Live Feed

01/24/2019

07:25

Thursday's Political Agenda: President Duda Meets Apple CEO, President Continues Davos Visit, Subcommittee on Swiss Franc Loans, Another Day of Senate Session

The President and Prime Minister continue their visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum. Mateusz Morawiecki will meet with Apple CEO Tim Cook at 10:00 AM. His schedule also includes a visit to the Polish House, a meeting with Prof. Justin Yifu Lin, and with the Prime Ministers of Spain, Armenia, Georgia, and Montenegro. Furthermore, the head of the Polish government will give interviews to Polish Radio, TVP, and CNN, with a press conference scheduled for 4:30 PM.

Andrzej Duda's schedule for today includes a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, Chief Operating Officer of Philip Morris International Jacek Olczak, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. A statement to the Polish media is planned for 2:30 PM. PAD will also participate in the "Strategic Outlook on Central and Eastern Europe" session.

The Senate will resume its session at 9:00 AM with the second reading of two resolutions: commemorating the 100th anniversary of the inaugural session of the Legislative Sejm and the 100th anniversary of the death of Andrzej Małkowski. Marshal Stanisław Karczewski announced that if the legislative committee prepares a report on the draft resolutions commemorating the Mayor of Gdańsk, Paweł Adamowicz, the Chamber will conduct their second reading. The Senate will likely also vote on the budget law for 2019 today, as Thursday is the last scheduled day of the session.

At 9:00 AM, the VAT investigative committee will convene in a closed session, and at 10:00 AM, it will hear testimony from Renata Hayder. Also at 10:00 AM, a meeting of the privatization committee will take place. At 11:00 AM, a parliamentary subcommittee will gather to resume consideration of four draft bills, including two presidential ones: on the rules for returning certain amounts due from credit and loan agreements, and on the amendment to the law supporting borrowers in financial difficulty who have taken out housing loans.


07:36

Helicopters for Special Forces. Błaszczak: Tomorrow I will sign the contract with PZL Mielec

- Tomorrow I will sign a contract with Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze in Mielec for the delivery of Black Hawks for the Polish Army. This is good news. PZL Mielec is a good company. The product is also proven in many countries. This helicopter is used in 30 countries - said Mariusz Błaszczak in a conversation with Daniel Wydrych and Piotr Gócek on "Sygnały Dnia" on Polskie Radio Program I.


07:39

Błaszczak on NBP Law: I am convinced it will be quickly passed by the Sejm

- Doubts will be dispelled, the draft law is already ready. I am convinced that it will be quickly passed by the Sejm. Since the opposition also agrees that the salaries at the National Bank of Poland should be disclosed, I don't think there will be any problem - said Mariusz Błaszczak in a conversation with Daniel Wydrych and Piotr Goćek on "Sygnały Dnia" on Jedynka radio.


07:43

Błaszczak Admits: The Level of Public Debate in Parliament is Low. It Should Be Different

- I admit, the level of public debate in parliament is low. It should be different. This debate should be substantive. This level of aggression is also unacceptable - said Mariusz Błaszczak in an interview with Daniel Wydrych and Piotr Gócek on "Sygnały Dnia" on Jedynka radio. 


07:47

Rzepliński on Adamowicz's Murder: Such Situations Cannot Be Predicted

- He was in a state, but he couldn't have predicted it, and such situations anywhere, in any country, at any point in history, take for example Brutus' murder, cannot be predicted - stated Andrzej Rzepliński in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Piasecki's Conversation".


07:49

Rzepliński:

Stefan W. killed like a commando. He either specialized in it beforehand or trained in prison.

- As I understand it, the way [Stefan W.] killed President Adamowicz, he either specialized in it beforehand or trained in prison. In any case, he killed like a commando - stated Andrzej Rzepliński in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".


