Two Polish politicians, Michał Kołodziejczak and Waldemar Żurek, recently admitted to traffic offenses while discussing human fallibility.
Kołodziejczak’s Driver’s License Loss
Michał Kołodziejczak, a member of parliament for the Civic Coalition and former deputy minister of agriculture, admitted on Saturday on RMF FM radio that he currently does not have a driver’s license and arrived at the studio by taxi. He explained that he was stopped by police for speeding. When offered the option to use his parliamentary immunity to immediately regain his license, he chose to wait the three-month suspension instead.
Kołodziejczak noted that he has lost his driver’s license twice so far in his life. He stated, “Each of us is human; only critical, crisis situations show whether we can actually behave normally or not.”
Justice Minister’s Pedestrian Crossing Incident
Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek drew attention in January when, during an appearance on the YouTube channel “Duży w Maluchu,” he drove his car onto a pedestrian crossing where a woman was entering. The host pointed out the potential danger, but Żurek dismissed it, claiming the woman was still far away.
On Monday, Żurek posted on X: “Yes, according to the Police, I committed an offense. Yes, I will not hide behind the immunity I have as the Prosecutor General, and I will accept the ticket this week. That’s what responsibility is. There are no sacred cows. I made a mistake and I’m beating my chest.” For not yielding to pedestrians, a fine of 1500 zł and 15 penalty points can be imposed.
Kołodziejczak’s Political Career
Michał Kołodziejczak, a farmer by profession, began his political career in 2014 as a councilor for the city and commune of Błaszki with the Law and Justice (PiS) party. He later organized farmer protests as an activist with the Vegetable-Potato Union association.
In 2018, Kołodziejczak registered the Agrounia foundation, which became a political party in 2022. In 2023, he was elected to the Sejm from the Civic Coalition list in the Konin district. He served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture from December 2023 to June 2025.
