Fast confession – Miroslava Němcová on privacy: How I clean my soul from politics

Mrs. Němcová, can you count how many years you have been in politics?

That's easy, because it will be twenty years in a month. I mean in high politics. In June of 1998, I became a deputy. So it's been twenty years, but before that I “served” four years in municipal politics in Žďár nad Sázavou. So including municipal practice, it's twenty-four years. Almost a quarter of a century.

I don't want to seem impertinent, but that's crazy. I can't even imagine how one can survive so long in such chaos, especially when you told me you wanted to be an air hostess. How does one end up being a politician instead?

That's what I wanted as a child. Which girl didn't want to be an air hostess or a figure skater? For me, like for most of my generation, the key year was 1989. It all started for us then. I was thirty-seven years old and just starting my life, because until then you couldn't choose for yourself what you were going to study, to do in life. Everything was just somehow beyond your control. At that time I told myself that I was going to start doing something and opened a bookstore, and then I went into politics because it made sense.

Does it still make sense to you?

Yes, it does. Sometimes I feel like I don't know how to keep going, that I don't put my all into it, but then I tell myself in defiance that if one is able to do something, he or she should do it.

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When is it time for a politician to stop, to retire?

It's different for everyone, as in any other profession. Politics is no different from other professions. You may be sorry that some athlete went into retirement, you may think that he/she could have held out a little longer, while others stay and their performances are bland...Politicians are the same. Someone catches the right moment, others think that without them, everything would collapse...So I am unable to answer that question.

Was it difficult to maintain your identity? To not cross over to the dark side? To not do something against your conviction?

I remember many situations when I tried to make some compromises, I had to swallow a lot, but everyone in politics does. Everyone has experienced it, and whoever says they haven't is lying. But there was always the positive motivation not to break. I think the most important thing is to do things the way you are convinced they need to be done and not look left or right. And not try to please everyone.

Has it ever happened that someone threatened you?

Yes, it has.

How do you deal with it? In addition, you are a woman, you are more fragile and more vulnerable than your colleagues, men.

I was the only woman in the highest constitutional function of chairman of the Chamber of Deputies who had no security. All men in all positions that came before me and after me had it. I refused it, because it was a way to save a bit of money at that time...but mainly I thought I could do without it. The most terrible threats I received by email or mail concerned my mother. My mother was in a wheelchair at the time. When I got horrible pictures of how someone would throw her down the stairs, or the various descriptions, it really frightened me, but what they write now leaves me cold, I don't care. These are not normal people and I don't waste my time on them.

Not long ago you were the heroine of the day, maybe even a rebel, when you left the hall during the President's speech. Did you feel like a rebel?

No, I did it so spontaneously that the idea of rebellion, or arousing a positive or negative wave didn't come to my mind. I just knew that it had crossed the limit that I was willing to tolerate. When I realized that I don't want to be present at such things, I was free to walk away.

Is it that you reach a phase in life when you stop caring about what people think about you?

It definitely changes. In time, you gain self-confidence, and stop caring about some things, stop letting them bother you, because life gives you lessons. So many times I was worried and it didn't get me anywhere, so it's better to leave it behind and move on. And especially to believe in yourself, because without that, one can achieve nothing.

Did this action not have any negative consequences for you?

No, on the contrary. People wrote to me...I received the greatest amount of letters and emails and messages and positive reactions in my entire political career on the basis of my departure from the Vladislavský Hall.

Mrs. Němcová, have you ever considered running for President of the Czech Republic?

I thought about it in 2013. In the end I didn't run. I'm not thinking about it at the moment, but I'm not saying I completely rule it out. But I would have to have a very strong motive, not just to have another "tick" in my political career.

Tell me, who is Miroslava Němcová when she locks the office door?

For the last year and a half I'm definitely a florist and a gardener. (laughter)

I plant, I grow, I am constantly planning some ways to meet with friends and family. I like it when there are a lot of us, to be surrounded by great people who I get along with, so I can let go of a degree of control that I constantly maintain, to relax. I feel very good in this environment.

Do you like to pamper yourself? What about hairdressers, beauticians, where can other women meet you?

I have had the same hairdresser for many years, a young lady here in Prague. I visit her regularly, she takes care of me beautifully. But I admit I omit the beauty salon...I've only been there about twice in my life.

Seriously!?

Okay, three times. (laughs)

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On the other hand, I am constantly buying various cosmetics products, reading articles or getting advice. But it's true that this is also on the decline...

I'm shocked. When I confess that I go out to the beautician twice a year, professional beauticians point a threatening finger at me...And you haven't been there practically all your life? (laughter)

I'm not saying it's a good thing. It's not. I have always enjoyed this type of relaxation, I loved it, it's a nice feeling when somebody takes care of you, puts on some music...it was divine every time and I always promised myself I would do it again, but then I soon broke that promise. So it turns out that I am not the right type for beauty salons. (laughter)

Do you do any sports?

I like riding my bike. I have always enjoyed it. But now I have discovered the electric bike, which avid athletes reject and say that it is not a sport. I do not agree with that. It is a sport, one does need to exert a bit of effort. At the same time, you don't sweat so much and gasp for breath and are totally exhausted when you go uphill, so you always look acceptable, and last but not least you clean your head and soul when you go out into nature and fresh air. It only takes me a minute in Žďár nad Sázavou go get into the woods. That's one thing that makes me very happy, and so does skating. I go skating in winter.

Really?

Yes, I have even learned some hints of a pirouette. I was always very happy to skate. I had a longer break, after which I thought wouldn't know how stand on skates again after six years. The first hour was crazy, but then I managed.

The doctors must be very satisfied with you...?

My son is a doctor and he is not very happy (laughs). Doctors aren't satisfied because I don't see them. I only go there when something is wrong, not preventively. I have this conviction in my head that it is clear that whenever I go to the doctor, he/she will find something. And I don't want anything to be wrong, so I don't go there.

That's true, they need something to report to insurance companies...

The way I do it is not a good recipe, I don't want to impose it on anybody, but that's how I deal with it.

But you did suffer from a certain illness...

Yes, I had cancer in 1988. It turned out well. I'm not saying that I'm a role model, but by nature I like things that are said to be healthy and should be eaten. It is not a problem for me to eat enough fruit or vegetables or fish, because I like it all and eat a lot of it. But as far as doctors and prevention are concerned, I'm not exactly a role model.

What other vices do you have? Some people smoke, others play poker...

I never smoked, I tried it once, yes, like everyone, but I never smoked. But my mother, father, husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law....everybody around me smoked. It never intrigued me, not because I wanted to protect my health, but it never occurred to me that I should do it. I didn't mind when they smoked around me.

I like a glass of wine or good cognac...

What about traveling? You come from the generation that appreciates being able to go somewhere. For my generation it is commonplace. Where did you go on your first trip?

Like the vast majority of Czechoslovaks, we set out for the Christmas markets in Vienna in1989. At that time we were like Alice in Wonderland, it was a different world. My mother was still alive and we wanted to show her the world because she had never been anywhere. The Communists fell and she was already retired. So we took her to Venice, we drove through a part of Austria...we stayed close so that she would be able to manage the trips. My husband and I have not discovered much since we fell in love with Italy and Croatia, and lately we have discovered northern France, Brittany, and we have been there three times already.

What about exotic destinations – Sri Lanka, Bali, Thailand, the Caribbean?

No, I've never been there and it doesn't entice me. I gravitate to the north. I do not like hot, wet and damp climates, so Asia is not for me. I have been to Sweden twice for work, so I'm thinking about Norway, I would like to see it.

You could go with your husband. Maybe for some anniversary or birthday...

I've thought about it, because in two years it will fifty years since we got married.

That's a really long time!

Yes, it is. (laughs) And I keep asking myself what I should want from my husband as a reward for bearing him for so long...and vice versa. (laughter)

When we celebrated our twenty-fifth anniversary, we remembered it two months before, and we started to think about what we would do, where we might go together, like to Prague for a concert. But we both forgot about it and remembered long after the anniversary, so we quietly let it pass. So we said we'd celebrate it when it's twice as much.

Well, it's here, so what will it be?

I don't know! (laughs) I have to think about it. Back then I secretly hoped for a ring. I don't have such a desire anymore, but on the other hand I said to myself that it should be some expensive jewelry which I could then hand down to my granddaughter as a family heritage. A jewel to be inherited.

Do you have the recipe for such a long and solid marriage?

t's non-transferable, every couple is different. But I have never thought of divorce during problems in marriage, it was a forbidden word. What worked for us was giving things time to settle, and then handling them calmly.

Who has made you the happiest lately?

Probably my son, who completed a major scientific work, published a book and this book has been recognized as the most important scientific book in his medical field. Of course, every parent is extremely proud of seeing their children succeed. I have to admit that it made a huge impact on me.

What kind of a mother were you, in contrast to what kind of a grandmother you are now?

I was a strict mother, but my son has happy memories. He says it was good. As a grandmother, I'm the most tolerant I can be. I know not to ask about certain things, like whether my eighteen-year-old grandson has a girl yet. (laughter)

I love them. I will show you my work folder...when there is drama in the Chamber during which everyone is tense, I have a pocket from which I take out this photo of my loved ones. It always calms me down. It helps. When there is some terrible stress, I say to myself – relax, otherwise you'll get a heart attack, and I open the folder and look at them to remind myself who I'm really in this world for.

That's a beautiful conclusion to our interview, for which I thank you very much.