Speech of the Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, T.E. Mr. Szymon Hołownia

Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting

Date: 2025-06-12 13:02

Total Speeches: 3

Membership: 15

Agenda Duration: 0m

AI Summaries: 3/3 Speeches (100.0%)

Analysis: Structured Analysis

Analysis

Summary

Marshal (Speaker of the lower house) Hołownia of the Polish Sejm addressed the Riigikogu, emphasizing the deep parliamentary relations and historical ties between Poland and Estonia, highlighting General Laidoner and his wife, who was of Polish noble descent. The Marshal began his speech with a quote from Laidoner: "I am a figure of the independent Estonian state," stressing the importance of shared identity and pride. The speech focused on the need for unity, identity, and cooperation in the current geopolitical situation. Hołownia described the threats emanating from Russia, including daily provocations from Kaliningrad and hybrid warfare (migratory pressure) on Poland's eastern border. He stressed that the Kremlin's attempts to divide societies must be countered with close parliamentary cooperation. He cited as an example the regular meetings of the Speakers of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and Ukraine, which help forge societal bonds that are more crucial than military treaties in a crisis situation. Hołownia also addressed the rise of populism, which exploits public fatigue stemming from five recent major crises (climate, finance, COVID, Ukraine, migration). He warned politicians against selling fear, which he identified as a populist tactic, and called for offering responsible hope instead. He emphasized that politics must focus on the future of children and grandchildren, because "hope sells better than sex." Finally, the Marshal expressed Poland's ambition to join the club of Baltic and Nordic countries, asking Estonia to accept Poland so that they could jointly resist Putin's policies.

Decisions Made 1
Collective Decision

No decisions were made

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
13:02:44
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi now yields the floor to Marshal Hołownia.

Poola Vabariigi Seimi esimees Szymon Hołownia
13:02:50
AI Summary

The Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Szymon Hołownia, a representative of the Polish Sejm, emphasized the deep parliamentary relations between Estonia and Poland, citing General Laidoner as a shared hero. He also called for strengthening Baltic-Nordic regional cooperation to counter Russia’s hybrid warfare and geopolitical threat. He stressed that in this era of polarization and populism plaguing exhausted societies, politicians must offer hope and responsible leadership instead of fearmongering, in order to build a unified and secure future.

Poola Vabariigi Seimi esimees Szymon Hołownia
13:02:50
AI Summary

The Speaker of the Polish Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, called for unified cooperation with Estonia and the other Baltic and Nordic states, stressing the importance of hope and responsible leadership, and the strengthening of inter-parliamentary ties during crises.