Fast Confession - MEP Martina Dlabajová: I had to learn to deal with the men's world

When I was looking you up on Wikipedia, what I found really interesting was that you apparently collect The Little Prince books. You have to tell me more about that!

It's true. (laugh) I've been expanding my collection throughout all of my life, I've even learned languages thanks to this book. The information that I collect The Little Prince has gradually spread among my acquaintances and they never forget to bring me a present now every time they're visiting an interesting country, that be The Little Prince in a foreign language or regional dialect.

My library contains over 200 different editions thanks to them and it keeps growing. It's said that it's one of the largest collections of The Little Prince in the world. I can't compare it because I am not in contact with other collectors, but I have already managed to hold two exhibitions. What I consider a very valuable piece of my collection is the original edition of Le Petit Prince in French, or an edition in Braille. The four books in different Indonesian regional dialects are also unique, I didn't even know those existed, then The Little Prince in Khmer language from Cambodia or a Sinhalese edition from Sri Lanka.

I've even been cooking up a surprise for Czech readers. And that is a retelling of The Little Prince in the Brno dialect 'hantec'. If everything works out, you can look forward to seeing the book very soon.

What is the value of the very first edition of the Little Prince?

I assume it's high. It was gifted to me many years ago. But for me it's a very valuable collection. If only because it's the aforementioned presents from my loved ones and friends, which I treasure very much.

Has this book influenced you in life?

When I think about it, the book encapsulates my life's journey. I was never too concerned with myself and would always look around me. I was interested in other people doing different things and how things worked in other countries. That's exactly what The Little Prince went through, he traveled across different planets to find out what it looked like there, to meet people with both good and bad traits. And then he drew his own conclusions from it that he used in his own life.

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Which parts from The Little Prince can be found in politics?

Coming to mind is the businessman who only counted money on his planet and did nothing else at all. Or the sad person who kept turning off the lamp and worked without a concrete goal. But we could definitely find even The Little Prince himself in politics, thinking about things and trying to see them from a different point of view.

Was it harder for you in politics as a woman?

I don't think so. I entered politics from business, where I was the only woman among man and had to learn to be assertive. In general women do have it harder in politics though, and that's because they have families at home and have to take care of their kids. It's hard, because the negotiations in the European Parliament often go on until late at night and there's a lot of traveling involved. On the other hand, I know many amazing female politicians who have families and can balance both.

Have you ever encountered arrogance from men to the likes of "she's a woman, she doesn't understand that" or sexual comments?

Fortunately I haven't encountered anything like that. But it's true that men often try to use inappropriate jokes to get women into situations where they can get what they want. As a woman, you have to be ready for it and the only thing that really helps is probably reacting in the same manner.

What ticks you off the most about politics?

Politicking makes me the most mad. It often happens that something is agreed upon and then it's suddenly not a thing anymore, or it changes three times. On the other hand, it's part of politics in a way and I have to treat it as a part of what I do.

Why did you leave business for politics?

The moment I got the offer to become a candidate for the European Parliament, I'd already been through twenty years of doing business in many European countries. I knew what works, what doesn't and what'd need to be improved or changed completely. I wanted to bring my experience into politics and offer it to others. I viewed it as my duty.

On top of that, I have a degree in political science and as a part of my study I dealt with European integration. It felt natural to me to return to it.

You've really managed to do a lot. Don't you regret never stopping and having a family and children?

I live my life to the fullest and I have amazing parents and a brother with his family, and I view my amazing friends as my family, and of course my amazing boyfriend. I try to spend as much time with them as possible and I often spend time with my two nephews whom I love like my own children. There's still time for everything else. I think life always leads us to where we're supposed to go.

So you do plan on having kids with your partner?

It's not a plan per se, but if it happens to work out, I'll be really happy.

But then you'll have to slow down at work a bit...

I do realize that. (laugh) But I think that you have to know how to balance things even if you do not have any kids.

What does your partner do for a living?

My partner is an architect. We both like architecture, design and art, and we often travel together to see those. Thanks to my partner I am discovering interesting buildings and places that I otherwise wouldn't have a chance to learn about.

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And how have you met?

Sometimes life is all about the coincidences that bring two people together. That was our case too. In one moment there were so many that it's probably meant to be. The best things in life usually happen thanks to various coincidences.

What can he as an architect bring into your life? Does he should you a different view on life?

It's an interesting contrast with politics, where pragmatism reigns and you work with terms such as law and legislature. Politics require broad shoulders and harsh negotiation skills. Architecture is more about balance, art and design. There's beauty of things and pure form in it.

I also like when people make creative things. That's probably why I'm a big proponent of creative industries, because I think that human talent in Europe and Czechia is important. It's something we should be protecting.

Is art at a risk of disappearing?

I don't think art will disappear, but it's necessary to give it more recognition and support. Even politicians shouldn't be afraid to say that art, talent and creativity are values that we should cherish.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I spend time with my family and loved ones, because those are precious moment. I try to plan my time so that I am able to meet with everyone.

When you have a free moment or you're alone with your partner, what do you most enjoy doing? What does your dream day look like?

