Sołtys

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A sołtys is the head of a sołectwo, elected by the village’s permanent residents at a village meeting. In 2010 Poland had about 40 thousand sołtys, with women making up about 30.7%. Since 1990 the sołtys runs the sołectwo and is supported by a sołectwo council. The exact powers, duties and responsibilities are set out in the statute made by the gmina council. The sołtys has civil servant protection.

The office began during the partitions of Poland and has varied by region. In Congress Poland, a sołtys was the executive of a gromada, a unit of a gmina. In the Grand Duchy of Posen, a sołtys often acted as the village owner. In 1934 sołectwa were reintroduced in Poland to focus on community matters. In the Polish People’s Republic, the role was briefly replaced from 1954 to 1958, then restored as sołtys. Until 1973 the sołtys led a gromada; since 1973 a sołtys has governed a sołectwo.