Łukasz Litewka

Łukasz Litewka
Litewka in 2023
Member of the Sejm
In office
13 November 2023 – 23 April 2026
Constituencyno. 32
Member of the Sosnowiec City Council
In office
16 November 2014 – 16 October 2023
Personal details
Born(1989-05-09)9 May 1989
Sosnowiec, Poland
Died23 April 2026(2026-04-23) (aged 36)
Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland
PartyNew Left (from 2021)
Other political
affiliations
Democratic Left Alliance (2014–2021)
EducationUniversity of Silesia
OccupationPolitician

Łukasz Karol Litewka (Polish: [ˈwu.kaʂ ˈka.rɔl liˈtɛf.ka]; 9 May 1989 – 23 April 2026) was a Polish social democratic politician. He was elected to the Sejm in the 2023 Polish parliamentary election, representing constituency no. 32, which was centered on the city of Sosnowiec.

Early life

Litewka was born in Sosnowiec, Poland on 9 May 1989.[1] He was the son of Zdzisław and Barbara.[2][3] He grew up in the Zagórze district of Sosnowiec.[2] He had an older brother.[4] Litewka studied sociology at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.[5]

Career

From 2014 to 2023, he was a member of the City Council of Sosnowiec. He was a member of the Democratic Left Alliance until 2023, after which he was a member of its successor, the New Left party, until his death in 2026.[5][6][7]

Litewka initiated various social campaigns, particularly ones aimed at helping abandoned animals and children with disabilities.[8][9][10] He organized charity fundraisers, such as to collect supplies for schoolchildren in Tanzania,[11] and extensively used social media to promote these efforts. He once raised several million Polish złoty in just over a week to treat a girl suffering from spinal muscular atrophy.[12]

In the 2019 Polish parliamentary election, Litewka ran unsuccessfully for the Sejm as a candidate of the Democratic Left Alliance, receiving 11,773 votes in the constituency no. 32, which is centered on the city of Sosnowiec.[13] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Litewka coordinated the distribution of material aid in the Dąbrowa Basin.[14] As part of his community work, he also supported the construction of new animal shelters in Silesia.[15] He gathered a community around him, which became known as #TeamLitewka.[14] In 2023, Litewka established a charitable foundation under that name and became the chairman of its board.[12][16] In that year's Polish parliamentary election, he was elected to the Sejm as a candidate of the New Left from the same constituency, receiving 40,579 votes.[17] Placed last on the party list, he received nearly 20,000 more votes than the party's co-chair, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, who was ranked first.[18]

During the campaign ahead of the latter election, Litewka used his election banners to promote the adoption of dogs from a local animal shelter.[19] He did not print any leaflets or organize campaign meetings.[2] Following the campaign, the banners were repurposed as insulation for kennels at the shelter.[20]

Litewka speaking in the Sejm on 14 April 2026

As an MP, he worked with singer Doda to expose malpractices in animal shelters.[21] In February 2026, shortly after the Ministry of the Interior and Administration completed its inspection of these institutions, the two met with president Karol Nawrocki to present their proposals for improving the situation of animals in Poland.[21][22][23]

Personal life

In 2023, Litewka was the only member of the New Left party to add the phrase "So help me God" to his parliamentary oath.[24] He opposed the right to terminate a pregnancy without justification during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, contrary to his own party’s position.[25]

Death

On 23 April 2026, Litewka died after being struck by a car while riding a bicycle in Dąbrowa Górnicza. He was 36.[26] An autopsy conducted the following day determined that the cause of death was hemorrhage resulting from extensive injuries to the lower limbs.[27] The man who struck and killed Litewka provided several inconsistent accounts of the collision, such as that he had either briefly lost consciousness, fallen asleep, become distracted, or had no recollection of the incident at all. The prosecutor considered these arguments to be a possible defense strategy.[28] On 24 April 2026, the prosecution filed a motion for the man's pre-trial detention, which the court granted the following day.[29]

