Krzysztof Gwizdała: – Karol Stasik accused Civic Platform politicians of not listening to people from the regions and therefore losing. Is he right?
Zofia Czernow: – I think that is true. Every authority should listen very carefully and observe what is happening around it. The Bolesławiec district head’s statement is true. During the election, people told us: Civic Platform is so preoccupied with itself that we want other people who will take care of us. The lesson Civic Platform received—for that is what a lost election must be called—did it good. Now my meetings with people are more direct, and our relations are closer. This makes it easier for me to carry out my parliamentary mandate.
Civic Platform’s support is rising while .Nowoczesna’s is falling. Do you think this trend will continue?
Polls have shown that Civic Platform is rebuilding trust, but this does not mean that it is a lasting trend. We must approach it with humility. What happened to .Nowoczesna could also happen to PO. We need to preserve our authenticity.
Civil partnerships and same-sex relationships—which is your position?
I am open to this discussion. In the previous term, I supported regulating these matters. We pretend that this does not exist, but it is a problem for a specific group of people who expect it to be resolved.
How far would you go in regulating same-sex partnerships?
I would go as far as our MPs are able to accept. Civic Platform was deeply divided on this issue, especially regarding the adoption of children by same-sex couples.
What is your opinion on another contentious issue: the convention on preventing and combating violence against women?
I am completely in favor of implementing the anti-violence convention. Pretending that there is no violence in Poland, mainly against women, is a lie. It is not even appropriate to say that there is no violence against women.
Two matters that you would like to address during the current term?
I would very much like local governments to become genuine hosts. A local government will not be a real local government when we shift various responsibilities onto it without providing funding. We have not resolved the issue of care and support for older people. We pretend to respect seniors because no actions follow the word “respect.” Geriatric hospitals do not receive funding, and there is no funding for medicines for people aged 75 and over. At present, we pretend that the problems of the older generation are being resolved, while these people stumble over ordinary, simple matters.
In your opinion, what is the stupidest matter the Sejm deals with?
I cannot say which one is the stupidest. I can say what irritates me. There are so many matters that we do not deal with at all, while those we do deal with are trivial. I mean some religious issues addressed by the Sejm. I do not want to offend anyone, but there are many matters that do not fall within the Sejm’s competence.
Thank you for the interview.