Since 2009, Poland’s bureaucratic machine has increased its personnel by 12,200 jobs, mostly in local government, RZECZPOSPOLITA writes.

Even though the rise is only fraction of the 40,000 new administration jobs created in 2009, the figure shows an increase in bureaucracy, with an increase of 2.8 percent noted in 2010. The number of public administration jobs in 2010 amounted to 440,000 people, even though the government had previously announced cuts in bureaucracy. RZECZPOSPOLITA reports that while provincial and local government offices have had to shed some of their staff, local councils and related agencies saw an increase of 11,000 administration jobs, a rise of 4.5 percent. Local councils have pinned the rise on administration employment on the increase of duties and responsibilities, with provincial governors explaining the rise in bureaucracy as an effective division of EU funds.

DZIENNIK GAZETA PRAWNA reports that Kulczyk Oil Ventures (KOV), which is majority owned by Jan Kulczyk, Poland’s richest man, is planning to enter the African market. The Neconde consortium, which is made up of KOV and the Nigeria’s Nestoil, bought concession from Dutch oil giant Shell for exploration at the Nigerian OML 42 field, which is comprised of eight oil deposits. The two companies bought 45 percent of the concession licence for a reputed 800 million US dollars, and also allows for the exploration of gas. Meanwhile, analysts quoted by DZIENNIK GAZETA PRAWNA are wondering where KOV will find such an enormous sum for such a transaction, as the investment is worth the company’s capitalisation many times over. Even if KOV will pay half of the expected sum, it is sure that the cash raised would not be from stocks.

RZECZPOSPOLITA has an interview with Prosecutor Andrzej Seremet, Poland’s Prosecutor General, who says that two-day elections go against the Constitution. However, Seremet believes that the reduction in size for election posters and voting via proxy is in accordance with Poland’s’ constitution. The opinion comes after the major opposition Law and Justice filed a motion to the Constitutional Tribunal at the beginning of the year highlighting their doubts as to the proposed changes. Meanwhile, RZECZPOSPOLITA writes that according to unofficial information the Tribunal may look into the changes this month.

POLSKA THE TIMES muses that this year there weren’t any Mayday parades not just because of the Pope’s beatification. According to commentators in the paper, including the editor-in-chief of the left-wing intellectual Krytyka Polityczna, “one of the biggest victims of communism is the left.” The lack of Mayday parades simply shows that there aren’t any plasticising communists in Poland, and that no one is interested in bringing Marxist ideas to life. Meanwhile, Political Scientist Professor Kazimierz Kik says that “Solidarity in its current form has little to do with its beginnings, just like the Democratic Left Alliance with the socialists.” Other comments reveal that Poland’s leftist party is now looking for support from among the middle classes, leaving the working classes by the wayside. (jb)