In many EU countries voters are said to be divided between Euro-enthusiasts and Euro-sceptics. But a third group seems to be growing. "Euro-cynics" are candidates and parties who may or may not support the EU but are running to get a "cushy number" [Polish: "ciepła posadka"], travel perks, a lucrative pension plan, avoid legal investigations - all as an MP in the European Parliament.
A job in the European Parliament means a considerably higher salary than in Poland, as well as generous expenses and a pension plan.
In Poland, Konfederacja is the party with a clear euro-sceptic stance. As we reported, they are the only significant party with a sceptical attitude to the European Union:
However, Konfederacja is also employing one of the "euro-cynical" tactics - sending awkward party members into exile to Brussels. Grzegorz Braun who appeared close to expulsion for antisemitic vandalism in December is running for Konfederacja:
The leader of the previous ruling coalition, Law and Justice, is fielding a list of candidates including three highly controversial candidates: Daniel Obajtek, Jacek Kurski and Mariusz Kamiński. Obajtek is the former CEO of the Polish petroleum giant Orlen (currently under investigation), Kurski is the former CEO of Polish television TVP as well as the informal "PiS spin doctor" and Kamiński has been convicted of abuse of power in an illegal bugging scandal. (The other minister involved in that scandal, Mariusz Wąsik, is also running in the June 9 elections.)
A recent poll has found that public opinion is itself "sceptical" about the motives of these candidates, especially considering their legal woes. The survey found in particular that more than half of Poles do not think Kurski and Obajtek should be running.
The main current ruling party (PO) has also been accused of "EU-cynicism". Controversial culture minister Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz is going from "government to the EU salons" as one commentator put it. This is alleged to be for "services rendered" to the current government in his rapid undoing of the PiS takeover of the media 2015-2023. Constitutional lawyers have been divided as to whether Sienkiewicz has also broken the law in seeking to undo previous wrongs.
Sources: Radio Poland, Rzeczpospolita, Gazeta Wyborcza, Business Insider
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