Catherine Przyborska: Will the left be even closer to the Liberals after the inauguration of Donald Trump than erstwhile the Coalition was established on October 15?
Magdalena Biejat: After Trump's inauguration, the full political class, including liberals, turn right. The strong voice of the left is needed present as never before. I am ready to go against the tide and bravely talk of leftist postulates, even if all another candidates are going to make Trump's prayer policy. I will not participate in this bidding for right-wing populism.
And how Poland prepares for fresh relations with ‘hegemon offended’ international?
We have reactivated the Weimar Triangle, but we besides request strong cooperation with the Baltic Sea countries with which we share most geopolitical interests. This is simply a minute where we should become more aware of Europe, not only in terms of common policies, but besides of the common market, the European army and the improvement of the arms industry.
Apart from buying weapons from the US or South Korea, does Europe have a improvement plan?
The president of the ECB in his loud report stated clearly that the European Union is not a competitive marketplace today. And that is the key challenge for the coming years. To strengthen the Polish and European markets so that they can compete internationally, be self-sufficient, could invest in fresh technologies.
Vice-President Kaja Kallas says that arms must be carried out even at the expense of wellness care or education.
Arms are an crucial part of national security, but we must remember that real safety starts with a healthy, educated and unchangeable society. If we neglect wellness care, social policy, housing or education, social costs will be irreparable and our country's possible weakened.
In the meantime, the force of the far right has been undermined by Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who have decided to retreat compulsory wellness education even though it is needed by children.
A fewer days ago it turned out that Poland was included in a group of countries with limited possibilities to import the most advanced AI chips from the USA.Can we build technological sovereignty without Europe?
The decision on chips was made as 1 of the last by president Biden's outgoing administration, it was not Trump's decision. Although this regulation will in no way jeopardise our current demand, it shows that we can no longer be so dependent on external supplies. We request to diversify these deliveries and have our home production back.
We as a state or we as an EU? possibly it's time for federalization?
Poland should be a strong partner for another European Union countries, so we should invest in fresh technologies on the ground. Thanks to the work of the Left in the government, the first AI mill in Poland will shortly be established. We must be ambitious and courageous in our developmental thinking. We can afford large investments in technological infrastructure, so in our digitalisation strategy, we have set goals specified as sending a state communication satellite to orbit or the first quantum computer in Poland. This program is implemented by Prime Minister Gawkowski of the Left and has my full support. We have truly large scientists, specialists who are educated in Poland, but unfortunately they frequently go to another countries. I will fight to make conditions so that they can stay here and build our resilience and our economy.
We spend almost 5% of GDP on arms, on discipline 1. Will the fresh Minister of discipline from the Left be able to encourage scientists to stay in Poland or return to Poland? Will the government convince the R & D budget to rise?
Science in Poland is in a terrible state as a consequence of many years of negligence. There is simply a deficiency of funding, a good grant system, clear pathways for young scientists.
Donald Trump has shown effectiveness since the beginning of his rule. He does what he promised, signs more decrees. That's what the Law and Justices did, too, showing perp. And on October 15, the Coalition came to power, and then turned distant from its electoral and electorate. She has been betting on settlements and months-long commissions, and with loud reforms – as announced by Minister Nowacka – withdraws. This could be a burden for presidential candidates from the Democratic camp.
I think that Poland deserves to yet be president, who will put a man in the center, not do ad hoc politics and look at polls. I'm not going to go back to the far right or pretend to be anything another than me, just to delight this or that. If kids request good wellness education, they request to be provided.
However, the government likes to like “this or this”, with a reasonably conservative key.
Some coalition representatives, specified as PSL, are mainly active in blocking change. I am arrogant to be able to support the Levica that introduced Free Christmas Eve, widow’s pension Or early leave. We truly have something to brag about in government, in a coalition that's not easy. And it would be good if another members of this government would besides focus on productively proposing things alternatively than blocking the projects that people are waiting for.
The PSL wants to safe the interests of the hunting lobby, farmers and the Church. This is simply a coherent image, you may not like them for it, but it is their clear political line. And who are the Left voters?
At the minute they are primarily representatives of the mediate class from large cities. That's how it breaks down in research.
To whom will your run be targeted?
Certainly not just the voters. Today, a group of undecided, disillusioned people turn into liberal candidates who are looking for individual to meet their expectations. This is how I see my function in this run to encourage all those who were tired and disappointed in the last election.
The coalition won on October 15 due to the fact that groups of young people were activated and ‘standards” who had had adequate scandals during the Law and Justice. Young people are disappointed and discouraged. Topics that attracted them to politics were marginalized, specified as abortion and climate disaster. any of them, not only men, but women, as shown by the investigation of the Sadura Industry, She started supporting the Confederacy. What can a left-wing candidate say to them? What are his passwords for May 18?
