With Marcin Możdjonk, erstwhile volleyball player, alderman Olsztyn, a associate of the fresh Hope, which is part of the Confederacy, president of the General Council of the Hunting Council, Krzysztof Ziemec talks.
Martin Możdźnik for president?
(Laughter) We'll book the domains if necessary.
So politics is not about a circumstantial position, like a message or a ministry?
That's not the point. I'm a man who knows what hard work is, likes to take work for his shoulders and not afraid to compete. I want to do something for people, I have a vision, and I want to carry it out. Being an MP is simply a tool that allows you to act.
Maybe not everyone knows – you're besides a councilman?
Yeah, I'm a councilman, Olsztyn.
Are you besides a associate of the Confederacy?
That's right, but specifically fresh Hope, which is part of the Confederacy. Automatically being a associate of fresh Hope, I am besides a associate of the Confederacy.
Who's your political boss?
Krzysztof Bosak is the president of fresh Hope and my boss. Sławomir Mentzen is besides a very strong, expressive political figure.
If you'd like to go to the Parliament in 2 years, what would you like to do there?
We are reasoning about the law on sport, hunting law, the law on forests and the law on weapons and ammunition – among others, more access to weapons. The amendment is needed to regulate certain issues, but it is not about complete liberalisation. Society needs to see this through. Currently, access to arms in Poland is even easier than obtaining a driving licence. Just sign up for a club of weapon or sports collectors, undergo a monthly internship, and then an exam with intellectual and medical examinations and territory opinion – and you can apply for a weapon permit.
A period ago, Łukasz Warzecha hosted this place, who believes that in Poland we have besides small access to arms compared to neighbouring countries and that the situation needs to be opened.
I agree, but it should be done with the head. For most citizens, taking the exam will not be a problem – as with the driving licence. A state test can be introduced which entitles you to have weapons.
Why don't environmentalists like hunters? The answer is surprising!
You're talking about the "my house, my fortress" model?
Yeah. I believe that any of the solutions should be transferred to our ground. If individual breaks into a house, there should be a real defence strategy that is essential to defend the victim more than the attacker.
What about greater access to weapons in Poland?
Currently access to weapons is comparatively easy. I would like to simplify the weapon category – present we have weapon permits for circumstantial purposes: individual protection, hunting, sports, collectibles, training, alarms. I would like to introduce a simpler category – so that all adult citizen can have a weapon at home after passing a simple applicable and theoretical examination, verified by the examiner. This is very crucial for safety reasons. It is not about the introduction of the alleged "free American" where everyone shoots everything.
Poland is indeed 1 of the most disarmed nations in the world.
Yes, the disarmament began after 1945, although the weapons had been relegated before. For comparison – in Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland or Sweden there are more weapons units than in our country. We request to learn how to usage guns. The weapon is simply a tool – it allows you to spend time at the range, in sports competitions, collect it, but besides usage it for bad purposes, just like the car.
In the present situation, after 3 years of war, do you think that all young man should be trained in shooting?
Yeah. The point is that he should know how to deal with emergency situations – even if there was a tragedy. If he sees a weapon on the street, he should know how to safe and neutralize it. Schools should teach different areas of life so students can touch, see, know. No 1 has to become a professional soldier or sniper, but it's worth having basic applicable knowledge.
You live in Olsztyn, right next to our east border – in a consecutive line little than 100 km from the royal circuit. Are war fears real in specified a place? Do specified conversations appear in local public spaces?
Of course I do. We live close to the circuit – until late we have said " Kaliningrad", now more frequently "kingdom". We are utilized to it, but we know precisely what threat the scope of rocket systems carries – Iskanders can scope crucial communication nodes very quickly. At the same time, we believe that the Polish state and the full North Atlantic Alliance will emergence to the challenge and supply us with a protective umbrella.
The conflict escalates, we see provocations – besides drones – so as a state we must keep our cool. For now, I think that is what we do: we do not heat this subject unnecessarily. Provocations have besides happened before – let us remind you of activity in the area of the Air Base close Malbork, where fighters frequently emergence to escort abroad aircraft from our airspace.
So are we part of this conflict in Ukraine?
This is simply a large simplification, but yes – there is simply a war in Ukraine and we are part of it in terms of support and commitment. It is in our interest that the front should be as far distant from the Polish border as possible.
How do you measure Poland's function in this context?
I think we're doing large in this role. We are the hub of supply – equipment, financial resources and everything essential to carry out defence activities. Estimates talk of support of about PLN 100 billion – it is immense resources and we should keep specified a policy. At the same time, we must prepare our own forces: to buy modern equipment, but above all to invest in man. This is simply a ‘vis pacem, a pair of bellum’ approach – let us be ready, although we do not want this war. We want a tight border, an anti-drone defense, and an anti-missile defense, so that no ft of a abroad soldier will stand in our territory.
There are various voices in the global debate – the Prime Minister talks about Russia's war with Europe, Viktor Orbán and others say it's not their business. How do you justice that?
This war affects the full European Union and the planet – it is an expression of large powers: Russia, China, the USA. We must exercise large care and flexibility, guided by the Polish interest and the Polish state. We have no friends – we have business. For me, the Polish interest is: not to let war on our territory, not to let rockets and drones to descend over Poland and to prevent a abroad soldier, especially Russian, from standing on our ground.
Palade: The polls are standing. PO+PiS ≈ 60%. 3rd Road down?
You're clear erstwhile it comes to hunting. Don't you want to hear any arguments? I have seen many programs that suggested limiting hunting in Poland. Critics say it is dangerous, that mediocre animals are helplessly killed by “sudden” hunters.
That's the stereotype. The Polish Hunting Union operates in accordance with the law – there is the Law of Hunting, which regulates all aspects of hunting. Everything is thought out, nothing happens accidentally. Firstly, the hunt acts as an economical function – it is liable for regulating the population of hunting species and for the harm of hunting animals do in farmland or in forests. We do this socially – the Polish Hunting Union does not receive grants or grants, we support our own members' contributions.
So hunters truly work pro publico bono, not just for the amusement of the rich?
Exactly. The yearly income from the game itself is around PLN 116 million and from lease contracts – which besides scope local governments – over PLN 300 million per year. This shows that hunting has a social and economical dimension, not just a hobby for the rich.
What about accidents and accidental shooting? There are reports of hunters shooting random people in the woods all period on the Internet.
It's a subject frequently disinformation. Unfortunately, fatal accidents occur, but in the last 20 years, no prosecutor, police or court has shown that the origin is anything another than a violation of law or regulations. It's like in all area of life – individual crosses the rules and there's an accident. We're not amateurs. To become a hunter, you request to go through a one-year internship, a course, pass a state exam under police supervision, and then get a weapon permit. We're prepared and trained for this.
Should hunting be reformed, adapted to modern times?
Of course. I am a kind of symbol of changes in fishing – I am the youngest president of the ultimate Hunting Council and I effort to introduce modern processes. The improvement could be faster if we had a partner in the climate and environment department. Unfortunately, we presently have tough opponents, specified as Mrs Hennig-Kloska and Mr Zdroża, who are more focused on obstructing the lives of hunters and foresters than on real cooperation.
