WARSAW, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Elzbieta Witek, former minister of interior and administration, has been confirmed as the new speaker of the Polish Sejm (the lower house of the parliament) at the weekend.

Witek replaced former speaker Marek Kuchcinski who announced his resignation on Thursday after a series of revelations that he had transported his family with government planes. Kuchcinski submitted his formal resignation on Friday.

Witek's appointment followed a vote in the lower house, where she faced candidates from two other opposition parties but won by a large margin.

"We have known each other for many years," Witek said addressing the Sejm. "I am very sorry that the debate today showed that something very bad has happened in all of us in the last years," she said referring to the conflict between government and opposition.

"We have little time before the end of this term of the parliament. I think no one can deny my patriotism or moral qualifications," Witek said, adding that she would treat each member of the parliament equally and that she did not feel superior to any of her colleagues.

Witek is a long-term parliamentarian (first time elected in 2005) and member of governing party Law and Justice (PiS). In June this year, she had been appointed Minister of Interior and Administration in a governmental reshuffle following the departure of some PiS ministers to serve in the European Parliament.

The speaker of the Sejm is constitutionally the second most important role in the Polish state. Should the president die in office or be otherwise unable to complete his duties, the speaker takes his place. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)