At a gathering in Legnica, I spoke to young people who talked about this disappointment in their generation, about the feeling of not curious in their problems on the part of the rulers. As Vice Marshal of the Senate, I work closely with young people. We have done respective joint events in the legislature concerning the intellectual wellness of children and young people, their situation at school and at universities, their labour marketplace situation, and we have devoted the full conference to this.
What do the young people say at the legislature conferences?
That they're struggling with a intellectual wellness crisis, that they don't feel support, that they don't feel good in schools, that they don't learn how to work together, that they can't spend time together due to the fact that they do homework all the time, or they go to tutoring. Or they start moonlighting in college. erstwhile they enter the labour market, they are offered junk contracts, free internships and internships. It's the stuff that's on tape right now. And, of course, women's reproductive rights. I've stood with women since I've been a parliamentarian, always on their side, and I'm gonna fight my ass off to get this case settled.
Is there no way that before the election, the bill liberalising abortion law will be signed by the president? The run is, as we know, not the time for "the worldview" disputes.
At the moment, on the road to legalization of abortion in the form we fought for in the erstwhile term: up to the 12th week, with the introduction of pharmacological abortion and modern methods of abortion into the curriculum in college and in applicable classes for students – the PSL unfortunately stands. I don't lay down a gun.
And she's gonna stand there until May 18th?
We are talking to our colleagues all the time and I encourage them to look around and talk to women, including their electoral campaigns, about why access to abortion is important. This translates into our reproductive safety, access to good wellness care. possibly the gentlemen will halt making a problem out of this – erstwhile we have done this, they can halt dealing with abortion. And until we do, she'll be on tape. And we won't leave them alone.
The fact that PSL is blocking abortion suggests that it does not know who will win the presidential election. He hasn't bet on democracy yet, he's willing to play with the winner, no substance who he is. But whether this bill will appear before the presidential election may depend on whether it will be possible to mobilise those groups that will vote for a politician or a Democrat. So possibly it's not the PSL you request to talk to...
It is undoubtedly a political calculation on the part of the PSL and unfortunately it is not the only case that president Duda is treated as an excuse to do nothing – since he vetoes, there is nothing to do. I've always been in the position that president Duda should get as many laws from us as possible to show him who he stands for.
That is why it is so crucial that women vote for individual in this presidential election who will always stand clearly on their side. No substance what the political situation, who can take the initiative, will indicate.
Following changes in the White House, human rights are a civilizational accomplishment to be defended. But in Poland women's rights are not the only problem in the area of human rights: there is no marital equality, the government wants to suspend the right to asylum, but it guarantees the safety of the man prosecuted by the global Criminal Court for war crimes.
Poles do not anticipate specified a drastic turn to the right as politicians now service us. This can be seen, for example, from the reactions to the government's resolution on Benjamin Netanyahu, which guarantees him immunity if he comes to Poland to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Poland has ratified the agreements under which we are to observe the sentences and warrants of arrest of the global Criminal Court, this resolution undermines them.
Did the Left protest?
I protested. The position was besides taken by the Left's club, we presented it in public debate. Since we agree that Netanjahu should come to Poland and not be arrested here, we might as well invitation Vladimir Putin, on whom the same warrant was issued. And don't blame Viktor Orbán. It is simply a perfidious lie that in the name of safety we must quit our basic values.
Your run tour has started. You've been to Chojnice before. What's the problem with this town?
This is the south of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Kaszuba. People from smaller towns come to work and to school, and their residents would like to be able to commute to work and survey in Tricity. Without good rail transport, reinforced by bus transport, this city will not be able to make due to the fact that residents will flee the region to large metropolises. The railway is simply a strategical branch for the improvement and safety of the state. It is besides crucial to make cargo transport.
The situation at PKP Cargo Piotr Wójcik described as ‘return of inexpensive country’. The work for this return falls to the government.
I am in contact with PKP Cargo staff, with trade union representatives who are profoundly afraid about cuts in employment. This is the strategical branch that Western Europe is now placing on – and we should, too, not wait for any another company, specified as Germany, to take over our market. However, let us not forget that the work for years of negligence in this company is PiS.
What another towns will you visit?
Before me soon, among others, Radom, Podkarpacie, Vistula, Żywiec – but besides large cities. I was in Wroclaw, visiting Bydgoszcz. We go everywhere.
Sławomir Mentzen only visited about 70 localities until the end of December, and the plan for January was 40 more. The support for him grows, it's already two-digit. What's the strategy, who's gonna be the main rival? Rafał Trzaskowski or Sławomir Mentzen?
This is not a substance of alliances or their absence. I will simply fight for this electorate, which does not want to choose between strong Poland and open Poland. Of course, my natural opponent is Sławomir Mentzen, who wants to cut money for public services, supports xenophobic, anti-European policies, we have very different ideas for housing policy.
The housing situation has been on the left agenda for months.
