As we reported on 300POLITYCE, a meeting of the Sejm Presidium was convened for 5:00 PM, followed by the Seniors' Convention at 5:15 PM. The subject is unknown, but it most likely concerns an additional Sejm session on electricity prices – a scenario that Jadwiga Emilewicz did not rule out. The dates considered are December 27th or 28th, meaning next Thursday or Friday.

In the morning hours, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will travel to the site of the accident at the hard coal mine in Karviná, Czech Republic.

At noon, President Andrzej Duda and Minister Mariusz Błaszczak will participate in a ceremonial roll call marking the entry into force of the new system for commanding and controlling the Armed Forces, and an hour later, the Presidential Couple and the head of the Ministry of National Defence, Mariusz Błaszczak, will attend a festive meeting with soldiers, veterans, and their families.

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President Duda: God, have mercy on the Miners' Families

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- We should capitalize on it, Poland has invested so much. Later, we'll be like that elderly noblewoman crying about how badly we were treated. We must benefit from what we have invested. After all, these weren't investments in one revolution or another, where we want to gain something. But then, a moment comes in politics when you have to know how to use it. Today, I watch with pain as all countries that understand politics benefit, while we only have history - said Paweł Kowal in a conversation with Beata Lubecka on the program "Gość Radia ZET".

- It's clear they've hit a dead end, they weren't prepared. There are moments that one would like to draw out on a diagram, record media participants in discussions, prepare quotes, and work on them with students. What's happening around energy price hikes is outrageous – said Paweł Kowal in a conversation with Beata Lubecka on the program “Gość Radia ZET”.

- The government is having a very difficult period when it comes to domestic policy. Essentially, every day now brings the rule of the Schetyna-Tusk tandem closer. I don't know how they agreed amongst themselves, but it seems they've found synergy - said Paweł Kowal in an interview with Beata Lubecka on the program 'Gość Radia ZET'.

- The message was that we are in Europe because we are a European country. We were, we are, and we will be. Over 85% of Poles want Poland to be in the EU. If anyone says that PiS politicians are thinking about Polexit, they are talking nonsense - stated Stanisław Karczewski in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on the morning show Siódma9. - Polexit is such fake news, a falsehood - added the Marshal of the Senate.

- Zero. Off the scale. There is no such scenario. We recently had a meeting of United Right leaders and we all looked at each other, wondering where this rumor came from – stated Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News's "Polityczne Graffiti," when asked on a scale of one to ten how likely he thought a scenario of early elections was.

- Likely today, Prime Minister Morawiecki will announce a decision [regarding electricity prices]. I say likely because the tragedy in the Czech Republic has caused the plan we had for this afternoon to change. I believe that, despite everything, Prime Minister Morawiecki will decide which direction we are going. There will certainly be no price increases for individual consumers. I think there will also be no increases for local governments, universities, or hospitals - stated Jarosław Gowin in a conversation with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News' "Polityczne Graffiti".

- The state has certain instruments that involve reducing taxes. A cut in excise duty, there are some transmission fees, but we shouldn't touch VAT at all. The solutions I'm mentioning are temporary. I am aware that we need a long-term plan to change the nature of Polish energy. Such a plan was prepared by Minister Emilewicz, and we will talk about the details at our party's convention, Porozumienie, on January 13th in Krakow - stated Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News's "Polityczne Graffiti".

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- Of course, we have [a plan]. We have certain assumptions, not yet in detail. President Kaczyński always repeated: work, work, work, humility, humility. We repeat this, but it's not just about repeating, it's about working and being full of humility. So we will work. We are ready, prepared. Yes, surely [there will be new program proposals]. I won't say what they are either, because I don't know the exact proposals yet, although I am aware of certain directions and assumptions. We are working on them, talking, discussing, developing them - stated Stanisław Karczewski in a conversation with Marcin Fijołek on the morning show Siódma9.

- What has been the case in every election, and what will also be the case in this election campaign, is great activity from the party leadership, but not only. Of all the parliamentarians. We will be meeting with Poles. Supplementing this program, finalizing it, polishing the program together with Poles - added the Marshal of the Senate.

- Today, Law and Justice is definitely in pole position. Firstly, it is in power, so it can leverage support or even the fulfillment of certain government promises. It went well in the local government elections, because they ended with Law and Justice governing in regional assemblies, in eight of them, thus consolidating that victory. It leads in polls, although one should always approach polls with caution - said Krzysztof Łapiński in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on the morning program Siódma9.

„I find it difficult to imagine a parliamentary coalition with the PSL, which has KRUS on its banner as something that must be maintained. A social coalition with a liberal party – I don't see it. Either there will be a general unification of the opposition for European values, or separate groups will run” – Ryszard Petru said on Radio Trójka.

„An increased effort is needed from all of Europe, including within the EU, concerning both expenditure and defence preparations. The President is in favour of any concept that strengthens Europe's power, while simultaneously reinforcing and being compatible with the transatlantic ties expressed in NATO” - said the Head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), Minister Paweł Soloch, in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus. 

The Presidential Palace (KPRP) has announced that Sunday will be observed as a day of national mourning throughout Poland. This solemn occasion is in remembrance of the tragic events that have deeply affected the nation. Further details regarding the specific reasons and planned commemorations will be released in due course, as the country prepares to honor those lost and reflect on the somber circumstances.

