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New Leader Likens Poland to ‘Reasonable Polish Woman’ New Leader Likens Poland to ‘Reasonable Polish Woman’
(7 days later)
WARSAW — Poland’s incoming prime minister, Ewa Kopacz, said Friday that she intends to take a somewhat different, more feminine approach to the job. WARSAW — Poland’s incoming prime minister, Ewa Kopacz, said Friday that she intends to take a somewhat different, more feminine approach to the job.
At a news conference to introduce her new cabinet she was asked whether Poland should be sending weapons to aid the Ukrainian government — as the country’s leading opposition party has advocated. Ms. Kopacz (pronounced co-POTCH) replied that Poland should act only in concert with other European Union nations, not unilaterally. At a news conference to introduce her new cabinet she was asked whether Poland should be sending weapons to aid the Ukrainian government — as the country’s leading opposition party has advocated. Ms. Kopacz (pronounced CO-potch) replied that Poland should act only in concert with other European Union nations, not unilaterally.
“Poland,” she said, “should act like a reasonable Polish woman.”“Poland,” she said, “should act like a reasonable Polish woman.”
She explained that this meant putting the safety of the home and children first.She explained that this meant putting the safety of the home and children first.
“You know, I’m a woman,” she said. “I can imagine what I would do if I saw a person waving a sharp tool or holding a gun. My first thought would be: Right behind me, there is my house and my children. So I’d rush back and protect my children.”“You know, I’m a woman,” she said. “I can imagine what I would do if I saw a person waving a sharp tool or holding a gun. My first thought would be: Right behind me, there is my house and my children. So I’d rush back and protect my children.”
A man, she said, would react differently.A man, she said, would react differently.
“He would think: I don’t have a decent stick at hand, but so what? Am I not going to stand up and beat them up just because they dared to come here and threaten my family?” she said.“He would think: I don’t have a decent stick at hand, but so what? Am I not going to stand up and beat them up just because they dared to come here and threaten my family?” she said.
To some, the language had echoes of the way Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, compared her government’s approach to economic policy to that of a thrifty housewife. To others, it seemed a discordant note to sound at the arrival of a country’s second female leader.To some, the language had echoes of the way Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, compared her government’s approach to economic policy to that of a thrifty housewife. To others, it seemed a discordant note to sound at the arrival of a country’s second female leader.
“I am happy to have a female prime minister,” said Barbara Nowacka, head of the Plan Change research arm of the liberal party Your Movement. “But I was very surprised to hear her say today that she is more like a mother, not like a politician, which is again putting women into a certain stereotype.”“I am happy to have a female prime minister,” said Barbara Nowacka, head of the Plan Change research arm of the liberal party Your Movement. “But I was very surprised to hear her say today that she is more like a mother, not like a politician, which is again putting women into a certain stereotype.”
Others said that Ms. Kopacz’s language indicated that her government intended to take a calmer, less blustery approach to potentially volatile issues like the Ukraine conflict. She made it clear that if the European Union decided to take action regarding Ukraine — even if that meant sending weapons — Poland would be a part of the effort, said Marcin Zaborowski, director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs.Others said that Ms. Kopacz’s language indicated that her government intended to take a calmer, less blustery approach to potentially volatile issues like the Ukraine conflict. She made it clear that if the European Union decided to take action regarding Ukraine — even if that meant sending weapons — Poland would be a part of the effort, said Marcin Zaborowski, director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs.
Ms. Kopacz and her cabinet will be sworn in on Thursday and then face an Oct. 1 confidence vote in Parliament. She is replacing Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who was elected president of the European Council.Ms. Kopacz and her cabinet will be sworn in on Thursday and then face an Oct. 1 confidence vote in Parliament. She is replacing Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who was elected president of the European Council.
“I don’t think her comments indicate any change in policy,” Mr. Zaborowski said. “Perhaps a shift in tone.” When Ms. Kopacz referred to the nation as a Polish woman, she did not mean it should be weak and passive, he said, but that it would take a more deliberate approach in protecting hearth and home.“I don’t think her comments indicate any change in policy,” Mr. Zaborowski said. “Perhaps a shift in tone.” When Ms. Kopacz referred to the nation as a Polish woman, she did not mean it should be weak and passive, he said, but that it would take a more deliberate approach in protecting hearth and home.
Not everyone heard it that way, though.Not everyone heard it that way, though.
“A country is not a home,” Ms. Nowacka said. “It is our country.”“A country is not a home,” Ms. Nowacka said. “It is our country.”