Every day is my dream day, because I enjoy my job and everything that I do. I love discovering the Czech Republic, because I lived most of my life abroad and traveled to different countries. These days I'm also in Brussels or in Strasbourg during the work week for work. So on the weekends I try to visit places that I didn't know about before.

I also love reading. I love books and my bookcases at home are overflowing. I read on the plane too, because the world of books and imagination is very interesting to me. I like working with my hands, in the garden or around the house. I also like cooking.

Cooking is some hidden passion of yours?

I simply enjoy cooking. I have a weak spot for Italian cuisine, because I've lived a half of my life in Italy. Thanks to that I know the tricks of Italian cooking and I've probably learned some things for real, because people say that I am a master of preparing the Italian risotto. I dare say that I can make risotto with anything. I think I've never disappointed anyone. (laugh)

Do Italians really enjoy food that much?

Yes, they do. They can ingeniously combine different ingredients and pride themselves in preparing food out of fresh ingredients. I try to do the same and it's good that on the Czech market, fresh produce has been becoming more and more available.

What was it like doing business in Italy? The laws are different there, plus Italians are rather temperamental...

I admit that it wasn't easy. When I was starting out, I was a young girl from central Europe, or rather from a country that at the time wasn't yet a part of the European Union. But I knew exactly what I wanted to do and that helped me. My goal was helping Czech business owners who do business with Italy, and Italian investors who were coming to Czechia. I had to work hard and try to assert myself not only in a men's world, but among much older and more experienced people. That was a priceless experience for me.

I'm still wondering how it happens that an 18-year-old girl leaves for Italy to start a business there...

I often tell myself that I started many things early in my life. Many things worked out for me, but specifically because I started so early, it came with denying myself many things too. I came to Italy as a student, and I had to set everything up myself, get all the permissions and a visa. I also had to support myself. But I do not regret going for it.

How did your parents view it at the time? After all, it was a short time after the revolution, it meant many unknowns, they must have been afraid...

They were really afraid to let me go, but at the same time, very brave to agree to it. I'm grateful to them for it to this day. But we made a deal at the time. They wanted me to apply for schools in the Czech Republic too. I had to promise them that if it didn't work out in Italy and I wouldn't be able to support myself during that year, that I wouldn't stay and would come back. I was actually accepted to two Czech schools and I asked for a one-year postponement. But I never actually enrolled and I graduated from the university in Padua, Italy.

They must be proud of you...

They do say so, so I hope that they are. I have very young parents, they had me early, we have a very beautiful and friendly relationship.

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How are you caring for your health?

For example, when I'm freezing because the temperature outside is below zero, I don't want to shoot an interview and I want to warm up with a mug of hot tea first. (laughing over hot tea) Of course, I care for my health by eating regularly and trying to stay hydrated, especially during long negotiations, to which I always bring a water bottle. I like walking, I walk to meetings whenever it's possible. I like hiking too and just recently I've gotten myself a bike. When I have time I try to take it out, so it doesn't just stand in the garage leaning against a wall.

Aren't you afraid that you'll give yourself some kind of illness with the pace of your work?

I understand that my work pace is fast, I've really tried to slow down a few times in my life. For example, when I returned to Zlín from Italy, I was elected chairwoman of the Regional Chamber of Commerce. You could argue that that didn't really slow down my work pace that much, but at least I stayed in one place for a while and didn't travel. Honestly I think it's a personality issue, though. You can keep telling yourself that you will slow down but eventually you realize that you put a hundred percent into every job.

When you compare live in Czechia and Italy, what comes to mind?

Italians know how to enjoy life. Italy has undergone a lot of change much like Czechia and I lived there at a time when most of the stuff was happening. Italians had it really good in the 90's, because their economy was on a roll. That isn't true anymore, Italian economy is not doing so well anymore. When I go back to Italy I may not feel the same calm I did in the 90's anymore, but I think I can still say that Italians can live their lives to the fullest.

What could Czechs learn from Italians? On the contrary, what do you like about the Czech people?

We could learn to see the bigger picture like Italians. Us Czechs are often too touchy about things, we keep overthinking them and keep going in circles because of them. Italians don't do this. One Italian proverb even says: "Tomorrow's a day too, we'll deal with it tomorrow." We'd often benefit from that outlook, I feel. (laugh)

On the other hand, I absolutely adore the Czech sense of humor. Because I know how to make jokes in Italian too, Czech humor is something specific, that can probably only be compared to British humor. What I really value about Czech people is that we can make fun of anything. We should just make fun of ourselves more often.

When does it become most apparent during negotiations in Brussels that politicians are still just people?

Every day. I often tell myself that somebody might be unpleasant during a negotiation because they have personal problems going on or may have gotten off on the wrong foot and are trying to compensate for it at work. Politicians are not machines, they can be in a good or bad mood just like anybody else, they can be sad or something could have happened to them. On the other hand, a politician should not make that known. So you don't expect them to tell you: "I'm sorry, I didn't sleep at all last night." They do their job for the people and should keep that in mind.

When you are terribly sad or something is bothering you, what do you do?

Books help me. By getting lost in a story I forget about my problems and my mood immediately improves. And of course, in such cases I most often run to my family, my friends and other people who I can talk about it with. Sometimes it's enough to talk about it, it isn't necessary to find a solution.

Thank you very much for the interview.