The presidential elections in Poland will take place on 18 May. Only the Left exposed a female in them, who represents a very modern attitude towards the modern, rapidly changing planet and is supported by many young women. besides men who support feminism. But it's inactive a definite minority. Why is there no solid support for progressive forces in Polish society?
The presidential election in Poland, Magdalena Biejat, presently a senator, can appear in 2 ways. The first is the awareness of the Left, who knows that in a country like Poland, left-wing candidacy will not get besides much support, so at least let it be a woman. A warm spirit, parent of 2 children, socially involved. In this way it is possible to slow tame the patriarchal society with progressive views. The second way of reasoning is related to the first – she is the only female among the candidates for the office of President, which in itself impresses. It can embody the dream of many women who are incapable (they cannot, fear, have no tools or are tired of boxing with the patriarch) to fight for their ambitions. Practically, methodically and with the support of another women to accomplish the highest positions in the country thanks to their competence.
Magdalene Biejat, 1982, specified a straining up rather well. She completed sociology at the Universidad de Granada (Spain). Later, postgraduate studies with management of NGOs at Collegium Civitas in Warsaw and Institute of Political Studies. She was a translator of Spanish literature. She worked for NGOs, including the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, the Stefan Batory Foundation, the laboratory of Social investigation and Innovation “Stocznia”. In the latter, she became head of investigation and consulting. At the same time, she volunteered to work with homeless people. She is simply a vegetarian and advocate for the modernisation of European Polish education. Loudly demands the establishment of vegetarian school canteens or the construction of inexpensive apartments for rent. She urges women to take the reins of their lives into their own hands, which can importantly improve the destiny of Polish families, where the most dominant function is played by men, from tiny to winning the world.
Biejat was a associate of the 9th Parliament (2019-2023), associate of the Social Policy and household Committee, and vice-president of the Coalition Parliamentary Left Club. Since 2023, she has been a senator of the 11th term. Last year, without success, she ran for the presidency of Warsaw. By winning the May elections, the highest office in the state would become a kind of phenomenon, but this is unlikely.
Next to a man
– Many women, not only the Left, effort to become leaders, MPs, senators, local governments and succeed," says Iwona Zielińska, journalist, was the chief of the “Gazeta Wrocławska” and “Gazeta Lubuska”. – The problem is that then they get to work and work behind their backs, in the shadow of the men spreading. due to the fact that they're productive and responsible. Even the progressive forces that support them do not aid them in the loud and visible public occurrence. Men usually exhibit. In this case, the Left. Their doctrine is rather cynical: “We will exposure the woman, show that we are as progressive as our electoral ideology. We know she won't win, but she's young, she's pretty, she's nice, she's gentle, and she can aid take off the left-wing image of old communists, the cameramen. That's all we'll benefit from. Our people will vote for it, and they won't get the remainder anyway, but a good image of the Left will be stuck somewhere in reluctant consciousness.” And the remainder that won't vote, even the 1 that's not conservative, will choose the 1 behind which is simply a determined and crucial political force. It is popular and populist. She looks good in the coat and sweater. What if he's lying? Which politician doesn't lie? It will find who lies more convincingly. Progressive, determined, open to unpopular social theories we are, but in declarations and manifestations. Reality, everyday life, which is besides revolutionary, does not suit us. A female wearing a suit will always be a woman. And the place of a woman, not only in Poland, is behind her back, yet next to a man. Strength may be a woman, but utilized by men. No substance what they say.
Prof. Dariusz Dąbrowski, historian at the University of Kazimierz Wielki in Bydgoszcz, finds it a sad paradox that in Poland, in which women obtained active and passive electoral rights very rapidly (28 November 1918), which was the consequence of a short-lived left-wing turn of power (thanks to the initiatives of any socialist founding fathers of the reborn Polish state – Ignacy Daszyński, Józef Piłsudski), now, after more than a 100 years, there is an inequality in the position of men and women in politics.
– The causes of this state of affairs would be seen in the definitely anti-female attitude of the Church, inactive having a crucial influence on the way the planet is viewed by – fortunately – a decreasing but many part of society," explains Prof. Dąbrowski. – The second crucial origin is the patriarchal attitude of certain social groups, especially people who are little educated and inhabiting little socially and consciously developed regions. Let us note historically that among the first 8 Polish parliamentarians, 7 were representatives of intelligence, landowners and the planet of discipline (often this was connected to each other). Only one, Franciszek Wilczkowikina was from a peasant-working family, but from Wielkopolska (more than that, she stayed long in western Germany). Meanwhile, in the east of Poland and in the south-east to this day we are dealing with relics originating from the times of oppression of the serfdom thinking, where the female is to be subjected to the man. This condition perpetuates the influence of Catholicism.
Show that there is simply a Left
As regards advancement as such, according to Prof. Dąbrowski, specified action, in terms of electoral procedures, would consequence in the introduction of a rationally constructed strategy (e.g. on the basis of a fair and well-thought-out criterion of education and income) of the curial system.
– As you can see, there are different understandings of the word "progress", he adds. – I am powerfully opposed to the introduction of hypercorrect sex parities. Paradoxically, specified a step would be against the principles of equality and social justice. But can specified actions be considered progressive?
Dr. habilitated Radosław Sioma, Prof. UMK, historian of literature, there is no uncertainty that Polish society is mostly conservative, as evidenced by the result of the elections to the Sejm, including the weak consequence of the Left.
– The reason for this is at least a few, from a certain sheerness of the left, beginning by its interior divisions, to the deficiency of its own media and the secturing of the left by various neoliberal "sages" (a communicative "bolshewing" the left or recognising it as an extreme),” says Prof. Sioma. – But this conservatism just makes women little in politics and much little than men hold the highest state positions. However, this is not just a Polish specificity. In a sense, the Polish society is not mentally ready for the president, despite the apparent benefits, due to the fact that the current candidate of the Left would surely not be worse in this position than the men who hold them. We have many reasons to believe that she would be much better.
Dr. Hubert Stys, a specialist in safety policy with WSB Merito in Toruń, sees how much Polish politics are dominated by men. Even if crucial political positions were held by women (Ewa Kopacz, Elżbieta Witek, Beata Szydło), this was not due to their independency and political role, but alternatively to the indication by patrons of the "male" organization leaders. Is it a phenomenon? alternatively cultural and social conditions that inactive powerfully form reality.
“The Left in Poland has been in a powerful defensive position for 20 years, and small has changed in this regard,” notes Dr. Stys. – 10 percent Mark Borowski or 13 percent Grzegorz Napieralski today, in the context of the election of 2025, sounds like discipline fiction. Nor will I repeat about polarization and Polish tribal war. I'll just point out that the Left hasn't yet worked out the carrying, electrifying slogans, the election struggles for survival. Worse still, she failed to advance leaders who could actually fight for the second round. Black, Biedron or Nowick's not gonna pull the organization tonight. Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Żukowska, Kotula is more of a melody of the future, with a large question mark. In this context, the candidate Magdalena Biejat appears as an invention, is not associated with outstanding political achievements, but is comfortable to be put to the election, in which it is only essential to show that the Left exists. As regards the progressive agenda and women's rights, the candidate for the Citizens' Coalition is rather expressive and acceptable by left-wing voters, which besides means that a woman's agenda can be effectively pursued by a man. In Poland, support for modernity and tolerance yet translates into voices for the chapecko-liberal centre.
And as Dr. Stys predicts, the May presidential run will be fierce, dominated by candidates of 2 leading parties. A candidate for the Left won't make a difference here. Emotions will be again among the candidate men, on whom the overwhelming majority of women will vote again.
