The XXXVIII session of the Sejmik of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship was held on November 22, 2021 in the Chamber Hall of the Świętokrzyska Philharmonic Hall in Kielce. The councilors discussed a number of issues important to the regions. However, our special attention, for well-known reasons, was drawn to the discussion devoted to the draft resolution on the statute of the Youth Sejmik of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship.
Among other things, the proposed Resolution provided for a change in the method of electing councilors to the youth assembly. According to the wording of § 9 of Chapter 3 of the amendment under review:
The Youth Sejmik of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodship was to be composed of councilors in the number previously specified in the statute, elected by the Sejmik of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodship from among candidates designated by the councilors of the Sejmik of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodship through written recommendations.
Each councillor of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodship Regional Assembly has the right to recommend one candidate for a councillor of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodship Youth Assembly residing in the area included in the electoral precinct from which the respective councillor obtained a seat in the elections to the Regional Assembly.
The idea was met with criticism from some of the session’s participants. In particular, councilors Jan Maćkowiak, Arkadiusz Bąk and Councilor Agata Binkowska expressed their indignation, according to whom it is an absurd idea that the election of “youth” councilors should be decided by the recommendation of the councilors of the Sejmik of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship.
– The premise, one of the main ones, of the creation of the youth assembly was to give young people the opportunity to learn about democracy in a practical dimension. That we want to listen to their voices and take them into account in making decisions that are significant for the province,” said Jan Maćkowiak, while stressing, “The foundation of democracy is how representatives are elected. If the representatives of the youth assembly are not indicated and recommended by the youth circles, these people will not be representatives of the youth. If we care about knowing what the youth care about, what their views, expectations are, then this representation should be done in an absolutely democratic way.
During the lively discussion, it was pointed out that such a way of electing councilors to the Youth Sejmik will make young people dependent on their , “older colleagues” and will significantly influence their views, which will be close to the councilors coming from a particular political grouping.
– What is the point of the Youth Sejmik of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship in a situation where the only way to elect councilors enshrined in the amendment is our recommendation? What is the point? What are we saying to the youth by this? I said: nothing about you without you. You say: without us, you can’t even apply. This is an absolute negation of the idea of the Youth Sejmik of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship,” noted Councilman Arkadiusz Bak.
After an exchange of views among the participants, in the end the councilors did not adopt a resolution to adopt the analyzed draft resolution, which was referred for further work in the committee to refine it.
A webcast of the deliberations under discussion can be found online, at:
photo: https://www.swietokrzyskie.pro/xxxviii-sesja-sejmiku-wojewodztwa-swietokrzyskiego-3/