On January 8, the parliamentary committee investigating VAT fraud will question Paweł Wojtunik, former head of the Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA).

The announcement was made by Michal Olech, a journalist, via a tweet linking to a statement from the committee.

The committee is examining alleged irregularities in the collection of VAT revenue in Poland, and Wojtunik's testimony is considered important due to his previous role in law enforcement and his potential insights into the mechanisms of organized crime involved in VAT fraud.

The situation at the mine in Karviná in the Czech Republic remains dramatic. Polish services remain on-site and are ready to support all actions of Czech rescuers.
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“I don't know if this is a conflict. One of the commissioners, who has a certain phobia concerning Poland, says certain things. This one from the country where there is no Constitutional Tribunal, yet tells us how our tribunal should function, that's him, Mr. Frans Timmermans. If we are to discuss the rule of law, we must adopt some universal criteria, so what is this universal criterion?” – said Minister Michał Wójcik in an interview with Łukasz Kijek for gazeta.pl.

- Due to the tragedy that occurred yesterday, the death of 13 miners, of whom 12 are Polish citizens, the President has decided that the upcoming Sunday will be a day of national mourning. The relevant decree has already been sent to the Prime Minister, because one must remember that it is a document that requires the Prime Minister's countersignature - stated Błażej Spychalski in a conversation with journalists.

"A very important moment in the history of the Polish Army, our Armed Forces, but above all in the area of building the security of the Republic of Poland. Four years ago, a reform was introduced whose solutions turned out to be misguided. Because the situation where responsibility is dispersed and can lead to both positive and negative jurisdictional disputes is neither good nor safe. Either everyone, or no one will feel responsible and undertake the task of command, which is fundamental when it comes to the functioning of the army, the armed forces. A commander is needed" - said President Andrzej Duda during the appeal on the occasion of the entry into force of the new system of command and control of the Armed Forces.

- So, the main mechanisms I would like to mention here are the reduction of excise duty from the current PLN 20 to PLN 5, which amounts to approximately PLN 2 billion in total costs for various entities, households, companies, and local governments. And from this, VAT must also be calculated, as VAT is levied at the final stage of electricity bill cost calculation. So, half a billion zlotys. This will also contribute to cost reduction - said Mateusz Morawiecki during a press conference.

- The second primary source is the transition fee. The transition fee has been reduced by 95% for all entities, including households, entrepreneurs, and local governments. For various cultural, scientific, and healthcare institutions - the Prime Minister continued.

- From this source, approximately one to one and a half billion will be obtained. Detailed data will also be presented, but this is a very significant amount added to the first one, which is excise duty and VAT on that part of the excise duty. This is about two and a half billion, together with one and a half billion, so a total of four billion - the Prime Minister added.

- We want to ensure good investment capacity for all companies that wish to invest in new production capacities. For this purpose, we are highlighting several aspects. Firstly, better cost management. Savings on marketing expenses, savings on various operational expenses. Simply put, prudent resource management by energy companies. This will result in savings of at least several hundred million zlotys - stated the Prime Minister.

- In particular, it is worth emphasizing that our energy policy and strategy rests on three pillars: security, regulation, and competition. Our electricity prices must be competitive. They must be competitive for households, firstly, to ensure the lowest possible costs for people. They must also be as low as possible and increasingly competitive for businesses - said Mateusz Morawiecki during a press conference.

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The government's draft amendment to the Excise Duty Act, which proposes a reduction in the excise duty on electricity, has been submitted to the Sejm. It has already received a print number and has been referred for its first reading. The bill will be considered during an extraordinary session of the Sejm next Friday, December 28th.

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- It will take, I think, one generation. Unless we do as they did. They deconstructed the state's system in 39 months, and it's not over yet - said Andrzej Rzepliński in an interview with Piotr Marciniak on TVN24's program „Fakty po faktach” (Facts After Facts).

- What sets us apart in terms of competition? The Polish government is active in the economic sphere, and this activity means that despite facing challenges, difficulties, and the neglect of our predecessors, as well as climate policy that has, as it were, squeezed us and pushed us towards poor economic outcomes, we are trying to get out of this situation - stated Grzegorz Tobiszowski in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on "Gość Wiadomości" on TVP Info.

- There is to be a review of costs within individual energy companies. However, we cannot cause energy companies to lose money, because we want energy companies to continue investing in the plans they have, and we could not take from energy companies. We had to create such a system, which is why excise duty has been reduced, which is why we are talking about an investment fund that will be created from emission fees, but at the same time we are also reducing the transmission fee, which means we have built a certain conglomerate of regulatory support, but this could only happen through the government's activity, which not only analyzed the situation but also created certain events - stated Grzegorz Tobiszowski in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on TVP Info's "Gość Wiadomości".

- I don't know who can reach the president. Perhaps a panel of former presidents, perhaps in some other way. The one governing Poland can only scare him. No one truly controls the state's structures anymore. Everyone does as they please, scandals erupt, which can truly only please investigative journalists. It's good that we have them. We need to defend them, but it's not about investigative journalists having very strong topics. Because nothing comes of it. Rather, we are heading in a worse direction – said Andrzej Rzepliński in an interview with Piotr Marciniak on TVN24's program "Fakty po faktach".