Polish MP Franciszek Sterczewski has been fined by the Civic Coalition for missing parliamentary sessions without a formal excuse, and he has criticized Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski over his stance on Gaza.
Fine for Unexcused Absences
The Civic Coalition’s disciplinary board imposed a financial penalty on MP Franciszek Sterczewski for failing to attend parliamentary sessions without a formally justified reason, according to party spokesman Tomasz Nowak. The fine applies to any MP who misses a session without presenting a valid excuse.
Background: Global Sumud Flotilla
Since September, Sterczewski has not participated in parliamentary sessions after he left the Global Sumud Flotilla mission. The flotilla, aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and breaking Israel’s maritime blockade, was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters a few dozen nautical miles from Gaza. Activists, including Sterczewski, were detained and later deported.
Criticism of Foreign Minister Sikorski
On Wednesday, 8 October, after returning to Poland, Sterczewski told the media that he and the rest of the Polish Global Sumud Flotilla delegation were “disappointed” with the attitude of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. He accused Sikorski of downplaying the situation while the flotilla tried to prevent genocide and bring international attention to the Gaza Strip, and said he did not expect Sikorski’s dismissal or a sudden change in the Polish government’s foreign policy.
