Calls Grow to Restrict Alcohol Access Following Disruptive Behavior in Polish Parliament
Warsaw, Poland – A debate is intensifying in Poland regarding alcohol consumption within the Sejm, the country’s lower house of parliament, following recent incidents of disruptive behavior attributed to intoxicated MPs.Calls for stricter regulations,including a complete ban on alcohol sales,are mounting from opposition leaders,while some governing party members defend the current situation.
Adrian Zandberg, leader of the Razem party, criticized the availability of alcohol in the Sejm, stating, “People and the fact that someone can’t stop themselves from drinking a cup is unacceptable. There realy are other places where you can devote yourself to this.” He drew parallels to restrictions in other institutions, asking, “Vodka is not sold in schools, nor in hospitals, and you cannot buy alcohol in employee canteens at workplaces, so why should the Sejm be an exception in this respect?”
The discussion was sparked by comments labeling certain MPs as “patho-deputies” – a derogatory term referencing disruptive and inappropriate conduct. Stefan Krajewski, Minister of Agriculture from the Polish People’s Party (PSL) and the originator of the phrase, countered calls for a ban, arguing that alcohol sales in the Sejm’s restaurant have existed for years without impacting the majority of MPs. “The situations I mentioned have recently occurred when several MPs terrorize others.99.9 percent MPs behave decently, but there are a few who wont to build popularity on extreme behavior,” krajewski told PAP.
Jarosław Urbaniak, head of the Rules and Deputies’ Affairs Committee (KO), highlighted legal hurdles to implementing measures like breathalyzer tests, noting that parliamentary immunity would require MP consent for such procedures. He suggested focusing on voter accountability, stating, “Perhaps it would be better to formulate an appeal to voters simply not to elect those in their districts who behave inappropriately.”
Urbaniak also proposed a more drastic solution: abolishing the House of deputies altogether. “In democratic countries, MPs live in the city and there is no such thing as the Deputies’ House. This is a remnant of communism. If we liquidate the House of Deputies, we will also eliminate the problem of ‘patho-deputies’.” He clarified that alcohol is currently only served in the Marshal’s office for official guests.
