Trading places
The cabinet has undergone a major and rapid renovation in the past few weeks. First, Treasury Minister Andrzej Mikosz resigned and this was closely followed by the dismissal of Finance Minister Teresa Lubińska. For a replacement, the leader of Law and Justice (PiS), Jarosław Kaczyński, turned to Zyta Gilowska.
Gilowska is something of a surprise nomination. As the former Deputy Leader of Civic Platform (PO), she was the author of PO's economic program, and was expected to head the Finance Ministry in the event of a PO win at the polls. However, she was forced to leave the party after she was accused of nepotism, when it was revealed that her son was acting as her adviser and her daughter-in-law was employed in her deputy's office. Gilowska left PO, but many say the fallout from the affair cost the party dearly at the polls.
Now, Gilowska is back in the spotlight, and has been named Deputy Prime Minister responsible for the government's economic policy. She joins the likes of Zbigniew Religa and Grażyna Gęsicka, other former PO sympathisers that have decamped to PiS' ranks.
However, she was viewed as a much more integral part of PO, and was one of the strongest advocates for its proposed flat tax (a single 15 percent tax rate across the board).
Making mischief
According to PO leader Jan Rokita, PiS' motivation is not to improve the government but to annoy PO.
He is certain Gilowska is tougher than Jarosław Kaczyński. "I know Gilowska, her views, her personality and I am sure that she will dominate the government and PiS," says Rokita. "Even if she doesn't say everything she thinks, she will not put up with it and say so in two weeks or in a month. PiS will have many problems with that but they made the decision themselves."
PiS will be hoping that more PO deputies will follow in Gilowska's footsteps and thereby create a majority government that will not have to rely on the support of the League of Polish Families (LPR) and Self-defense (SO).
Bronisław Komorowski, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, says he has a text message sent by former Minister Teresa Lubińska to her party colleagues in which she claims that the real reason for Gilowska's nomination was to attract about 30-40 PO deputies.
Free thinker
Gilowska, meanwhile, claims that her intentions are the opposite and she does not want to "sink the Platform.
"For eight months I have been a free and independent person. The PM's arguments convinced me to enter the cabinet. That was my duty," she says. Asked whether being a member of Marcinkiewicz's government doesn't contradict her liberal views and her commitment to a flat tax, Gilowska said that the flat tax is still her dream: "It will be introduced when the country is ready for it ... You play as the opponent allows you to." Her initial goal is to tackle the country's high unemployment rate.
Gilowska's nomination seems to be already reaping rewards for PiS. Her presence is shoring up the government's economic credibility and it renewed calls for coalition talks between PiS and PO. Gilowska knows PO's strengths and weaknesses and she is the ideal foil for her ex-party.