Finally, we request to find what kind of thought the government has for housing policy, due to the fact that we inactive haven't heard clearly from the Prime Minister whether we are putting 0% on credit, or whether we are betting on the Left. We have a clear plan to repair the market, that is to implement our housing strategy. Social construction, the mobilisation of vacants, the fight against speculation, the regeneration of housing cooperatives and the regulation of short-term rental.
Does that even affect your electorate? possibly neoliberalism has shaped society to specified an degree that renting a condo for a national average is simply a secondary problem...
I think the neoliberals want people to get utilized to a housing crisis like breathing. We're not giving up on them. Vienna or our native Włocławek show that there are alternatives. present we live in the "half-and-half" model, either half a wage for rent or half a life for credit. It's time to stop, and we have prescriptions.
Let's look at your another postulates. You're proposing to reduce the retirement age for men to 60. During the debate of economists accompanying the formation of the Joint Association, the suggestions were the opposite.
I believe that the age for men and women should be equal.
But why go down?
Because I think that the state should not force people to work, but make incentives for them. A man who is inactive able to work and can work will most frequently choose a job, not a hungry retirement – we know that from research, and from talking to people.
Unless the employer uses it and turns it into individual younger, little demanding.
For women, this problem begins at about 55 years of age. Employers request to be taught to appreciate older workers, including those who can teach younger people, to guarantee the continuity of cognition transfer within the institutions. Flexible working time for older people, reducing the number of hours, adapting to strength and opportunities – these are solutions that the Ministry of Labour is already working on.
What about the Mercosur deal and the farmers who protest against it?
We are of the opinion that this agreement, in this form, is not good for our farmers by besides much competitiveness of goods from South America. It is, of course, very beneficial for countries like Germany, which have large exports to South America, but we must remember our market.
What's your attitude to the Green Deal?
Of course, I believe that the Green Deal should be introduced. Europe is the fastest heating continent. We are dealing with weather anomalies that hinder our food production in Europe. The European Union's Green Governance and policies to reduce emissions are intended to prevent this. But I besides realize farmers' concerns that they will not be able to compete with products that scope Europe from another countries.
What's the offer?
What is needed is again a strategy of incentives and additional funding.
It was created together due to the fact that you concluded that NGOs are not adequate to change the world, that politics is needed. Establishing an association is simply a return to the 3rd sector? Politics disappoint?
Not really. I'm from non-governmental organizations, and I've worked in them my full career. And I started to be active in politics due to the fact that I felt that I had reached the wall, that under this strategy I had changed as much as I could. But to do more, you gotta start changing the system. And I'm in politics due to the fact that I inactive think it's possible. possibly due to the fact that I environment myself with people who share this religion and do everything with me to make a difference.
What does your association want to achieve?
A common next day was created to open leftist environments to those who do not necessarily want to join the organization and who would like to act for progressive policies, to act locally, to work with politicians, but to request a platform another than this strict party. We can see that this is very interesting.
There have been akin movements. Simon Holovnia started with the social movement from which the organization grew. Rafał Trzaskowski besides performed a akin maneuver, which turned 10 million votes in 2020 into Campus Polska. Does Joint next day plan specified an event, gathering left-wing voters?
The association will collect signatures, but otherwise there is no plan to put his actions on the campaign. I, on the another hand, am not in the authorities and do not participate in drawing up the next plans.
Is it good that we shared it together? After the next election, your erstwhile organization may just cease to exist.
No, that's not good. Together, I've spent almost 10 years in politics with this party. erstwhile I signed up, my boy wasn't a year old, and now he's in 4th grade. I met any wonderful people there, any of them left the organization with me. Unfortunately, there came a time erstwhile our paths had to depart, due to the fact that I fundamentally disagreed with any of the leaders together who thought that we should leave the left club and decision on to the opposition. I don't think it's possible to wait for the perfect conditions, for a government that's going to have a 100 percent left-wing policy. I believe that our task as politicians is to fight here and now to turn demands into reality. And I truly like to support Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk or Krzysztof Gawkowski in this government, alternatively than stand aside and comment.
Will this run be decisive for what happens after the election? I'm certain there'll be a reconstruction of the government. Will the organization be in government if the Left's score is modest? The cake is tiny and the candidates are five.
Candidates this period multiplied both on the right and on the left. Who will yet run, we'll see erstwhile the signature registration deadline comes. I'll fight to make this score as good as possible. So that our demands will come out and have a chance to implement in the presidential palace.
And what is your minimum goal in this campaign?
Of course, I'm fighting for a second round. I know that present these polls leave much to be desired, but before we have 4 months of campaigning around the country, I will effort to scope the highest number of people, besides through social media, through all the possible channels that are within our reach. A lot can happen in this campaign.
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Magdalena Biejat – Deputy talker of the Senate, by October 2024 co-president of the Joint Association. fresh Left candidate for the office of president of Poland.
