Ewa Kopacz secured the highest individual vote count in the 2015 Polish national elections, garnering 230,894 votes. This career milestone followed her tenure as Prime Minister of Poland from 2014 to 2015, during which she oversaw significant cabinet reshuffles and implemented new environmental policies aimed at addressing national air quality concerns throughout the country.
Medical Background and Early Career
Born in Skaryszew in 1956 to Mieczysław and Krystyna Lis, Kopacz grew up in Radom. She graduated from the Medical University of Lublin in 1981. Her professional life began in medicine, where she completed a residency in family medicine with a focus on pediatrics. Before entering national politics, she practiced in Orońsko, Chlewiska, and Szydłowiec, eventually managing the local health care facility in the latter town until 2001.
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Kopacz entered politics in the 1980s with the United People's Party, later joining the Freedom Union during the 1990s. In 2001, she joined Civic Platform and was elected to the Sejm. Her executive experience began in 2007 as Minister of Health. During this period, she gained attention for her cautious stance on the procurement of swine flu vaccines, requiring pharmaceutical companies to demonstrate product advantages and accept liability for potential side effects before governmental investment.
Leadership as Prime Minister
In 2011, Kopacz became the first woman to serve as Marshal of the Sejm. She ascended to the office of Prime Minister in September 2014, succeeding Donald Tusk. Her government prioritized maintaining a firm stance regarding Ukraine and advocated for an increased American military presence in Poland. In 2015, following the defeat of President Bronisław Komorowski, she restructured her cabinet to stabilize voter trust before the national elections. She resigned on 16 November 2015.
European Political Engagement
Since 2019, Kopacz has served as a member of the European Parliament. She holds the position of Vice-President, serving under Presidents David Sassoli and Roberta Metsola. Her parliamentary work includes roles on the Special Committee on Beating Cancer and the Special Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the European People's Party Group, she is a member of the leadership team aligned with Manfred Weber.
Fast facts
- Born: 1956, Skaryszew, Poland
- Education: Medical University of Lublin
- Prime Minister of Poland: 2014–2015
- Marshal of the Sejm: 2011–2014
- Member of the European Parliament: 2019–present
- Religion: Catholicism
- Grand Cross of Royal Norwegian Order of Merit: 2012
Questions readers ask
Was Ewa Kopacz the first woman to be Prime Minister of Poland?
No, she was the second woman to hold the office, succeeding Hanna Suchocka.
Did Kopacz have a career before entering politics?
Yes, she worked as a pediatrician and general practitioner in the towns of Orońsko, Chlewiska, and Szydłowiec.
