“I voted, but I wasn’t happy,” this is how New Left (Lewica) MP Anna Maria Żukowska commented on voting against the motion of no confidence in Health Minister Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda. What is happening in the healthcare system could become the final nail in the coffin of the ruling coalition.
The Sejm rejected the motion of no confidence in Health Minister Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda. MPs from Law and Justice (PiS) accused her of deepening the healthcare crisis. A total of 212 MPs voted in favor of the motion, including all Law and Justice (PiS) and Confederation MPs present in the chamber. Meanwhile, 238 coalition MPs voted against the motion – 155 from Civic Platform, 32 from Polish People’s Party – Third Way (PSL-TD), 20 from New Left, 13 from Polska 2050 Party (Polska 2050), 15 from Centre, and 3 independent MPs.
However, as it turns out, even within the ruling coalition, Minister Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda has her critics. MP Anna Maria Żukowska spoke about this on Radio Zet.
“I voted with great pain in my heart and with a heavy conscience. I voted against dismissing the minister because Poles elected us – by ‘us’ I mean the Coalition, the Left, Polska 2050, PSL – to form a government together. To reach an agreement, to change the power in Poland, to remove PiS from power and to govern together,” said the New Left (Lewica) MP. “I was definitely not happy”, she added, referring to her vote to keep Sobierańska-Grenda in office.
“A lot really needs to change in healthcare, and I have also said this to the Prime Minister. Because in my view, if nothing changes, if there are no further systemic reforms and increased funding, then Polish women and men may judge us negatively in the electoral process,” Żukowska stressed.
She also added that without a proper decision by the Prime Minister regarding healthcare funding, the minister would not be able to achieve much. Asked whether the Prime Minister is responsible for the current policy, she replied: “Yes.”
“He should read the studies showing that healthcare – the situation in hospitals, issues of tests, limits, specialist examinations, and prevention – is the number one topic in Polish households. This is what people talk about, this is what outrages them, and this is what matters most to Poles right now,” Żukowska said.
