Today marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the Greater Poland Uprising. The main commemorations will take place in Poznań and Mosina.

At **12:30 PM**, President Andrzej Duda and the authorities of the Greater Poland Voivodeship will participate in a holy mass for the intention of the Insurgents. At **2:05 PM**, Andrzej Duda will lay flowers at the grave of Gen. Stanisław Taczak, and at **4:40 PM**, he will attend the central anniversary ceremony.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will also be in Poznań. He will also lay flowers at the grave of Gen. Taczak (at **9:30 AM**), unveil a commemorative plaque with local authorities (at **10:00 AM**), and at **10:50 AM**, he will present the Medals of the 100th Anniversary of Regaining Independence. 

Photo: National Digital Archives

- Electricity prices will not rise thanks to this very act [amendment to the excise tax act, which will be processed in parliament tomorrow]. Thanks to the reduction of excise duty, and consequently VAT, thanks to the reduction of the transition fee. These measures will save nearly PLN 4 billion. These are the figures that are necessary to guarantee that the price of electricity does not increase. This is an extremely important government decision - stated Mariusz Błaszczak on "Sygnały dnia" (Signals of the Day) on PR1.

- I don't have that feeling, that regret [that they failed somewhere regarding the VAT and privatization mafia], although I have a police reflection that if we had known then what we know today, we could have acted better. In my opinion, the services did not fail in this [VAT] matter. The services always did what could be done, what the law allowed. One can ask whether parliamentarians, politicians, did not fail. If the state loses funds, someone has always failed - stated Paweł Wojtunik in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Piasecki's Conversation".

- The matter of VAT fraudsters is a matter that was always one of the most important issues in the activities of the Central Investigation Bureau, and at the time you are talking about, I was the deputy director and director of this bureau, and as the head of this institution, I have nothing to reproach myself for, although I always have that reflection of a policeman after learning that there was other information, that the whole situation could have been... But this is just speculation. What if we had known earlier - he added.

- For me, it was a very unpleasant situation. It's not my habit to disembark a ship before it reaches port, so it was a very difficult situation. However, it was clearly forced. My only concern is that Kukiz'15, while I was there, maintained its character on the central, more right-wing side. However, after I was pushed out of Kukiz'15, it is drifting towards PO-KO - said Marek Jakubiak in an interview with Paweł Lisicki on Polskie Radio Trójka's "Political Salon."

"Certainly, [Putin] is an effective politician who cannot be underestimated. Russia is still an important and strong country. I remember when they said there was no military solution in the Middle East, in Syria," said the Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament, Professor Zdzisław Krasnodębski from PiS, in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.

"We all know that Lech Wałęsa is known for his controversial statements. It's better if he doesn't speak so much. My political circle doesn't pay much attention to Lech Wałęsa's words. He wanted to be politically relevant," he added.

„Our position in the European Union is genuinely strong. We are a large country. Now, with the departure of Great Britain, on the one hand, this complicates our situation, as they are our strategic ally, but our position will increase” – said the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Prof. Zdzisław Krasnodębski from PiS, in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.

- The Ministry, instead of lowering drug prices, allowed a private corporation to artificially increase them, which has harmed patients' interests. We demand an investigation into potential corruption. The ministry is burying its head in the sand, and Marshal Kuchciński refuses to convene a health committee on this matter. Public institutions, instead of chasing corruption, are sending absurd replies. The Ministry responded that everything is in order, and the prosecutor's office stated that consequently, there is no problem - stated Adrian Zandberg in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News' "Political Graffiti."

- The problem is that many workers in Poland haven't felt the economic miracle they hear about. If we look at social workers living on the edge of poverty, teachers who are barely making ends meet, or a significant portion of rank-and-file employees who have to tighten their belts, then a feeling grows that something is deeply wrong. The economy is growing, public revenues are increasing, and these people don't feel it in their pockets because there are no raises – stated Adrian Zandberg in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News's "Polityczne Graffiti".

Responding to the statement that there are record social transfers, Zandberg replied: - It's not just about providing people with social security when they find themselves in a dramatic life situation, but rather that employees should have a larger share in what we all work to achieve. Workers in Poland are getting too small a slice of the pie.

"In the near future, we as a society will learn, but yes, I can say - VAT will be lowered, and it will be on the most important products. A program is currently being prepared. These matters will be announced," said PiS MP Robert Telus on TVP Info.

President Andrzej Duda presented state decorations to the descendants of the heroes of the Greater Poland Uprising. General Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki and Colonel Stanisław Taczak were honored posthumously.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, present in Poznań for the celebrations, laid flowers at the monument to the insurgents and participated in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.

These ceremonies are part of the extensive commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the Greater Poland Uprising, a pivotal event in Polish history that secured the region's return to a reunited Poland.

The President's and Prime Minister's participation underscores the national significance of this anniversary and the enduring legacy of the uprising.

