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12/01/2018

08:49

Saturday's Political Agenda: Townhall with PM and Deputy Prime Ministers

At 12:00 PM, ATM Studio will host a town hall titled "Work for Poland". According to our sources, the event aims to demonstrate that "after three years in government, the current administration remains close to the people, can engage in sincere dialogue, and is not alienated from society." The focus is on showcasing the Prime Minister's proximity to the public, hence the plan for the head of government to engage in direct interaction with the audience during the event.

As we reported on 300POLITYCE, the conference is also intended to highlight and summarize the government's achievements over the past three years, but - as our sources emphasize - not in a triumphalist manner. "Morawiecki has shown that open meetings, speeches in Parliament, and appearances before large audiences are his element. His speeches reflect the strength he gained during the local government campaign, where he held nearly 200 meetings and conversations with fellow Poles," notes one of his associates.


09:21

PMM:

We want a proud and ambitious Poland. A Poland that will create conditions for fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of all our compatriots.
These three years, which are now passing since the Law and Justice camp, the United Right camp, took responsibility for the fate of the state, are a good time to look at what we have managed to do and on what we should focus for the future in our work for Poland. The main goals that guided us were work for economic development, work for increasing the sense of security and the sense of stability of Poles. This was what mattered most to us, and I am glad that to a large extent we have managed to achieve many goals related to solidarity, related to the sense of social certainty, social security. We want a proud and ambitious Poland. A Poland that will create conditions for fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of all our compatriots. Aspirations related to technological development, innovation, decent jobs. A Poland for everyone – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in a recording published on social media, announcing today's "Work for Poland" conference. https://twitter.com/premierrp/status/1068777011177492482

10:36

10 Political Events to Watch in December

December in Polish politics is primarily shaped by President Duda's decision regarding the amendment to the Supreme Court Act, the Senate's approval of the candidate for the Ombudsman for Children, and a town hall with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy Prime Ministers.

The Sejm will address Stanisław Gawłowski's parliamentary immunity, the 2019 budget bill, and a draft amendment to the act restricting Sunday trading. In Warsaw, the founding congress of Ryszard Petru's political group will take place, and the National Council of SLD will convene.

Furthermore, on December 13-14, the European Council will hold its final meeting of the year. The Council will focus on the EU's long-term budget, the single market, migration, and external relations. Most likely, in December, the Sejm will also consider a motion for a so-called constructive vote of no confidence, although the date is not yet known.