Funeral

The state funeral took place on 29 April 2026 in Sosnowiec. On the day of the funeral, flags in front of the Sejm were lowered to half-mast.[30] At the beginning of the ceremony, President Karol Nawrocki posthumously awarded Litewka the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, one of Poland's highest state honours, and presented the decoration to his father.[31] The Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Joachim's Roman Catholic Church, presided over by the Bishop of Sosnowiec, Artur Ważny. Litewka was buried at the parish cemetery on Zuzanna Street in Sosnowiec.[32]

Reactions

Condolence book displayed in the Sejm following the death of Litewka

News of Litewka's death sparked a nationwide response in Poland.[33] Condolences were extended to Litewka's family by President Karol Nawrocki and his wife, Marta Nawrocka, as well as Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Politicians from across the parliamentary spectrum paid tribute to the deceased.[34][35] A condolence book was opened at Sosnowiec Town Hall and at the Sejm,[36][37] while residents gathered at the site of the accident, leaving candles and flowers in tribute.[38]

On 24 April 2026, residents of Jasło held a charity drive in Litewka's honour, collecting over one tonne of food for dogs and cats.[39][40]

References

  1. ↑ "Oświadczenie majątkowe radnego gminy Sosnowiec z dnia 28 kwietnia 2023 roku". bip.um.sosnowiec.pl (in Polish).
  2. 1 2 3 Ambroziak, Anton (23 April 2026). "Nie żyje poseł Łukasz Litewka". Oko Press (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Biuletyn Informacji Publicznej Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej". katalog.bip.ipn.gov.pl. Archived from the original on 14 December 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  4. ↑ Szczudlińska, Ania (17 October 2023). "Łukasz Litewka: od akcji charytatywnych po plakaty wyborcze z pieskami. Kim jest polityk i influencer?". 4Fun (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Łukasz Litewka – wybory 2023: kandydat na posła – okręg nr 32 (Katowice)". wnp.pl (in Polish).
  6. ↑ "Wybory samorządowe 2014". wybory2014.pkw.gov.pl (in Polish).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ↑ "Oficjalne wyniki wyborów!". sosnowiecki.pl (in Polish).
  8. ↑ "„13 minut i Łukasz Litewka rozwalił system". Wiktoria będzie miała nowy wózek". www.rybnik.com.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  9. ↑ Todur, Wojciech. "Rolnik ze świętokrzyskiego przywiózł do Sosnowca 10 ton ziemniaków. Był gotowy je rozdać, ale mieszkańcy nie pozwolili". sosnowiec.wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "Łukasz Litewka. Kto to? Niespodziewany lider Lewicy w okręgu wyborczym nr 32". WP Wiadomości (in Polish). 16 October 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  11. ↑ Todur, Wojciech. "Dzieci Masajów z Tanzanii będą się uczyły przy szkolnych ławkach z Dąbrowy Górniczej". sosnowiec.wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  12. 1 2 Żelazińska, Aleksandra. "Nie żyje poseł Łukasz Litewka. Zginął w tragicznym wypadku. „Tej pustki nic nie wypełni"". www.polityka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "Wybory do Sejmu i Senatu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej 2019". pkw.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Widzą w nim superbohatera. Oddali na niego 40 tys. głosów. Ale ma też na koncie dwa wyroki". tvn24.pl (in Polish). 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  15. ↑ Pakuła, Dagmara; Idziak, Patryk (23 April 2026). "Łukasz Litewka nie żyje. Poseł zginął w wypadku". interia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Wyszukiwarka KRS". wyszukiwarka-krs.ms.gov.pl. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Okręg wyborczy numer 32 w wyborach do Sejmu w 2023 r." wybory.gov.pl (in Polish).