Further details and visuals from the events can be found at the following links:

https://twitter.com/PremierRP/status/1078206278319685632

https://twitter.com/PL1918/status/1078202794568544256

„This is a great and magnificent occasion – the centenary of the outbreak of the Greater Poland Uprising, which built and forged the Republic. Today, we are also heirs to this surge for independence, because we are building a strong Republic, which would not exist without the great efforts of our ancestors back then. Here, in Greater Poland, we demonstrated enormous mobilization and logistical capabilities; the mass, universal nature of this great, magnificent surge, this struggle, was something that surprised the partitioning powers. Just as a hundred years ago our great leaders of the time – Paderewski in Poznań, Piłsudski in Warsaw, Dmowski in Paris, or Witos in Vienna – fought for a sovereign, independent Republic, knowing that Poland is – in Paderewski's words – polyphonic, that it is not just popular, not just socialist, not just national. It is composed of many social and political currents, and also of many lands of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The dimension of the struggle [of the Greater Poland Insurgents] for the Republic, for the annexation of lands to the Republic, should show how deeply the past is connected to the future, because the future without the past is somewhat like a blind path” – said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Poznań during the celebrations of the hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the Greater Poland Uprising.

- The Greater Poland Uprising was and is the foundation of reborn Poland. It was and is the foundation of independence. It was and is the foundation of the need to strive for independence, which we had all the time afterwards. The Greater Poland Uprising was and is the foundation of striving for independence and sovereignty that existed after World War II, because it is also, among other reasons, surely why the people of Poznań rose up in 1956. It wasn't just about bread, but also about pride and freedom, which they once knew how to fight for - said Andrzej Duda during the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the Greater Poland Uprising. 

- Long live free Poland, long live Greater Poland in free Poland. Honor and glory to the heroes, eternal memory to the fallen - the president concluded his speech.

"It is evident that [Trzaskowski] listens to people, reacts quickly. These are just the beginnings. The beginnings are very difficult because one has to enter, get to know all the places in the City Hall, all departments, all the people. New councilors have arrived. There is a new president who brings new people with him. I hope that month by month this matter [rebates] will turn out very well" - said the Deputy Marshal of the Sejm, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska from PO, in an interview with Roch Kowalski in "Wywiad polityczny" on TOK FM.

"The last action counts. It was well-thought-out, [Trzaskowski] stepped back and is fulfilling what he committed to" - she added.

"Lech Wałęsa tackles difficult topics. Sometimes he ventures into areas where no other politician would dare to go and conduct discussions. One can assess this in different ways, but he is trying to talk, he is trying to convince about cooperation, even difficult cooperation, and to ensure that two countries situated close to each other can sometimes talk to each other. This is a breakneck task in current times" - said the Deputy Marshal of the Sejm, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska from Civic Platform (PO), in an interview with Roch Kowalski on "Wywiad polityczny" on TOK FM.

"Wałęsa is taking extreme actions, but we will see what effects they bring" - she added.

“The government will certainly present a proposal. I hope that we will implement these changes regarding excise tax and more, as announced, and at an express pace, because it also concerns the intermediate fee. It's difficult for me to say how the opposition will vote. I know for sure that electricity prices will not rise in 2019. This is good news for our fellow citizens, as they have been scared in recent weeks that prices would rise by even several dozen percent,” stated Deputy Minister Michał Wójcik in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on Polsat News' “Wydarzenia i opinie” (Events and Opinions). 

- It is also a fact that an increasing number of Poles, including supporters of Law and Justice and the broader United Right, believe stability is needed. The state should be predictable, procedures should be followed. Laws should be changed as rarely as possible. I hope we have entered a phase of government where all these justified, wise expectations of Poles will be met – said Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Grzegorz Kajdanowicz on the TVN24 program “Fakty po faktach”.

- Our most serious mistake was the law on the Institute of National Remembrance, an unfortunate amendment. Although we managed to emerge from this situation in a manner beneficial to Poland. I mean the joint statement by Prime Ministers Morawiecki and Netanyahu - said Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Grzegorz Kajdanowicz on the program “Fakty po faktach” on TVN24.

- I suspect the entire Sejm will vote in favour. One would like to say, it's good that finally. It's a pity we didn't address this project at the last Sejm session, a project submitted by PO (Civic Platform) - said Marta Golbik in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on the program "Gość Wiadomości" TVP  Info.

- I do not assume that excise duty will be increased in 2019, and this is a permanent solution that I hope the Sejm will vote on tomorrow. And that as soon as possible, from January 1, 2019, both this excise duty reduction and the transitional fee will become a fact. The solutions will be permanent. These are not solutions meant to be in effect only in 2019 - said Jarosław Krajewski in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on the program 'Gość Wiadomości' on TVP Info.

– A serious offer to succeed Minister Rostowski was indeed made. I did not accept it. And yet, it was not known that Tusk would go to Brussels, nor that the Civic Platform would falter. Just look at the polls from that time. I simply did not want to be in that government. I met with Jarosław Kaczyński then and told him about this offer. He asked: "What is your decision?" I replied that I had refused. "Oh, I am very glad," he responded. No other arrangements were made then – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in an interview with Piotr Zaremba.

Asked why he did not want to be a minister in a Civic Platform government, he replied: – I did not agree with the philosophy of "doing nothing." A lack of social reforms, the collapse of institutions with no real possibility of influencing their repair.

The full interview will be published tomorrow in "Dziennik Gazeta Prawna."