Polish Secretary of State for Equality Katarzyna Kotula discusses civil partnerships, retirement age, and trust in the state in an interview.
Civil Partnerships Bill
Katarzyna Kotula, Secretary of State for Equality in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (Nowa Lewica), stated she had several opportunities to speak with Minister Zbigniew Bogucki, but wants her official discussion about the bill on the status of closest persons to occur after the first reading. She also wants to consult with Urszula Pasławska of PSL, who collaborated on the project. The bill will be processed in the Sejm on February 12, two days before Valentine’s Day.
Kotula will argue that their proposal represents good legislation. The bill does not mention changing civil status, making it a conservative project thoroughly discussed with various sectors. She will explain that the state’s role is to facilitate citizens’ lives, which this proposal accomplishes.
Support for the Bill
The bill is its seventh version, but Kotula believes supporters of Karol Nawrocki are struggling for another reason – they can’t find arguments against it. She points out that the state should encourage people to form lasting relationships, as marriages decrease by 10,000 annually while divorces increase by the same number.
The bill would regulate “patchwork” families and address inequalities for LGBT citizens, who are second-class in Poland compared to heterosexuals who can marry. Kotula notes that even conservative PSL supports the project, which introduces a civil agreement. She questions how one can oppose such a solution and consider themselves a freedom advocate.
Retirement Age Equality
Regarding equal retirement age, Kotula suggested a compromise where the age would be set at 65, but women would receive additional years for each child born, effectively maintaining their retirement age. She also supports considering other factors like work experience and type of work, as physical jobs are more burdensome to health.
Kotula acknowledged that emotional responses to the retirement age issue are strong but emphasized the need for greater adjustment of social policies for both genders. She noted the difficulty for women in their fifties who haven’t worked for years to return to the workforce.
Educational Gaps
Kotula admitted to systemic problems in identifying areas where policies are needed due to lack of data. Her department employs only nine staff, with minimal budget allocations. She questioned why politicians on the right who now speak of discrimination against men didn’t address these issues when two men held the equality position for eight years.
Kotula defended her statement that equal treatment doesn’t mean equalizing everything with a ruler, noting that different public policies should be based on the needs of both genders. She cited the “girls to technical schools” initiative that successfully increased women in STEM fields.
Trust in the State
Kotula identified a lack of trust in the state as a systemic problem stemming from years of neglect. Many young men say they don’t want to be “cannon fodder,” which she understands, as how can one fight for a state they don’t trust? She noted that populators like Grzegorz Braun exploit this sentiment.
As social democrats, the Left faces challenges in communicating their platform regarding stable employment, housing, and healthcare. Kotula emphasized that the Left must work on its message directed at workers and residents of smaller cities, as this is part of their identity they cannot abandon.