  18. ↑ Stępień, Marta (17 October 2023). "Lider Lewicy pokonany przez radnego z Sosnowca. Jego kampania była hitem". Interia (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  19. ↑ Todur, Wojciech (11 September 2023). "Włochaci 'kandydaci' do Sejmu. Psy ze schroniska w Sosnowcu na wyborczych plakatach Łukasza Litewki". Wyborcza (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  20. ↑ "Łukasz Litewka dostał się do Sejmu. Swoje plakaty wyborcze przekaże... psom". Onet (in Polish). 18 October 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  21. 1 2 Mokrzanowska, Anna (3 February 2026). "Doda i Litewka spotkali się z Nawrockim. Ujawniono szczegóły". Wprost (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  22. ↑ Panicz, Julia (3 February 2026). "Nawrocki spotkał się z Dodą, Stanowskim i Litewką. Wiadomo, o czym rozmawiali". gazetapl (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  23. ↑ "Poseł Lewicy krytykowany za spotkanie z Nawrockim. Wydał oświadczenie". Kobieta Onet (in Polish). 4 February 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  24. ↑ Żmuda, Katarzyna (23 April 2026). "Łukasz Litewka zginął w wypadku. Tak mówił o Bogu i Kościele". WP Kobieta (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  25. ↑ Jedlecki, Przemysław (10 November 2023). "Łukasz Litewka, poseł Lewicy, tłumaczy się ze słów w sprawie aborcji. Posłanki: Nie zna rzeczywistości, będzie rozmowa". wyborcza.pl.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ↑ Zygiel, Adam (23 April 2026). "Poseł Łukasz Litewka nie żyje. Zginął w wypadku" [MP Łukasz Litewka has died. He was killed in an accident]. Wirtualna Polska. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  27. ↑ Baran, Violetta (24 April 2026). "Są już wyniki sekcji zwłok. Wiadomo, jak zmarł Łukasz Litewka". WP.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  28. ↑ Malinowski, Michał (24 April 2026). "Prokuratura o przyczynie śmierci posła Łukasza Litewki. Zarzuty dla kierowcy". TVN24 (in Polish). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  29. ↑ Kuczera, Łukasz (25 April 2026). "Śmierć Łukasza Litewki. Jest decyzja ws. sprawcy wypadku". WP.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  30. ↑ Margielewski, Piotr (29 April 2026). "Wyjątkowy gest w Sejmie w dniu pogrzebu Łukasza Litewki". Radio Eska (in Polish). Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  31. ↑ Kaleta, Stanisław (29 April 2026). "Top Polish leaders attend state funeral of animal advocate MP Litewka". TVP World. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  32. ↑ "President, PM among mourners as popular Polish MP laid to rest". Polskie Radio. 29 April 2026. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  33. ↑ "Śmierć posła Litewki poruszyła Polki i Polaków. 5 ważnych tematów na dziś". Polityka (in Polish). 24 April 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  34. ↑ Makarewicz, Nicole (23 April 2026). "'Tyle łez zamienił w radość'. Politycy żegnają Łukasza Litewkę". RMF24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  35. ↑ Ryncarz, Krzysztof (23 April 2026). "Politycy żegnają Łukasza Litewkę. 'Serce mi pęka'". Interia (in Polish). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  36. ↑ Bounaoui, Sara (24 April 2026). "Sosnowiec żegna Łukasza Litewkę. Kolejki do księgi kondolencyjnej". WP.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  37. ↑ Kamiński, Mateusz (28 April 2026). "Tak upamiętnili Łukasza Litewkę w Sejmie. Poruszający gest". Onet Kobieta (in Polish). Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  38. ↑ Kamiński, Mateusz (24 April 2026). "Opłakują Łukasza Litewkę. Znicze i kwiaty na miejscu tragedii". Onet Kobieta (in Polish). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  39. ↑ Zoń, Natalia (25 April 2026). "Ponad tona karmy dla zwierząt ku pamięci Łukasza Litewki. Wspaniała inicjatywa w Jaśle". RMF FM (in Polish). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  40. ↑ Sekuła, Zuzanna (25 April 2026). "Zamiast zniczy przynieśli pomoc. Wzruszający hołd dla Łukasza Litewki. 'Dziękujemy za Twoje serce'". Super Express (in Polish). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
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