07:56

Rzepliński:

Stefan W. Could Have Been Sent to the Gostynin Centre

- The state has two instruments. Here, when it comes to legislation, the closer one is that he should reside in the already overcrowded Gostynin. There are about 160 predators in Poland, meaning extremely dangerous individuals, including a few women, who should be isolated precisely in such a centre - stated Andrzej Rzepliński in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego". He added:

"Let those 'wise guys' read the Executive Penal Code, it's from 1997, I was a co-author of this code. The therapeutic program is mentioned 22 times in this act. The Penal Code states that a court, when sentencing an offender to imprisonment, may order that this sentence be served in a therapeutic system. The court can, penal. When it comes to execution, the court does not order this, and based on the Executive Penal Code, the prison administration, the prison commission, as it is called, has the right, which of course is subject to the control of the penitentiary court, to decide, to propose to the convicted person that the sentence be served in a therapeutic system."

When asked if Stefan W. could have been sent to the Gostynin centre, the former Constitutional Tribunal president replied: - But of course. It was offered to him, he refused. That was already a basis, also a legal one, and the procedure is as follows: the prison director, depending on the chain of command, either orders or requests that two psychologists and two psychiatrists, a psychologist if it were a sexual offender, this one not, write an opinion on whether, after release from prison, there is a real threat from his side to the life, health, or sexual freedom of other people.


08:02

Rzepliński:

This wasn't a political assassination. It was the murder of a man who wanted to go down in history

- No [it wasn't a political assassination]. It was the murder of a man who wanted to go down in history. He knew perfectly well who President Adamowicz was, what kind of person he was. A predator, an intelligent man, not a madman, as some are saying, a paranoid schizophrenic. Such people are guided by voices from beyond the grave and I don't understand at all what they are saying. No [he wasn't a schizophrenic] – stated Andrzej Rzepliński in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Piasecki's Interview."


08:04

Rzepliński:

Stefan W. Killed to Make a Mark. He Knew Perfectly Well That by Killing President Adamowicz, He Was Entering History. And He Did. We Can't Do Anything About It.

- He [Stefan W.] was convinced that what he was doing had political significance, but not in the interest of any political party or individuals. He wanted to strike himself and precisely at that moment. After all, he was released from prison on December 3rd. He had exactly, or even more than, 4 weeks for it. If he had such an internal paranoid drive to kill someone, he would have done it earlier. He did [killed] to make a mark, to enter history. He knew perfectly well that by killing President Adamowicz, he was entering history. And he did. We can't do anything about it - stated Andrzej Rzepliński in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Piasecki's Talk".


08:18

Sasin on the proposal for a meeting of club leaders: No ready legal acts yet. The aim is to allow for consultation and discussion during the process of their creation.
“These will be proposals regarding changes in law, which are being developed in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health. I want to say this clearly: this is not at a stage where we can talk about ready legal acts. If they were ready, they could simply be published. Such meetings would not be necessary. The aim is to allow for consultation and discussion during the process of creating legal acts, so that they are the result of consensus” – said Minister Jacek Sasin in an interview with Łukasz Konarski on Radio Zet.

08:19

Sasin:

I hope opposition club leaders don't follow the usual path of boycotting every initiative from the ruling party
“I hope the leaders of the opposition clubs do not follow the usual path of boycotting every initiative that comes from the ruling party. All topics are on the table,” said Minister Jacek Sasin in an interview with Łukasz Konarski on Radio Zet.

08:30

Sasin:

I don't see any major event at this moment that would warrant an extraordinary interruption of Jacek Kurski's term

It's not PiS that decides [who the CEO of TVP is]. I don't see, at this moment, and I say this as someone who watches very little television, any major event that would cause the term to be interrupted in an extraordinary way. It would have to be some spectacular event that would necessitate interrupting this term. Nothing like that has happened” - said Minister Jacek Sasin in an interview with Łukasz Konarski on Radio Zet.


