In the spotlight: Maria Kaczyńska

The moment she finally took some initiative in public life, she immediately made the front page.

It all started when Radio Maryja's founder and director, Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, expressed his disapproval of the First Lady's meeting with journalists and pro-choice activists in the Presidential Palace. During the meeting, the First Lady signed a petition against a proposal for Constitutional provisions which would tighten abortion regulations.

Rydzyk, whose listeners played a vital role in Law and Justice's (PiS) double election victory in 2005, called the meeting a scandal. He declared, "It shouldn't be called by any other name. We wouldn't call a sewer a perfume shop." The tension even gave way to disagreements within PiS' ranks, causing friction between the usually like-minded Kaczyński brothers.

Commenting on the meeting in the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński said that it is not his government's intention to introduce changes to the abortion law, but rather "a constitutional strengthening of the current state." He went on to declare, "I'm convinced that my sister-in-law was misled."

Maria Kaczyńska retorted by insisting that she knew exactly what she was doing when she signed the petition. The President stated that his wife was "offended" by Father Rydzyk's comments.

Maria Kaczyńska, who speaks English and French, has a master's degree in economics from the Higher School of Economics in Sopot, presently known as the University of Gdańsk.