At Saturday’s meeting, the people of Bolesławiec asked many questions about rising prices and inflation, as well as a joint election campaign by all opposition parties.
“Yes, we want one list. One list means a one-hundred-percent victory. Yes, everyone knows that. Only Kosiniak-Kamysz does not know it, nor Hołownia and a few other boys from the left. (…) Hołownia sometimes has as much as 8% support (…). I do not want to say anything bad about this movement, but I have my own opinion. We have lived through Kukiz, Palikot, Petru and a few other ephemeral movements. They only create a great deal of confusion, take votes away from parties that have a real chance to change this world, and then we end up with what we have. We have Ms Ścigaj, who is a minister without a portfolio,” said Izabela Leszczyna.
One of the meeting’s participants asked about religion in schools. Will things continue as they are?
“We have not yet discussed it fully, but the views are as follows: Nowoczesna advocates removing religion from schools entirely. I have nothing against that either. However, we have received signals from the parents of the youngest children (grades 1–3) that they would like religion to remain in school. One thing is certain: religion must not be graded on school reports, and its grade must not count toward the average (although unfortunately it does today). The second issue is that if it is already taught at school, it must be organized in such a way that it does not make school life more difficult for those who do not attend religion classes,” said Krystyna Szumilas. “I think we will reach a situation, as with all matters concerning beliefs, in which the separation of church and state will nevertheless be necessary. There is no alternative—in this direction we must certainly go,” the MP added. “I do not expect them (the episcopate) to agree to removing religion from schools. It is inconvenient for them. This decision must be made. We must clearly say what we want to do with religion. Since I do not take the view that this decision has already been made in some way, I do not want to say whether we should go in one direction or the other.”
“Even Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, who is a believer and attends church, said that she believes religion was more valuable when it was taught in parish rooms. Donald Tusk recently said exactly the same thing. He believes it should absolutely be taught in parish rooms, but he understands that for parents who want to send their young children to First Communion, this could be a major problem,” added Izabela Leszczyna.
Another issue raised was abortion. Women asked the MPs what their views were and what the party’s position was.
“A year and a half ago, in Marshal Kidawa-Błońska’s team, we announced that we support allowing abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, after consultation with a doctor and a psychologist. We understand that this decision must be left to the woman,” said Izabela Leszczyna. “Today, in the 21st century, in the heart of Europe, it is not a normal situation for someone to be in an unwanted pregnancy. We want to do this to give women a sense of security. This is supported by sex education and contraception. The point is to prevent unwanted pregnancies and ensure that there are no abortions. People need to be educated and learn what sex is, and contraception must be available. The whole world has it at its fingertips, while here we have a problem with unwanted pregnancy. It is like the Middle Ages.”