Hołowiec was a Euro MP from 2007 to 2009 // Wikimedia CommonsIn fresh years we have seen a fascinating trend that is gaining popularity in Poland – sports stars, who hang their shoes on a stake, start another adventure as politicians. This phenomenon brings a fresh look at the political scene. The April self-government election was a clear confirmation of this trend erstwhile many figures from the athletics planet decided to join the local government.
In the mid-1990s Brazilian Senator Romario da Souza Faria and Liberian president George Weah were among the world's top football players. In 1994 and 1995, they were selected as the best players in the FIFA plebiscite. Polish athletes trying their strength in politics have never achieved specified sporting successes or akin popularity. In the 21st century, Polish athletes became increasingly active in political life, especially in parliamentary elections. The selection included professional performers who had crucial global successes or were many representatives of Poland, or who were successful national staff trainers. However, only Krzysztof Hołowczyc regularly appeared in the ranking of the most popular Polish athletes, which suggests that the majority of politicians recruited from the erstwhile athletes belonged to the second series of popularitys.
Athletes-politics frequently maintained their popularity, after hanging their shoes on a stake, through participation in amusement programs, occasional roles in series or advertisements. However, apart from the racer mentioned earlier, no of them achieved a star position as they did during the career of their first choice. In the past any were representatives of Poland in football, specified as Jan Tomaszewski, Cezary Kucharski, and even Olympic champion in the hammer throw Simon Ziółkowski, sat in parliament. However, it must be admitted that they were not prime figures of the political scene.
Which organization guarantees a ticket?
The vast majority of athletes who have won parliamentary seats achieved this success by moving from the Citizens' Platform's electoral lists. It seems that PO is besides the most open organization to recruit candidates with known faces and names. The start-up initiative in the election usually comes from the party's side, and for the Platform it is characteristic that the offers are primarily given to athletes and coaches shortly after the end of their career, erstwhile they are inactive associated with fresh successes or are popular due to activity in another spheres specified as participation in tv shows, tv shows or charity activities. In respective cases, it can be noted that the organization encourages the first phase of political career to be a start in local elections and activity in political local structures.
This maneuver is surely implemented in the case of a multiple medalist, a star of athletics, or Margaret Hołub-Kowalik. The announced end of a runner's career is getting closer, but the future is already planned and even guaranteed with a ticket. erstwhile city councillor Koszalina in April local elections, she got into the Seymik of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. She consistently competed from the list of Civic Coalition, and even was its leader. For a sprinter, she won with a large advantage this time not seconds, but the number of votes. She has over 24,000 of them, which opens the door to reasoning about greater politics. Given the method utilized in political career, it is possible that the runner will be on the lists of Donald Tusk's organization in the future parliamentary elections.
There was no serious controversy or scandal among sports politicians, which translated into a deficiency of transfers between parliamentary clubs. The only exception was the case of Jan Tomaszewski, who was removed from the PiS parliamentary club after controversial statements. Despite political differences, political athletes seldom pursued an individual political agenda. The most common usage is the well-known and frequently even beloved characters to supply a organization with an additional mandate, especially in a territory where it is not popular. After all, athletics combines allies of different political options, so why should it not consequence in another place in parliament?
Differences in the activity of individual politicians are significant. The data published by the authoritative parliamentary service allows to check the number of speeches, interpellings and queries submitted by individual parliamentarians, as well as how they are placed against all parliamentarians of the term. Parliamentarians with more of this kind of activity have a better chance of getting a seat on the lists in subsequent elections. At the same time, absences from the meetings afraid mainly Cezary Kucharski, who did not resign as a football manager during his word of office. On the another hand, Krzysztof Hołowczyc, as a Euro-Parliamentary, had very low attendance, participating in little than 40% of the European Parliament's meetings.
Undoubtedly, the arrival of athletes on the political phase brings fresh dynamics to the discussion.
Whether their careers in politics are as superb as on the field, their commitment attracts attention and frequently encourages many fans to vote for their favourite athlete. It is besides a challenge for them, due to the fact that they must adapt to the fresh rules of the game and learn to operate effectively (and sometimes effectively) within the political system.
MAZIOPA OIL