08:44

Mazurek Inquires About ECS Funding Cut; Gliński Intervenes and Leaves: 'What You're Saying, This Information is Unreliable, and We Will Not Discuss It'
I will not speak about matters concerning Gdańsk in connection with the death of Paweł Adamowicz – stated Piotr Gliński in the 'Morning Conversation' on RMF FM. - I am not asking about Paweł Adamowicz – observed Robert Mazurek. - Let's not discuss it; two weeks have not yet passed since those dramatic events. We will not talk about this topic. - Mr. Minister, I sincerely apologize. We are not discussing the death, nor what happened there. I am not discussing the words of those, in my opinion, insane people who accuse you of all the world's evils. I am asking you about a simple budgetary decision. You promised seven million, and you gave four. - I will not respond to that. - This is public money, for God's sake. - No, no. What you're saying, this information is unreliable, and we will not discuss it. - Unreliable? There is a letter that ECS has. - Thank you very much, thank you for the conversation. Subsequently, Gliński stood up, unclipped his microphone, and ended the conversation.

09:35

Cymański:

I Propose to Exclude Banks in Poor Financial Condition from the Conversion System in an Amendment

There is one issue, and this was precisely the element that was consulted for a long time, namely, I propose in the amendment to exclude from this entire conversion system banks that are in a very difficult situation, for which any move could be final. For the sake of the banking system's security, these banks will not participate in the payments, but they will also not be able to apply this act” – said Tadeusz Cymański from PiS in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus's “Sedno sprawy” (The Core of the Matter).

These are banks undergoing recovery proceedings, banks in poor financial condition, endangered in their market operations” – he added.


09:36

Cymański:

Banks Will Be Forced to Enter into Agreements with Clients

"I do not shy away from responsibility, but I can look everyone in the eye because the solutions in the act are not simple and easy, but I hope they will hold up. It is primarily about the principle that all banks will be forced to collect certain amounts of money from their own resources and will be compelled to enter into agreements with clients," said Tadeusz Cymański from PiS in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski in "Sedno Sprawy" on Radio Plus.

"Banks will present the terms. The client will be able, but not obligated, to accept them," he added.


09:56

ORLEN Group Stations to Appear in Slovakia
The Slovak market is the next after Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Lithuania where ORLEN Group stations will appear. The network in Slovakia will operate under the Benzina brand, which has been active in the local market for several decades. The first station will begin operating under the new banner at the turn of March and April this year in Malacky, near the Slovak-Czech border. The network will be developed through franchise cooperation with smaller fuel station operators or acquisitions. The investment is long-term in nature. In the first year of the Benzina brand's operation in Slovakia, it is possible to reach a level of 10 outlets, however, the key determinant of the development pace will be the business parameters adopted by the Concern. We are entering the Slovak fuel market as an experienced, international player. Already today, 20 percent of wholesale sales there are products from ORLEN Group refineries. This is a solid base that allows us to build sales also in the retail segment. We have opted for the Benzina brand, which enjoys recognition among 2/3 of Slovak drivers. As a long-standing leader in the Czech market, with strong and stable backing, we can offer our Slovak customers the highest quality services and products, in line with their expectations. We want to leverage our knowledge and experience gained in several countries to join the ranks of significant players in the Slovak retail market within 2-3 years - said Daniel Obajtek, President of the PKN ORLEN Management Board.

10:23

Polish PM Meets with Apple CEO in Davos

A conversation with Tim Cook is one of the points on the agenda for Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki today, as he continues his participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos.

https://twitter.com/PremierRP/status/1088364789565440000


10:26

Gliński:

The Editor Gave His Word. Then He Broke It On Air. This Was Apparently Too Much for Me.

