The City Council of Przemyśl has granted the Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński the title of the Honorary Citizen of the City. There were 12 councillors in favor of the resolution, 4 against and one abstained from voting.
The chairman of the City Council of Przemyśl received a letter from members of the former Civic Solidarity Committee with a proposal to submit a legislative initiative. "Recognizing the enormous commitment and dedication to the good of our small and large homeland, as well as many years of conscientious work for the benefit of the region, and also expressing its respect for the function of the Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, the City Council of Przemyśl grants Mr. Marek Tadeusz Kuchciński the title of Honorary Citizen of the City of Przemyśl, thus expressing its thanks for his attitude and personal contribution to the promotion of its city on the national and international forum," wrote Robert Choma, the President of Przemyśl, in the draft resolution.
During the session of the City Council, President Choma also argued that giving this title to the Speaker of the Sejm, the second person in the country, a native inhabitant of Przemyśl on the 550th anniversary of parliamentarianism, is fully justified.
Lucyna Podhalicz, Deputy Voivode of Podkarpacie also believes that Marshal Marek Kuchciński deserves this honor. - He is the initiator of establishing the State Eastern European University in Przemyśl, the initiator of passing the Programme for Eastern Poland which financed the construction of the bypass of Przemyśl. As a result of Marek Kuchciński's efforts, the Podkarpacki Urząd Celno-Skarbowy (Podkarpacki Customs and Excise Office) and a branch of the National School of Taxation are located in Przemyśl. The Marshal of the Sejm is also the initiator of the international program for the Carpathians, including the international route Via Carpatia. So far, he is the only citizen of przemyślno who has been a member of the presidium of the modern Sejm, first as vice-Marshall, then as Marshal," he says.
In the 1980s, Marek Kuchciński organized an independent cultural milieu in Przemyśl, publishing and co-editing the quarterly "Cultural Attic" outside censorship. He was active in the independent peasant movement - he was a member of the All-Poland Farmers' Resistance Committee, among other things. In 1983-1989, also uncensored, he co-organized the Christian Culture Days in Przemyśl and the international art exhibitions "Man - God - World". In 1985, he was arrested for opposition activity. In 1989, he was a co-founder of the "Solidarity" Citizens' Committee in the Przemyśl province. In 1990-1992 he was a member of the National Civic Committee "Solidarity" with Lech Wałęsa. From 1990 to 1999 he was a member of the Agreement Centre and president of the Przemysl Cultural Association, publisher of the quarterly Spojrzenia Przemyskie (Views of Przemysl), vice-president of the Rzeszow Branch of the Polish Journalists' Association, and chairman of the programme council of the Polish Radio Rzeszow. In 1994-1999 he was a councillor in Przemyśl. From 1990 to 1999 he was a member of the Alliance Center, heading the party in the Przemysl Voivodeship.
From 1999 to 2001, he held the office of the Deputy Governor of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. Since 2001, he has held the mandate of a member of the Sejm for successive terms of office for Law and Justice. On 4 August 2010 I became a Deputy Speaker of the Sejm of the 6th term, and on 8 November 2011 - Deputy Speaker of the Sejm of the 7th term. Since 12 November 2015, he has been the Speaker of the Sejm of the 8th term.
Resolution
The Speaker of the Sejm during the unveiling of the monument to lancer and hussar on Dominikanska Square in Przemysl. Photo: Paweł Kula / Sejm