Polish politician Szymon Hołownia condemns a magazine report featuring his wife’s early military pension, calling it shameful.
Magazine Features Hołownia’s Wife and Nawrocka
The February 24 issue of “Polityka” magazine featured an article on pensions for military officers, prominently featuring Marta Nawrocka and Urszula Brzezińska-Hołownia. Both appeared on the cover with their ages noted and “status: pensioner” added.
The article stated that both women had taken early retirement – Nawrocka from the National Revenue Administration and Brzezińska-Hołownia from the military. Both are under 40 years old. The journalist claimed that “the army of young people receiving military pensions for life is growing faster than those who are supposed to defend us” and that “the state spends over 30 billion złoty on them annually.”
Hołownia Responds to Article
Szymon Hołownia reacted to the “Polityka” article by publishing a social media post. He criticized what he called a pattern in media coverage – first publishing articles about his health treatment, then targeting his wife.
“‘Wolne Media’ in attack. Yesterday they were busy revealing my illnesses, today they put my wife on the cover. Who, after almost 19 years of service, in which she literally risked her life, being the first link in the defense of the RP at every combat duty (and thus also shamelessly trading her image today) – left for early retirement. And out of a sense of ongoing duty to the state – joined the ‘Active Reserve’ program,” Hołownia wrote.
Defense of Wife’s Military Service
Hołownia emphasized his wife’s 19 years of military service, describing her as a “model, decorated soldier” who “sacrificed a lot of health.” He explained she left service to care for their two children.
“She is not a public person. Her only fault is that she is my wife. No one called her to ask if they could use her face, name, image,” Hołownia stated. He also defended Marta Nawrocka, who left service when she became first lady, repeating his principle that “families of politicians should be left alone.”
Early Retirement Decision
Urszula Brzezińska-Hołownia, a graduate of the Higher Air Force Officer School in Dęblin and former MiG-29 pilot at the 23rd Tactical Air Base in Mińsk Mazowiecki, transitioned to retirement in January.
“My wife left for early retirement due to a very deep conviction that this is the last moment when she can devote time to our daughters,” Hołownia explained. He praised her for reaching “the pinnacle of fighter aviation” while also having two children, noting that one of her commanders said: “We could exploit ourselves like that because we knew there was a wife who was taking care of home and children.”