The Deputy Prime Minister commented on today's situation in the RMF FM studio on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/PiotrGlinski/status/1088366142396268544

https://twitter.com/PiotrGlinski/status/1088366298655064064


10:48

Horała:

Tusk, Kopacz, Sienkiewicz, Schetyna, Pawlak, and Piechociński to Appear Before VAT Committee

- At today's session, the committee decided to summon 26 new witnesses. From the discussion, it appears that this is a fairly complete list for now, though perhaps some others will come forward in due course - Marcin Horała stated in the Sejm.

- Naturally, Donald Tusk and Ewa Kopacz, former prime ministers. These are individuals under whom various institutions, whose operations are the subject of the committee's investigation, fell. They were also the individuals who appointed and dismissed ministers, and provided guidelines to the special services, etc. This seems like a rather obvious line of inquiry. Former ministers of interior, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz and Grzegorz Schetyna. Here, the focus is primarily on threads concerning the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBŚ), following the hearing of Paweł Wojtunik and Inspector Parafieniuk, the head of CBŚ. Several questions have arisen that will need to be asked - Horała continued.

- Mr. Waldemar Pawlak and Mr. Janusz Piechociński were ministers of economy. Here, the focus is particularly on issues concerning the reversed VAT - Horała added.


11:09

Evacuation of PO offices underway:

Today, your lying party's headquarters will be blown up.

Emails that reached the Platforma Obywatelska (Civic Platform) offices in Poznań, Szczecin, Białystok, Łódź, Lublin, Wrocław, Kraków, and Katowice are being published on Twitter by the director of the PO national office, Piotr Borys.

https://twitter.com/piotr_borys/status/1088377158957977601


11:25

Nitras on meeting with Prime Minister: Today we will make a decision. In my opinion, we should go

- For now, there is no formal decision on whether we will attend the meeting with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Today we will make one. In my opinion, we should go. The most important thing today is to clarify what happened, how the state functioned - stated Sławomir Nitras in a conversation with Marek Kacprzak on the WP program "Tłit".


11:26

Polish PM in Davos Panel with Dutch PM and EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström: "We Must Learn to Listen to People, Because Vox Populi is Not Populism"

In Davos, the Prime Minister is participating in a panel discussion with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, and WEF President Klaus Schwab on the topic: "New impetus for Europe".

- We must learn to listen to people, because vox populi is not populism - the Prime Minister stated. - We must strengthen procedures that will give national parliaments a certain influence on the decision-making process in the EU; otherwise, the distance between member states and the institutions in Brussels will grow - the Polish Prime Minister added during the discussion.




11:35

Zgorzelski on EP Elections: The Supreme Council Meets in Mid-February, and Then the Decision on PSL's Electoral Formula Will Be Made

- The Supreme Council will meet in mid-February, and then the decision will be made on the formula Polish People's Party (PSL) will contest the [European Parliament] elections under. The last Supreme Council and the party leadership entrusted the chairman with, one might say, a wide range of options for discussions regarding the formula for the European elections. There are several solutions. Personally, I am most in favor of trying to run under a united opposition formula, because it is easiest to create a common programmatic denominator for European elections. We can talk about a strong Poland in the European Union in opposition to our perceived adversaries - stated Piotr Zgorzelski in "Sygnały dnia" (Signals of the Day) on PR1.


11:38

Zgorzelski:

We Believe One Should Simply Respond Positively to Invitations from the Head of State or Government. The PSL Has Never Sulked.

- [The Polish People's Party - PSL] will participate [in Friday's meeting at the invitation of Prime Minister Morawiecki], just as we participated in the meeting at the President's invitation at the time of the brutal assassination of the Mayor of Gdańsk, Paweł Adamowicz, because we believe that one should simply respond positively to invitations from the head of state or the head of government and attend, especially since the Polish People's Party, you know this well, Mr. Editor, and will likely confirm, has never sulked, as they say, but has participated, and has also offered solutions, even during constitutional crises, for example, we proposed a so-called solution involving the introduction of a consensus bill. I'm talking here about matters related to the judiciary - stated Piotr Zgorzelski in "Sygnały dnia" (Signals of the Day) on PR1.

