was high, "but it was all due to the model of work" that he adopted.
Apologies
Marshal Kuchciński stressed at a press conference on Monday that "there were 23 such flights during his 4-year tenure," when apart from him, his family members were on board. "That's why I decided to donate 15.000 zlotys to Caritas and the Alarm Clock Clinic," he added.
He also informed that a situation had once occured, when his wife flew on the plane by herself. "After a thorough analysis of all flights, it turned out that after one of my flights from Warsaw to Rzeszów, my wife took the return flight, after being granted permission by the chief of the crew," the Marshal of the Sejm said.
He underscored that "the flight wasn't scheduled exclusively for that purpose".
"After I had disembarked in Rzeszów, the plane had to return to Warsaw, however, the flight didn't have the HEAD status. Nevertheless, in order to resolve any doubts in that regard, I've decided to cover the whole cost of the flight, by paying 28.000 zlotys to the Armed Forces Modernisation Fund," Kuchciński announced.
He added that he was aware that the public strongly disapproved of his actions. "That's why I would like to apologise to all who felt offended. At the same time I would like to stress that I was acting in accordance with the law," Kuchciński said.
Call for dismissal
Poland's opposition filed a motion to dismiss Marshal Kuchiński, arguing that he had overstepped his authority and such important public figures should know better.
The debate and vote over the fate of the Marshal is scheduled to take place on Friday, August 9.
Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, the deputy Marshal of the Sejm from the opposition Civic Platform, said on Monday that Kuchciński should have apologized and, even better, to act honourably and resign himself.
The deputy spokesman of Law and Justice, Radosław Fogiel, asked the journalists to treat the issue with "basic sense of justice". "Obviously, we're aware that the public may be outraged, and that's why the Marshal took action and decided to apologize. Let's remember, however, that the law was not broken in this case, nor was the usual custom," Fogiel said at a press conference in the Sejm.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP