„Poland is a state of law. The President upholds the law and implements the statutes that are in force in Poland. Any meeting, between anyone, has no impact on what Poland's legal system looks like, because for anything to change regarding the conditions of judicial reform, the law itself would have to be changed” – stated presidential minister Krzysztof Szczerski in an interview with Polsat News.

„The President does not anticipate any legislative proposals concerning changes to court laws. If anyone else submits such a proposal, be it the opposition or parliamentary clubs, then parliament will deal with such a change, not a conversation between two or four people elsewhere” – said the presidential minister Krzysztof Szczerski on Polsat News.

“I am astonished that the head of the executive branch, the Prime Minister, is trying to informally pressure the judiciary, the First President of the Supreme Court, in a way that is secret from the public. This is unacceptable in a democratic state. I am also surprised that the professor, with such experience and achievements, receives the Prime Minister in her office, who in recent weeks has proven more than enough that he is an ordinary, petty trickster” - Marek Sawicki from PSL said on Polsat News.

- This meeting should be treated not as with a person holding the position of First President of the Supreme Court, but as a kind of private meeting, yet with a person who is extremely active in the public sphere in the entire conflict surrounding the Supreme Court. Let's not pretend she's not involved in the dispute not as a retired judge, but as a politician. We believe, and it follows from our legal system, that she is a former First President, but this does not mean she cannot be a partner for conversation, as she plays an active role in this conflict. The Prime Minister wants to talk to everyone. We are interested in the dispute surrounding the Supreme Court ending, which does not mean withdrawing from judicial reforms. The solution is for judges to accept the principle that the law is the law – said Jacek Sasin on Woronicza 17.

- I must protest this interpretation of this meeting, suggesting that Law and Justice wants to backtrack on some part of the judicial reform. To change the way courts function, you must start from the head; there's no other way. Even if we were to assume there is some room for compromise, Ms. Małgorzata Gersdorf's statement clearly showed that the other side wants no compromise at all. Because if their demand is to completely withdraw, to reverse the entire reform, and to acknowledge that it's not parliament that makes the law, but judges as it suits them. That would mean that the Polish state is a state of judge-ocracy, not democracy – Jacek Sasin said on Woronicza 17.

- I fear such discretionary visits when the interests of the judiciary and judicial independence are at stake. This visit adds fuel to the fire and calms nothing. Unless he was offering name-day wishes, but it wasn't Małgorzata's, it was Euzebia's. The Prime Minister went there to wave a carrot at those demanding adherence to democratic standards: that since I met, it means I'm discussing something serious that will change this criticized state. You've changed many things, despite insisting you wouldn't: the forest – axes put away in a chest, you retreated, and you will retreat here too. In Poland, democratic institutions are strong enough that mere desire won't achieve much here – said Jerzy Wenderlich on Woronicza 17.

- The Prime Minister tried to use this meeting for image purposes. Respected pensioners, the Prime Minister is now visiting you at home, since he didn't meet with the President of the Court as the President of the Court! - Wenderlich added on TVP Info.

- What could the [President] be praised for? If only he didn't disgrace us there. Because the waiter's stance, when signing the same agreement for the umpteenth time, but still, a waiter's stance at the White House disgraces Poland. It's hard to praise someone who travels and brings shame upon us abroad - stated Sławomir Neumann on TVN24's "Kawa na ławę".

- The Polish countryside has preserved what is most important in life: God, honor, and homeland. This is the foundation upon which we built independence. There would be no free Republic without the Polish countryside - says the narrator in the new clip prepared by the Prime Minister's Chancellery, which 300POLITYKA is publishing first.

The spot was prepared in connection with the First National Holiday “Grateful to the Polish Countryside,” which will take place today in the Wąwolnica commune, on the meadows of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Kębło. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will participate in the holiday.

Interlocutors of 300POLITYKA emphasize the great importance of this event, which has been announced for several days. The holiday, in the context of the upcoming local government elections, will likely be interpreted as another clash between PiS and PSL for the Polish countryside. Some commentators point out that this is one of the most spectacular duels of this campaign.



- They feed and defend. For centuries, it has flown on the banners of Polish peasants and farmers. Poland could always rely on them. They never failed. Just as in 1920, during the war with the Bolsheviks, at the call of Wincenty Witos, they fought for an independent Poland. Just as during World War II, when people from the Polish countryside were in the Peasant Battalions and on all fronts of the world. They defended Polish land, when in the times of the PRL, they stood up to fight for free trade unions. Today, farmers are building Poland's brand, they are competitive against other European producers. For centuries, one thing has not changed. They feed and defend. The Polish countryside has preserved what is most important in life: God, honor, and homeland. This is the foundation upon which we built independence. There would be no free Republic without the Polish countryside - says the narrator.

- How can we talk about guaranteeing security with such an unserious, total opposition? Let the viewers themselves answer the question of whether it's possible to think about Poland in terms of future security, with such an opposition that is mocking, sees nothing, and understands nothing - stated Andrzej Dera on TVN24's "Kawa na ławę".

- I know about this meeting [Mateusz Morawiecki - Małgorzata Gersdorf] as much as you do - stated Mirosława Stachowiak-Różecka in "Kawa na ławę" on TVN24. - There was a meeting with a retired judge. Ms. Gersdorf is not the President of the Supreme Court. It's difficult for me to say what they discussed - she added.

"A symbol of the lies and deceptions that are occurring daily in this PiS campaign is what Prime Minister Morawiecki spoke about a few days ago in Świebodzin. This matter has gone to court. It must have its conclusion, because for every lie that is used and will be exploited in this election campaign, we will take legal action and we will correct all these lies," said PO leader Grzegorz Schetyna in Gorzów Wielkopolski.

„It cannot be the case that the government conditions [the disbursement of funds] based on the party affiliation or political sympathies of a future president, mayor, village administrator, or marshal. This shows [PiS's] centralist view of local and powiat Poland. And this really defines the entire PiS campaign: vote for us, because we will help you. Without realizing that this is not their money. This is everyone's money. And secondly, their end is near, because parliamentary elections are in a year, and we will do everything to remove them from power” - said the Civic Platform (PO) leader, Grzegorz Schetyna.

- Of course, I am ready for a debate, but I also have my condition: to hold, for the first time in history, a debate of the lead candidates from Śródmieście – candidates for the city council, because a president with no council can do nothing. The topic would be reprivatization. I hope that just as I approach the proposal for a debate seriously, my competitors will also approach it seriously. Two debates – one for the presidency, but packaged with the debate of the lead candidates. Even on the same day – stated Jakub Stefaniak at a briefing, responding to Rafał Trzaskowski.

When I look to the future, I am certain that without this ethos of farmers' work, without farmers' faith in Poland, without hard, painstaking work and kindness, Poland would not have been and will not be as strong, as powerful, as it can be, and I believe it will be. Even the name of our most beautiful country, Poland, comes from the Polan tribe, and that name in turn comes from the word "pole" (field), meaning at the very roots of our Polishness, of our state, there was precisely the work of farmers, hard work. Not predatory expeditions or conquests, but precisely hard work and faith in the land, care for the land, love for this land - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at the "Grateful to the Polish Countryside" festival.

- Today we come to you with gratitude, and also to discuss how cooperation with Polish villages can proceed even better. The beginning of the transformation, after regaining independence in 1989 and later, were years when the Polish countryside was forgotten, often harmed by the initial liberal decisions of those years. From villages, from tens of thousands of villages like Wąwolnica, scattered across Poland, people migrated, and sometimes emigrated forever. This was a great injustice that befell the Polish countryside in the nineties and the two-thousands. We must now do everything to ensure that the Polish countryside, which is rising from its knees, is strengthened and becomes the torch of our freedom, our development – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at the "Grateful to the Polish Countryside" festival.

We want our government to be your best pillar, your support. We believe we are good stewards of this land and we will prove it - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at the "Grateful to the Polish Countryside" celebration. He added:

"We must do everything to ensure that the strength of the Polish countryside grows, and this is precisely what we are doing. Firstly, in this drought disaster that has struck, we have prepared the largest amount in the budget in the history of the Third Republic and indeed in many decades for drought compensation. It is impossible to make up for this entire disaster, but you will see, this will happen in the coming days, we are already allocating the first hundreds of millions of zlotys today. It will be PLN 1.5 billion for drought compensation."

- Our second major program, very important for farmers, is retail agricultural trade - he continued.

Totalizator Sportowy is preparing a revolution in lottery games. If its announcements are realized, by the end of 2018, it will no longer be necessary to go to a lottery outlet to play Lotto. Previously, it was reported that cashless payments would be introduced at all lottery outlets.

- This year is groundbreaking for the company, as thanks to the amended Gambling Act, we are implementing many new projects. The main goal we want to achieve this year is to bring our products online. I think by the end of this year, customers will be able to play Lotto online – announces Aida Bella, spokesperson for Totalizator Sportowy.

- As one of the first in Europe, 27 years ago we introduced an online system for selling lottery games, and it was a major breakthrough in the operation of Totalizator Sportowy. Previously, to play our games, one had to fill out a coupon by hand. Then, collectors would pack them and send them to the headquarters in Warsaw. Before everything was checked – who won and where – several days would pass. After introducing the online system, it's simpler because in our over 17,000 points, everything is centralized, and all information is transmitted in real-time – argues Aida Bella.

By the end of the year, Totalizator Sportowy also wants to open up to 50 slot machine gaming parlors. The first of them were opened in June as part of a pilot program.

The sales value of Lotto products in 2017 exceeded PLN 5.6 billion.

- The voters are the same as they were before. There is a wave of populism in politics because both sides are promising unattainable things: a fifth metro line, money for rural housewives. Nobody asks about the cost, and nobody cares for those groups who work hard but are not a pressure group. I see huge potential among these people because they have no one to vote for; they often choose the lesser of two evils. This group, which doesn't want populism and isn't a pressure group, needs a programmatic offer - said Ryszard Petru in 'Gość Wiadomości'.

- Now we have local government elections, and that's what we need to focus on: choosing the right people, so they are managers and know how to manage an organism like a city, municipality, or voivodeship. From my side, I can appeal and assure you that I will vote for Modern's candidates. They are the least partisan, most enterprising, and least corrupted by addictive politics. I will be able to announce all other plans after the local government elections. I will support them if they need such support - said Ryszard Petru in Gość Wiadomości.

- I am not anyone's appendage. The current scenario was certainly not my dream. We were founded not only in opposition to PiS, which favors handouts, but also in opposition to Platforma, which made a grab for OFE and withheld VAT, albeit to a lesser extent than Morawiecki is doing now. That was the original idea. I will support Nowoczesna candidates in the local elections, and we'll revisit this after the vote. I will evaluate it after November 4th – said Ryszard Petru on Gość Wiadomości.

Petru admitted on "Gość Wiadomości" that he no longer takes the 500+ program.
- I don't remember, probably about a year ago - he said when pressed by Michał Adamczyk.
Previously, he pointed out that people dislike the fact that the wealthy are receiving 500+.

-- PETRU ON SUPPORTING MODERN POLAND CANDIDATES BUT RETURNING TO N AFTER LOCAL ELECTIONS - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2018/09/23/ -- SCHETYNA TO MEET MERKEL TOMORROW: https://twitter.com/schetynadlapo/status/1043908338130579456?s=12 -- TUSK'S CONFRONTATIONAL STANCE ON BREXIT, JEOPARDIZING POLES' TREATY RIGHTS, SUGGESTS HIS CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT IN EU POLITICS IS MORE LIKELY THAN A RETURN - 300POLITYKA ANALYSIS: https://300polityka.pl/news/2018/09/22/linia-konfrontacji-tuska-ws-brexitu-i-ryzyko-braku-gwarancji-dla-polakow-na-wyspach-bardziej-pokazuje-jego-kurs-na-pozostanie-w-europejskiej-polityce-niz-na-powrot-analiza/ -- WP CITES 300POLITYKA ANALYSIS: https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/donald-tusk-nie-wroci-do-polski-na-to-wskazuje-jego-twardy-kurs-w-sprawie-brexitu-6298472201721985a ***** POLSAT NEWS -- THE LOCAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS MOVING TO THE COUNTRYSIDE - on the front page. -- THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISITS TO RURAL AREAS ARE NOW A STANDARD FEATURE. -- THIS IS ANOTHER ROUND IN THE FIGHT TO RECLAIM THE COUNTRYSIDE FROM THE PEASANT PARTY. -- THEY ARE GRATEFUL TO THE COUNTRYSIDE ONLY ON OCCASION - Kosiniak. -- KUKIZ ON REFERENDUM DAY. -- SCHETYNA IN LUBUSZ. ***** TVN FACHY -- THE PRIME MINISTER IN RURAL AREAS, KUKIZ'S CONVENTION, KOSINIAK AT A PSL RALLY, SCHETYNA AT A CIVIC COALITION CONVENTION IN LUBUSZ - in a report by Paweł Płuska. -- THE LIE COUNTER - THIS IS PSL'S RESPONSE TO PIS'S ATTEMPT TO RECLAIM SUPPORT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE - Płuska. -- A DIRECT CLASH, ALBEIT AT A DISTANCE - Płuska on the Prime Minister's and Kosiniak's rallies. -- NO PROMISES WERE MADE AT THE KUKIZ'15 CONVENTION - Płuska. -- NEITHER THE FIRST NOR THE SECOND GROUP WILL BE ABLE TO GOVERN WITHOUT US. THEY WILL HAVE TO CHANGE THE STATE SYSTEM, IF NOT, THEY WILL HAVE TO CALL NEW ELECTIONS, AND IF NOT, THEIR PEOPLE WILL TAKE PITCHFORKS TO THEM - Kukiz. -- THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER IS THE MOST REALISTIC - KRZYSZTOF SKÓRZYŃSKI ON TRZASKOWSKI'S PROPOSAL FOR A DEBATE. -- HE LIMITED HIMSELF TO GENERALITIES - Skórzyński on Trzaskowski's proposal. -- THE PROPOSAL IS VAGUE FOR NOW, THERE IS A RISK THAT THE CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS WILL GET STUCK IN ENDLESS NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT THE DEBATE - Skórzyński. -- LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS CAMPAIGN, IT'S LATE. I PROPOSED THIS A WEEK AGO, AND THE FIRST DEBATE IS ALREADY ON OCTOBER 3RD ON THE TOPIC OF SPORTS. I HOPE HE WON'T COWER - Patryk Jaki. -- K. SKÓRZYŃSKI ON THE DEBATE ORGANIZED BY LEAGUE AND THE PORTAL 300POLITYKA: TRZASKOWSKI HAS NOT CONFIRMED HIS PARTICIPATION YET, BUT OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE QUICKLY RESPONDED TO HIS DEBATE PROPOSAL, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T SPECIFIC. -- ROZENEK, WOJCIECHOWICZ, GLUSMAN, JAKUBIAK - statements in favor of the debate. -- JAKI SET A RECORD FOR SPEECHES YESTERDAY, WITH THE SUPPORT OF PIS AND THE GOVERNMENT - Skórzyński. -- TRZASKOWSKI AND PO ARE YET TO RESPOND TO JAKI'S CONVENTION - Skórzyński. -- ŚPIEWAK ON TRZASKOWSKI'S LACK OF INTEREST IN A DEBATE. -- I WOULDN'T BE WONDERING ABOUT THE PAST AS MY CANDIDATES; I WOULD FIND ONE DATE FOR A DEBATE - Trzaskowski. ***** TVP NEWS -- GRATEFUL TO POLAND'S COUNTRYSIDE - on the front page: "Where are all those who have been robbing Polish farmers for years, conducting dishonest privatization, depriving farmers of influence over the further stages of processing and trade?" asks Minister of Agriculture Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski, assuring that the government will fix it. The minister, along with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, participated in the first, nationwide "Grateful to the Polish Countryside" festival. -- PROBLEMS FOR CIVIC PLATFORM AND MODERN POLAND - banner. -- THESE WILL NOT BE EASY ELECTIONS FOR PO, WHICH IS WHY SCHETYNA IS NOT WASTING ANY OPPORTUNITY TO ATTACK THE MORAWIECKI GOVERNMENT: A total of 31,000 registered candidates for Law and Justice, 16,000 for PSL, and just under 10,000 for Platform and Modern Poland. These are official data from the National Electoral Commission. Campaign mobilization and competition are underway in the regions. Politicians' speeches have been dominated by national and even international issues. -- SCHETYNA IS THREATENING THE EU'S DEPARTURE; SUCH WORDS ARE NOT EVEN SPOKEN BY GERMAN POLITICIANS - Bartłomiej Graczak. -- GERMAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER STATES HE SEES NO THREAT - statement from Deutsche Welle. -- REFUGEES ARE TO BE BROUGHT TO CITIES GOVERNED BY PO - Graczak. -- IN RECENT DAYS, ANOTHER IDEA CAUSED CONSTERNATION [Schetyna on visa-free travel with Russia]; PO POLITICIANS ARE PRETENDING THIS STATEMENT WASN'T MADE - Graczak. -- HESITATION ON ACTA 2 AND INTERNET FREEDOM WILL NOT ADD TO CREDIBILITY - Graczak. -- IN A REPORT ON KUKIZ'S CONVENTION. -- DESTROYED BANNERS AND POSTERS OF PIS POLITICIANS. -- TRAITORS OF THE POLISH COUNTRYSIDE - SUCH A BANNER HUNG AT THE LOCATION OF THE PEASANT PARTY MEETING - Graczak. -- KOSINIAK AT THE PSL CONVENTION. -- PIS ACCUSES PSL OF SCANDALS - Graczak. -- 2 INDIVIDUALS WITH CHARGES ON PSL LISTS - Graczak. -- ESTIMATE FROM DO RZECZY: PIS 45%, PO 24%, SLD 8%, PSL 7%, KUKIZ 6%. -- ACCORDING TO REVIEWERS, THIS IS ANOTHER BRUTAL AND FALSE ATTACK ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH - Dominik Cierpioł. -- OUR COUNTRY IS NOT LACKING INFLUENTIAL CIRCLES THAT HAVE TARGETED THE CHURCH - Cierpioł. -- THE QUESTION IS WHETHER AXEL SPRINGER WOULD DARE TO DO THE SAME IN GERMANY, TO PROMOTE A FILM THAT SO BIASEDLY ATTACKS JEWS OR MUSLIMS - Cierpioł. -- WHAT IS A MARGIN IN THE CHURCH IS SHOWN AS THE NORM IN THE FILM - Cierpioł. -- KNOWN FOR THEIR DISLIKE OF THE CHURCH AND TRADITIONAL POLISH VALUES - Cierpioł. -- WE WILL NEVER REWARD CHEAP PROVOCATION - Kurski. -- IT IS STRANGE THAT THOSE WHO SO READILY DENOUNCE THE CHURCH'S SINS CANNOT HOLD THEIR OWN IDOLS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEM - Cierpioł.

The coming days in politics are dominated by the ongoing local government election campaign. Wednesday marks the deadline for registering candidates for mayors and village administrators. Patryk Jaki, Rafał Trzaskowski, and Jacek Wojciechowicz are among those planning their campaign activities. President Andrzej Duda will visit the USA, while the government will focus on the 2019 budget. The Senate will convene following its summer recess.

Jaki Meets Dubai Investors. The upcoming week is primarily about the continuation of the local government election campaign. On Monday, Patryk Jaki is scheduled to meet with investors from Dubai – the conference will take place at 13:20. Tuesday will feature the presentation of a new campaign spot, and Thursday will see an open event in Targówek. Additionally, Jaki will present his program for Warsaw's culture in the coming week.

Local Election Campaign Continues. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is set to continue his tour of the country, visiting Mazovia on Monday. Jacek Wojciechowicz will launch his "18 Districts in 18 Days" initiative on Tuesday. Rafał Trzaskowski has a meeting scheduled in Targówek on Thursday as part of his "18 Districts – One Warsaw" campaign. His team is reportedly in contact with other candidates regarding a debate. On Monday at 11:00, a court hearing will take place at the District Court in Warsaw concerning what Civic Platform claims is Mateusz Morawiecki's "road lie." Meanwhile, Grzegorz Schetyna, as he announced on Twitter, will meet with Angela Merkel.

Potential European Commission Referral to the ECJ. The European Commission has decided to refer the matter of changes to the Supreme Court to the Court of Justice of the European Union, Reuters reported last week, citing a high-ranking EU official. According to the agency, the decision has been made, but the EC will announce it this coming Monday to avoid disrupting the EU summit in Salzburg. Therefore, the issue of Supreme Court reforms will likely be one of the key topics of the upcoming week.

PAD in the USA. President Andrzej Duda and the First Lady begin their visit to the USA this coming Monday. During the visit, he will participate in the general debate of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The agenda also includes, among other things, a meeting with the UN Secretary-General and participation in a UN Security Council session chaired by the US President.

Government Discusses 2019 Budget. The government will address the draft budget bill for the upcoming year in the coming week. According to the law, this should happen by the end of this month, but Finance Minister Teresa Czerwińska indicated September 25th as the deadline on Radio Zet.

Senate Resumes Session. The Senate will convene on Wednesday for a three-day session – its first meeting after the summer recess. The agenda includes, among other items, amendments to the special act on ASF, the act on agricultural cooperatives, and reports on the activities of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) and the National Media Council (RMN) for 2017.

Photo: Krzysztof Sitkowski/KPRP