- And likely, this common-sense attitude of ours, this stance of talking to everyone from the center, has yielded positive results when we invited everyone, representatives of all parliamentary clubs, for January 12th to our conference titled "Pact for Green Energy," where we presented our programmatic solutions regarding clean energy, concerning the reduction of electricity prices, clean air, and energy security. This is very important because it concerns health - added the PSL politician.


12:00

President of Poland Meets with NATO Secretary General in Davos

The President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, is currently holding a meeting with the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, in Davos.

The meeting is taking place within the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

A photograph of the meeting was shared on the official Twitter account of the President of Poland, @prezydentpl, with the following link: https://twitter.com/prezydentpl/status/1088390487134928896


12:53

Duda Meets with Ukrainian President in Davos

President Andrzej Duda continues his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Today, he is participating in an off-the-record discussion with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during a lunch with forum participants.


12:57

Civic Platform in the Senate Proposes Budget Amendment to Restore Full Subsidy for ECS; Borusewicz: It's an Institution Established, Created, and Built by Adamowicz

We still do not know what the fate of the European Solidarity Centre (ECS) will be. Deputy Prime Minister Gliński cut the subsidy for this institution from 7 million to 4 million. He informed us in June that the ECS would receive over 7 million zlotys, and on the last day of October, a letter arrived stating that the ECS would be deprived of almost 3 million. Such a letter at the end of the year causes serious problems, significantly hindering, though I hope not making impossible, the functioning of this institution. It is an institution established, created, and built by President Paweł Adamowicz” - said the Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Bogdan Borusewicz from the Civic Platform, at a press conference in the Sejm.

Despite various appeals, attempts, and discussions on this matter, Deputy Prime Minister Gliński did not respond. My last meeting with Paweł Adamowicz concerned precisely this problem, which was emerging as a serious issue for the functioning of the ECS” - he added.

We have submitted an amendment [to the 2019 budget] that will enable the ECS to function. We appeal to the reflection and lack of pettiness from PiS senators, who find funds for various other cultural institutions, such as the 20 million zlotys allocated for the construction of a museum organized by Father Rydzyk” - added Sławomir Rybicki.


13:51

Brudziński:

False alarms in cyberspace are also a problem of the modern world. I assure you that the police are making every effort to ensure that those who have been sending these types of emails for several days are held responsible.

Fałszywe alarmy także w cyberprzestrzeni to problem współczesnego świata. Zapewniam, że policja dokłada wszelkich starań aby ci, którzy od kilku dni rozsyłają tego typu maile, ponieśli za to odpowiedzialność
https://twitter.com/jbrudzinski/status/1088409876466946050


14:53

President Duda: NATO Has Proven a Living Alliance, Demonstrating Capacity for Decision and Action
"The decisions made at the NATO summit in Warsaw have changed the perception of the Alliance. In our times, NATO has proven to be a living alliance, showing its capacity to make decisions and take action. I am thinking of the presence of NATO forces on the Eastern flank and in the Baltic states, in Poland and Romania. NATO demonstrates that it is constantly adapting to changing security conditions," said President Andrzej Duda in Davos.

15:12

Senate to Hold Additional Session Next Friday

The upper house is scheduled to address those acts that will be passed during the additional Wednesday session of the Sejm. These include the act concerning remuneration at the National Bank of Poland, amendments to the Electoral Code, and the "Mama 4 plus" program. It is not excluded that the Sejm will also vote on the draft bill concerning compensation for public media.


15:50

PM Morawiecki Tonight on TVP

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will be Krzysztof Ziemiec's guest tonight at 7:57 PM on the program "Gość Wiadomości" (Guest of News) on TVP Info. The interview will be conducted from Davos, where the World Economic Forum is taking place. PM Morawiecki met today, among others, with Apple CEO Tim Cook, and also gave an interview to the BBC.


