Grzegorz Bierecki, president and CEO of the National Association of Cooperative Savings & Credit Unions, was elected to Poland's Parliament on Oct. 9.

NACSCU is a member of the World Council of Credit Unions.

Bierecki, who also serves as WOCCU first vice chair, was elected as a Law and Justice Party senator representing Biaa Podlaska, a town located in eastern Poland, according to WOCCU. It is Bierecki's first election to public office.

“As a senator, I can initiate as well as participate in the legislative process,” said Bierecki, who reportedly defeated his opponent by a 50% margin. “I can promote changes to the Cooperative Act and the Credit Union Act, as well as other important financial sector regulation.”

Bierecki was a former staff member of Lech Wasa's Solidarity Party, which helped reestablish Poland's credit union movement in partnership with WOCCU in 1989.

Poland's movement has since grown to 59 credit unions, 2.2 million members and 1,852 branches, according to WOCCU.

“Sunday's election was a huge victory for credit unions both in Poland and worldwide,” said WOCCU President/CEO Brian Branch, who last week led an engagement program of U.S. credit union league and association executives to NACSCU headquarters to study the Polish credit union system.