Polish media outlet TVN24 has revealed a report summarizing the extensive use of domestic flights by Polish parliamentarians, which have cost taxpayers over 8 million zloty for a total of 9,112 flights. A significant number of these flights were taken by 274 politicians, highlighting the costly travel habits of elected officials in a time when budget scrutiny is high.

Among the politicians, Łukasz Kmita of the Law and Justice party (PiS) emerged as the top spender, flying 144 times across the country for a total cost of 128,000 zloty. Closely following him was Robert Dowhan from the Civic Coalition, who took 143 flights costing just under 127,000 zloty. This focus on air travel by MPs has sparked public outrage and raised questions about the necessity and justification of such expenses, particularly in light of the significant financial implications for taxpayers.

In response to the backlash, Kmita defended his travel frequency, emphasizing that his role as an MP necessitates active participation both in his constituency and in parliamentary sessions in Warsaw. He reiterated the importance of being accessible to constituents while fulfilling parliamentary duties. This incident illustrates the ongoing tensions between public expectations of politicians' accountability and the operational realities faced by those in elected office, raising further dialogue about governmental spending and fiscal responsibility.