***** PMM's Town Hall. As we wrote on 300POLITYKA, a town hall titled "Work for Poland" will take place in Warsaw on December 1st. According to our sources, it is intended to demonstrate that "after three years of government, the current authorities remain close to the people, can engage in honest conversation, and are not alienated from society." The aim is to showcase the Prime Minister's closeness to the people, hence he will directly engage with the audience. The only decorative elements will be the Polish and EU flags. We have learned that, in addition to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, including Beata Szydło, are scheduled to speak. Gawłowski's Immunity. On December 3rd at 12:00 PM, the Sejm's Committee on Rules of Procedure, MP Affairs, and Immunity will consider Stanisław Gawłowski's statement requesting the Sejm's consent to pursue criminal proceedings against him. The committee will also address motions concerning Sławomir Neumann and Andrzej Halicki. Initially, the Sejm was scheduled to vote on the motion for consent to criminal prosecution and the application of pre-trial detention during the previous session, but Gawłowski renounced his immunity at the last minute. Consequently, the motion has been sent back to the committee for an opinion. COP24. On December 3rd, President Andrzej Duda will participate in the 24th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP24). The agenda includes the official opening of the summit, the presentation of the "Just Transition" declaration, and a meeting between the President of the Republic of Poland and the UN Secretary-General with media representatives. Additionally, President Duda will hold a series of bilateral meetings as part of the summit. Sejm on Sunday Trading. At its first session this month, the Sejm will address the amendment to the act restricting Sunday trading. The new regulations, proposed by PiS, will prohibit, among other things, the opening of shops with postal services. According to the preliminary schedule seen by 300POLITYKA, the second reading is scheduled for December 5th from 6:45 PM. This strongly suggests that the bill will be voted on as early as the morning of December 7th. Furthermore, on December 5th at 8:30 AM, the Sejm's extraordinary committee on deregulation will issue an opinion on the bill. Petru's Party Founding Congress. On December 9th in Warsaw, the founding convention of "Teraz" (Now) will be held, the new party of Ryszard Petru, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, and Joanna Schmidt. "Let's meet on Sunday, December 9th, let's talk about Poland, our economy, and the future. Let's start changing Poland. Now!" the organizers announce. "We will show what our values are, what we want to fight for. For example, the issue of abolishing the ban on Sunday trading. I can say this: I believe that Nowoczesna is leaving this space, and it is up for grabs when it comes to the electorate," Petru stated on RMF FM. PAD's Decision on the Supreme Court. In the first half of December, President Andrzej Duda must make a decision regarding the amendment to the Supreme Court Act, which reverses the so-called "emerytalna czystka" (retirement purge), thus restoring Supreme Court judges, including Małgorzata Gersdorf. The Senate adopted the amendment on November 23rd, meaning the deadline for a decision falls around December 15th. Hearing on Rule of Law. On December 11th, another hearing of Poland within the framework of Article 7 of the Treaty will take place in Brussels, as reported by EU sources to PAP. According to Polish diplomats, this is a favorable situation because the European Commission will have to respond to the amendment to the Supreme Court Act at this hearing. Approval of Ombudsman for Children. In November, the Sejm elected Mikołaj Pawlak to the position of Ombudsman for Children. This nomination still requires Senate approval, which is expected during the session from December 12th to 14th. It is likely that the vote will occur on the last day of the session. Previously, senators did not approve the appointment of Agnieszka Dudzińska to this position. 2019 Budget. On December 12th, the Sejm's session is scheduled to hold the second reading of the 2019 budget bill, according to the schedule adopted by the Public Finance Committee. On December 13th, the aforementioned committee is expected to consider amendments proposed during the second reading, and on December 14th, the third reading and adoption of the budget bill by the Sejm will take place. The Senate may consider the bill at its session from December 19th to 21st at the earliest. SLD National Council. "On December 15th, during the National Council, we will adopt a resolution to convene a convention that will decide on the format in which the Alliance will participate in the European Parliament elections," SLD announced via social media. Photo: Sejm

12:07

PM:

A Great Deal Has Been Achieved

- I hope that now, ahead of us, there will be exclusively Christmas fever, and the moods will slowly subside, because a great deal has been achieved, and we can be proud of everything we have done – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the 'Work for Poland' conference.


12:10

PM:

I See Optimism, Sometimes a Bit Dimmed by Overly Far-Reaching Political Dispute
The unleashing of certain dynamic vital social forces. I feel this very clearly, having met with Poles in over two hundred places. This new dynamism, new energy is something important, something we want to continue building on in the coming year. Besides dynamism, what I see is a certain optimism. Sometimes a bit dimmed by overly far-reaching political dispute, the intensity of this dispute, but this optimism is present – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the "Work for Poland" conference.

12:14

PMM:

Now is the Time for Safe Development, Peace, and Stability
After these 3 years, during which we carried out a thorough renovation of our home, which is called Poland, now is the time for safe development, for peace, for stability. It's a bit like renovating a house, which many of us do or have done in the past. You first have to bring in some materials, paint the walls, sometimes it's a bit nerve-wracking, some materials don't arrive, the neighbor gets a bit annoyed because we're making noise, sometimes you have to furnish the apartment, but we've done that. After these 3 years, we are past all those changes. The house is furnished, the walls are painted, the house is secured, and we want to develop the economy peacefully, we want to offer this economic development to the widest possible sections of society – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the "Work for Poland" conference.

12:18

Mateusz Morawiecki: We Want to Reduce Political Tension. We Invite the Opposition to Substantive Cooperation Too

- We are a political camp of change that also understands the need for stability, stabilization. We want to give it to the people. We want to reduce this political tension, we don't want these political fights to resemble tribal wars, we don't want people to be divided like that. We invite the opposition to substantive cooperation, to discussions on programs - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the "Work for Poland" conference. As PMM admitted, PiS has made mistakes, but then corrections are made.


12:23

PMM:

Emigration Halted. Young People Are Staying in Poland

- One of these quiet revolutions of the last 3 years, very visible ones, a revolution we are betting on, is the digital revolution. Starting today, literally from today, electronic sick leaves are being implemented in healthcare. Soon, electronic prescriptions and referrals will help reduce queues. This is the plan for 2019 - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the "Work for Poland" conference.

- This revolution is meant to give young people hope, and I am happy that over the last two years we have managed to halt emigration, that young people are staying in Poland, and that they are increasingly returning here - added PMM.


12:25

Morawiecki:

"We Shifted the Economy into Fifth Gear"

- We will submit ourselves to this reckoning. We want to show that by most measures, we have fulfilled our electoral commitments. We have strived to maintain our credibility everywhere. We have shifted the economy into fifth gear - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the "Work for Poland" conference.


12:29

PM:

We are the most pro-freedom team of the last 28 years

- I sincerely believe so. That we are the most pro-freedom team of the last 28 years. We are giving this freedom to people – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the "Work for Poland" conference.


12:33

PMM:

We Poles Want to Live at a European Standard and Are Doing Everything to Make It So

- We want economic development to be for everyone. We have shown that it is possible to fight effectively against the 'great ones' of this world, the powerful ones of this world. Never have so many lost so much to so few, as was the case with VAT mafias. Our economic model, this new one in the Plan for Responsible Development, is meant to serve productivity growth, because then Poles will earn like people in the West. This is how I understand Europeanism, these beautiful European flags also, which are around us here. We Poles want to live at a European standard and are doing everything to make it so - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the "Work for Poland" conference.


12:40

Szydło:

We Proved and Showed That We Are a Team That Keeps Its Word

- As the Prime Minister said, Poland has a huge opportunity ahead of it. This is an opportunity that we all believed in in 2015. Do you remember the enthusiasm, the zeal, the fact that the emotions unleashed by President Duda's victory and then led us to success in the autumn of 2015, allowing for the 'good change' program, the reform program that every Polish family, every Polish entrepreneur needed, which guaranteed a Poland that is safe, developing, where we can fulfill our dreams, from which young people do not have to leave because they receive their opportunity here. Someone said then: these are just dreams, and politicians don't keep their word anyway. I think we have proven and shown that we are a team that keeps its word. We managed - stated Deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydło during the "Work for Poland" conference.


12:47

Szydło:

There is a matter that unites us all. That matter is Poland. For Poland, let's sit together at the Polish table.
Yes, as we said in 2015, we say today: there is a place for everyone in the white and red team. We can differ, have different opinions, various views on different topics, but there is one matter that unites us all. That matter is Poland. For Poland, let's sit together at the Polish table. Let's be together, let's introduce these changes. Let's give Poland a chance, let's give ourselves a chance – stated Deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydło during the "Work for Poland" conference.

13:13

Gowin:

Only an Innovative Economy Ensures Rapid Development, High Profits for Entrepreneurs, and Good Earnings for Employees

- Only an innovative economy ensures: rapid development, high profits for entrepreneurs, and good earnings for employees. This is a common task for the entire government, which we are realizing together - stated Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin during the "Work for Poland" conference.


13:19

Gowin:

My Main Goal with Government Actions is to Stop Brain Drain
For me, the most important goal of all these actions that the government is undertaking is to stop what is the greatest drama of contemporary Poland. To stop the brain drain of the young generation - stated Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin during the "Work for Poland" conference.

13:22

PM during Town Hall: "There are food products that are indeed too expensive. We are monitoring this."
"This situation genuinely concerns us, because there are food products that are indeed expensive, excessively expensive. Butter or milk. I absolutely confirm that we are monitoring this, observing it, and it deeply worries us" - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the "Work for Poland" conference, responding to questions from the audience.

13:27

PM During Town Hall: There is No Possibility That Funds Will Not Be Sufficient for the Social Programs We Have Ensured

- In our reality, there is no possibility that funds will not be sufficient for the social programs that we guaranteed and ensured under Prime Minister Szydło's government and within our camp - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the "Work for Poland" conference, responding to questions from the audience.


13:39

PM During Town Hall: I Believe There Will Be a Calming of Tensions
We want this compromise. We want things to be more pleasant, warmer, friendlier. Sometimes in politics, things are indeed tougher, but in the last 3 years, this has translated into a wealthier Poland. I believe there will be a calming of these sentiments, that the temperature will drop a bit. I would very much wish for that – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the "Work for Poland" conference, responding to questions from the audience.