16:56

PMM in Davos: 5% Economic Growth is the Object of Envy Among Many Prime Ministers I Spoke With
This is precisely what is being discussed here. It is the basis of the debates that took place today in both closed and open sessions. Namely, how to ensure social cohesion on the one hand. Something we in Poland simply call solidarity. At the same time, how to ensure that the aspirations, in our case of Poles, are met, so that wages grow to a European level, and simultaneously increasing spending on social policy, to bring the budget deficit under control, and the public debt to GDP ratio to decrease, as Eurostat recently showed. And simultaneously, 5% economic growth is the object of envy among many prime ministers I spoke with here, many economists and entrepreneurs – said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during a press conference in Davos.

19:52

Petru on meeting with the Prime Minister: I don't think attendance was appropriate
I don't think attendance was appropriate. Firstly, we don't even know precisely what the meeting would be about. It is very enigmatically written in this short letter that it concerns changes to the penal code and changes concerning mentally ill individuals, I understand also in some code - said Ryszard Petru in an interview with Grzegorz Kajdanowicz on the TVN24 program "Fakty po faktach".

20:08

Senate Passes 2019 Budget Without Amendments

The Senate approved the 2019 budget without introducing any amendments. The vote was 57 to 42. The budget was previously adopted by the Sejm.


20:17

Neumann on Tomorrow's Meeting with the Prime Minister: Two Hours Ago, I Received a Proposed Agenda from the Chancellery of the Prime Minister via Email

- It's hard to say who will shake whose hand, who will leave. For a simple reason. When I heard, I was then in Pomerania, about the Prime Minister's invitation for Friday. I took this matter very seriously, as something that could genuinely be an important conversation about the causes of the situation that occurred in Gdańsk on January 13th. The first political murder in many years that everyone saw in Poland, and it's definitely worth discussing. We were waiting for information about the agenda of this meeting, what the Prime Minister wants to convey to us at this meeting. Two hours ago, I received a proposed agenda from the Chancellery of the Prime Minister via email, and I have this undeniable feeling that, apart from the PR aspect of this meeting, i.e., taking a photo with the opposition, the Prime Minister doesn't really have an idea what he wants to talk about. He wants to tell us that the Minister of Justice wants to toughen penalties, and the Minister of Health wants to introduce psychiatric evaluations. It's probably worth [talking about this], but I don't want to discuss with the Prime Minister about treating the consequences, but rather think about how to treat the cause. And to treat the cause and to avoid such consequences, so that, as the Prime Minister declares, it doesn't happen again, we need to accurately diagnose what happened and what its causes are - stated Sławomir Neumann in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on Polsat News's "Wydarzenia i opinie".


20:21

Neumann:

Decision on Meeting with the Prime Minister to be Announced Tomorrow at 10:00 AM
- I still believe that this meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, can be a serious meeting and a serious conversation. If it is to end with me playing the role of a "Krupówki bear" [a colloquial reference to street performers in Zakopane], meaning being in a photo with the Prime Minister and that being enough... I have the impression that the Prime Minister is interested in some PR cover for this whole matter and showing that he is doing something. I would like him not only to do something, but for things to actually be done that will truly ensure that something like the political assassination we witnessed of Paweł Adamowicz in Gdańsk never happens again - stated Sławomir Neumann in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on Polsat News' "Wydarzenia i opinie" (Events and Opinions). - I intend to announce this decision tomorrow at 10:00 AM - continued the head of the Civic Platform (PO) club, when asked about the party's decision on the matter. As he emphasized, the Civic Platform would like a serious conversation.

20:26

Neumann:

Lubnauer is Leading Nowoczesna to an Independent Start in European Elections

It is Katarzyna Lubnauer’s mistake, who is leading Nowoczesna to an independent start in the European elections. It is a mistake to leave the Civic Coalition – stated Sławomir Neumann in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on Polsat News's “Wydarzenia i opinie”.

