Elżbieta Witek

Elżbieta Barbara Witek (Polish pronunciation: [ɛlʐˈbjɛta barˈbara ˈvitɛk]; née Zbanuch; born 17 December 1957) is a Polish conservative politician of the Law and Justice party. Historian, history teacher by profession. Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland for the 8th and 9th parliamentary terms from 2019 to 2023.

Member of the Sejm for the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th terms (since 2005). Government spokeswoman from 2015 to 2016, from 2015 to 2017 Minister-Member of the Council of Ministers and Head of the Prime Minister's Political Cabinet in the governments of Beata Szydło and Mateusz Morawiecki, in 2019 Minister of the Interior and Administration in the first cabinet of Mateusz Morawiecki.

Life

Early life and education

Born in Wrocław, Witek completed her master's degree in history at the Faculty of Philosophy and History of Wrocław University in 1980. She furthered her education by completing post-graduate studies in European Union studies at the Wrocław University Institute of History in 1996.

Her professional career began immediately after her graduation in 1980 when she took up a teaching position in Jawor. She progressed to become the head teacher at Jawor Primary School No. 2 in 1991, and later at the General Secondary School Complex in Jawor. In addition to her educational roles, she served as a lay judge in the labour court for four years. From 2004 to 2008, she held the position of vice-president of the Jawor Sports Club "Olimpia".