Szymon Hołownia reacted sharply to the cover of the weekly magazine 'Polityka,' which depicted his wife, Urszula Brzezińska-Hołownia, and Marta Nawrocka in the context of controversial pension privileges. The politician described the publication as an 'extremely disgusting ploy,' calling on the media to respect the privacy of public figures' families. This conflict follows closely on the heels of an earlier dispute with 'Rzeczpospolita' concerning the marshal's alleged health problems, further deepening the debate about journalistic standards in Poland.

Attack on family privacy

Hołownia opposes the use of his wife's image for political criticism of the pension system by the weekly 'Polityka.'

Dispute over health condition

The Marshal rejected suggestions by 'Rzeczpospolita' concerning depression, calling the publication a violent violation of privacy.

Criticism of liberal media

Some observers accuse mainstream editorial offices of applying double standards and unethical behavior in the campaign.

The conflict between Szymon Hołownia and part of the mainstream media has taken the form of an open war over the boundaries of privacy and professional ethics. The direct trigger for the new wave of criticism was a piece by the weekly 'Polityka.' The author of the text, Joanna Solska, took up the topic of pension privileges in the uniformed services, illustrating it with images of the wives of leading politicians who acquired pension rights before the age of 40. In an emotional post, Hołownia emphasized that his wife served as a fighter pilot for nearly two decades, and portraying her in a negative light for using statutory rights is a low blow. This event coincided with the high-profile scandal surrounding an article by Jacek Nizinkiewicz in 'Rzeczpospolita.' The journalist suggested in it that the marshal is struggling with depression, which met with a fierce reaction from the politician. Hołownia called such practices a 'cancer of journalism' and 'violent outing,' pointing to the inadmissibility of speculating about someone's health without their consent. Although the editorial board of 'Rzeczpospolita' ultimately withdrew the text and issued an apology, in the opinion of many commentators, including medical and journalistic circles, a dangerous line has been crossed in the political fight. The system of uniformed service pensions in Poland allows for retirement after 15 years (in the old system) or 25 years (in the new system), which for decades has sparked social controversy due to drastic differences compared to the universal ZUS system. Successive governments, fearing protests from the uniformed formations, have avoided radical reforms in this area. Reactions to Hołownia's stance are strongly polarized. Conservative media and part of the public opinion stand in solidarity with the politician, seeing in the publications of 'Polityka' and 'Rzeczpospolita' a coordinated attack on his candidacy. On the other hand, there is no shortage of voices, such as that of Eliza Michalik, suggesting that the marshal is cynically exploiting the situation to build a victim image. However, this case has sparked a real discussion about the right to privacy of the families of public figures and about whether the taboo surrounding the financial privileges of certain professional groups should be broken at the cost of the peace of their closest relatives. „Wara od naszych żon i bliskich. Skrajnie obrzydliwa zagrywka.” (Hands off our wives and loved ones. An extremely disgusting ploy.) — Szymon Hołownia

Mentioned People

  • Szymon Hołownia — Marshal of the Sejm, leader of the Third Way, defending his family against media attacks.
  • Urszula Brzezińska-Hołownia — Wife of Szymon Hołownia, professional fighter pilot, subject of controversy surrounding uniformed service pensions.
  • Jacek Nizinkiewicz — Journalist for 'Rzeczpospolita,' author of the controversial text about the marshal's health.