In the spotlight: Zyta Gilowska
The woman who was at one stage responsible for the core of PO's economic program became the new Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in the government of Law and Justice (PiS) on January 7.
Prime Minister Marcinkiewicz's deft decision to bring Gilowska on board has allowed him to avoid the media circus surrounding the less-than-tactful former Finance Minister, Teresa Lubińska. With the same stroke, he has paralyzed an astonished PO opposition, who will be reluctant to oppose Gilowska's plans, yet unwilling to support the government.
Gilowska is known for her sharp remarks, and her personality could prove dangerous for Marcinkiewicz. "I believe it is not PiS taking over Gilowska, but Gilowska taking over PiS," PO's Jan Rokita said.
In 2001 Gilowska received the title of "zwyczajny" (or ordinary professor) from the then President Aleksander Kwaniewski, which is the highest academic title in Poland.
From 1990 until 1998 she was a member of the widnik City Council, and from 1992 until 1998 she was Poland's delegate to the Council of Europe's Congress of Local Authorities. From 1994 to 2001 she acted as a financial expert for the Sejm and Senate.
