Polish MP Tomasz Rzymkowski stirred controversy after declaring he received a 7,300 zł pay stub and criticized parliamentary wages as a form of financial degradation.
Rzymkowski Criticizes Parliamentary Pay Levels
On Radio Plus, Tomasz Rzymkowski complained that the party system excludes outstanding individuals and replaces them with compliant ones who lack a clear stance and whose sole ambition is to secure the best seat and campaign sponsors.
He Received a Pay Stub
“I received a pay stub – 7,300 zł.” Rzymkowski said the amount does not constitute an incentive, adding that it should be combined with the parliamentary allowance. He noted that lawyers and academics earn more than parliamentarians, and warned that for those with sufficient professional or financial status, entering politics is a “financial degradation” and opens a world of conflict.
From Kukiz’15 to PiS
Rzymkowski first became a member of the Sejm in 2015 on the Kukiz’15 list. After switching to PiS in 2019, he ran again in subsequent parliamentary elections and was re‑elected until failing in 2023. He returned to the Sejm in 2025 after Zbigniew Bogucki vacated the seat.
On Teachers’ Salaries: “They Saw What They Took”
In 2020, as vice‑minister of education, Rzymkowski decried a lack of raises for vice‑ministers and said living in Warsaw on 7,000 zł was a “large feat”. At the same time, he dismissed teachers’ complaints about low pay, noting that they have “seen what they took”.