Controversy Over Alcohol Use in Polish Parliament

The news in Polish

1. debata  (f.)
   publiczna dyskusja na ważny temat pomiędzy osobami mającymi różne opinie. ↩︎
2. spożywać
   jeść lub pić jakiś produkt. ↩︎
3. konflikt  (m.)
   sytuacja, w której dwie lub więcej stron ma różne i przeciwnikie interesy lub cele. ↩︎
4. negatywny
   oznaczający brak czegoś lub odpowiedź przeciwną do potwierdzenia. ↩︎
5. polityk  (m.)
   osoby zajmujące się działalnością polityczną, udział w rządzeniu państwem. ↩︎
6. zakaz  (m.)
   prawo lub regulacja, która mówi, że nie można czegoś robić. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who had a conflict in the Polish parliament according to the summary?

Question 2: What did Bartosz Kownacki do to address the controversy?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
debata  (f.)	debate
spożywać	consume
konflikt  (m.)	conflict
negatywny	negative
polityk  (m.)	politicians
zakaz  (m.)	ban

Read the full story

The recent debate concerning alcohol consumption within the Polish parliament has become a focal point, following an altercation between prominent politicians. During a parliamentary session, PiS MP Bartosz Kownacki was accused by government spokesperson Adam Szłapka of being under the influence, an incident that was captured on film and shared widely on social media. In response, Kownacki underwent a breathalyser test, producing a zero result, and demanded an apology from Szłapka.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, KO MP Jacek Karnowski, in a discussion with Polsat News, expressed doubt about the breathalyser’s reliability, suggesting further tests might be necessary due to Kownacki’s energetic demeanor. To dispel these concerns, Kownacki later conducted a comprehensive drug test, which returned negative results. He reiterated his professionalism, emphasizing his role as an active sportsman and his sobriety when attending parliamentary duties.

This incident has amplified ongoing debates about the accessibility of alcohol in the parliament, with particular concern voiced by PSL’s agricultural minister, Stefan Krajewski. Following his comments on excessive alcohol consumption, Partia Razem has advocated for urgent reforms, proposing a ban on alcohol sales within parliamentary premises. Marcelina Zawisza, a party leader, insists that eliminating alcohol from parliamentary spaces is feasible and necessary.

In response to these concerns, Szymon Hołownia has instructed the restriction of access to the parliamentary bar, known as the ‘bar behind bars’, limiting entry exclusively to current and former parliamentarians. This move comes amidst broader institutional conversations around improving safety and ensuring decorum within the legislative environment.

Info: ‘Polish Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Polish’, a language school dedicated to teaching Polish. We offer various types of online courses, including Polish language classes for learners at all levels.