“There is no place for ‘patho-MPs’ or any kind of pathology in areas managed by the Chancellery of the Sejm,” declared Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia during a press conference. His words came as a response to the growing debate over MPs’ drunken excesses.
The discussion was sparked by remarks from PSL MP and Minister of Agriculture Stefan Krajewski, who spoke about so-called “patho-MPs” frequenting the parliamentary residence, known as the Dom Poselski. PiS MP Dariusz Matecki hit back with strong accusations directed at the ruling coalition.
“It’s MPs from Civic Coalition, the Left, and PSL — those who shout the loudest about ‘patho-MPs’ — who are often the ones totally drunk at the parliamentary hotel, sometimes in a state of complete degradation. If the Speaker saw them, he’d have reason to restrict alcohol in the Sejm,” Matecki said.
“As for me, I see no problem with banning alcohol sales altogether — I can’t drink for health reasons anyway,” he added.
A History of Drunken MPs
Alcohol-related scandals in the Polish parliament are nothing new. In February this year, MP Ryszard Wilk was escorted out of the Sejm chamber after an intervention by Speaker Hołownia — he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. But such “boozy” incidents go back much further.
In 2002, SLD MP Witold Firak was too drunk to leave his hotel room, even though he was scheduled to present a report on lifting the immunity of Samoobrona leader Andrzej Lepper. The episode shocked many — Firak was usually quiet and unassuming — but the incident ended his political career. He never returned to parliament.
In 2010, a TVN cameraman filmed PSL MP Andrzej Pałys stumbling out of the parliamentary residence so intoxicated that he got into another MP’s car — a now-legendary episode in Sejm folklore.
In the early 2000s, MPs even found ways to smuggle alcohol into the plenary chamber. The trick was to pour vodka into empty Coke cans or mix the two half-and-half. The ruse fell apart when one MP was caught sipping “Coke” with tomato juice.
The Left Demands a Ban
The Razem parliamentary circle is now calling for a total ban on alcohol sales in the Sejm’s residence and restaurants, having formally petitioned Speaker Hołownia on the matter.
“The ’90s are over. I don’t want to see more drunken faces rolling into the Sejm chamber or voting sessions,” said Razem leader Adrian Zandberg.
“We make decisions affecting millions of people, and if someone can’t stop themselves from having a drink, that’s unacceptable. There are plenty of other places for that.”
Zandberg rejected the argument that the Dom Poselski should be treated like MPs’ private apartments.
“You don’t sell vodka in schools, or in hospitals, or in workplace canteens,” he said.
Minister Krajewski: “The Problem Is Limited”
Interestingly, the author of the “patho-MPs” remark — Minister Stefan Krajewski — is not in favor of such sweeping measures.
“Alcohol has been sold in the Sejm restaurant for years, and it hasn’t affected the behavior of the vast majority of MPs,” he argued, insisting the problem concerns only a small minority.
“A Communist Relic”? Calls to Abolish the Sejm Residence
KO MP Jarosław Urbaniak went even further, suggesting that the entire Dom Poselski be shut down.
“In democratic countries, MPs live in the city — there’s no such thing as a parliamentary residence. It’s a relic of communism. If we get rid of the Dom Poselski, we’ll get rid of the ‘patho-MPs’ too,” Urbaniak proposed.
Whether Speaker Hołownia will take such radical steps remains to be seen.
One thing is certain: the debate over alcohol in the Polish parliament is intensifying — coinciding with growing discussions about local prohibition measures being introduced in more and more municipalities across Poland.