As the head of the Civic Platform club said, it is a pity that Lubnauer will not be at the "Woman, Poland, Europe" Saturday convention. – I believe it is a bad decision and I don’t understand it. The fact that Lubnauer is in some kind of internal exile does not mean that the Civic Coalition doesn't exist – he added.


20:28

PMM:

The EC Should Be an Honest Broker Between States and Institutions. Sometimes It Fails to Live Up to This Task, As Everyone Sees Here in Davos

- I also touched on this point, because we don't want double standards. We emphasize that in similar matters, member states should be treated similarly, the same. One cannot discriminate against states simply because one is stronger, larger, or counts for more. This is also met with understanding here, although then the reality within the European institutions in Brussels, the European Commission, should be that honest broker, meaning that fair intermediary between states and institutions. Well, sometimes it fails to live up to this task, as everyone sees here in Davos - said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on TVP Info's "Gość Wiadomości" program.


20:30

Neumann:

By Mid-February, We Should Have a Decision on a Coalition of People Who Want to Defend Poland's Position in Europe

- The elections are in May, so there aren't many weeks. We assumed that these talks, this proposal for Poles of a grand coalition, to be presented in the May elections, should mark the turn of January and February. The situation that happened in Gdańsk, this political murder, has somewhat disrupted the schedule, but I think by Valentine's Day, by mid-February, we should have a decision on this coalition of people who want to defend Poland's position in Europe, a coalition of people who want to win these elections against PiS and build a list for subsequent elections - stated Sławomir Neumann in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on Polsat News' "Wydarzenia i opinie".


20:32

Zybertowicz:

Paradoxically, the Attack on Adamowicz Could Worsen Moods, as Some Circles Tried to Impose a One-Sided, Factually Unsubstantiated Interpretation from the First Hours

"This realistic interpretation suggests that [Adamowicz's murder] could paradoxically contribute to the worsening of moods. From the very first hours, even before we knew the basic facts, some circles tried and are still trying to impose a one-sided, factually unsubstantiated interpretation" - said Professor Andrzej Zybertowicz in an interview with Monika Olejnik on "Kropka nad i" on TVN24.


20:32

Neumann:

Schetyna and Tusk Had a Very Good Meeting on Friday
"There was a very good meeting between Grzegorz Schetyna and Donald Tusk in Gdańsk on Friday. Yes, on Friday" - stated Sławomir Neumann in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on Polsat News's "Events and Opinions" program.

20:37

PM on Friday's meeting with opposition leaders: I wanted to sincerely thank all leaders who accepted this invitation. Our intention is sincere and open

- First and foremost, I wanted to sincerely thank all the club leaders, the opposition leaders, who accepted this invitation, because our intention is sincere and open. We have several areas, such as how to deal with individuals with mental health issues who are finishing their prison sentences. The area of public event security. These are difficult topics. These are topics that should be regulated. They can be regulated very restrictively, or perhaps together we will agree on certain other proposals - said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on TVP Info's program "Gość Wiadomości".


20:38

POLISH POLITICS: Gliński's Facts, Senate Stalemate, Opposition's Amnesia Regarding Adamowicz Attacks

-- LIVEBLOG 300POLITYKI:
Neumann: Friday was a very good meeting between Schetyna and Tusk.
Zybertowicz: Paradoxically, the attack on Adamowicz may contribute to worsening moods, as from the first hours some circles have been trying to impose a one-sided interpretation not based on facts.
Neumann: By mid-February, we should have a decision on a coalition of people who want to defend Poland's position in Europe.
PMM: The European Commission should be an honest mediator between states and institutions. Sometimes it does not live up to this task, which everyone here in Davos can see.
Neumann: Lubnauer is leading Nowoczesna to a solo run in the European elections.
Neumann: Tomorrow at 10:00 AM, a decision will be announced regarding the meeting with PMM.
Neumann on tomorrow's meeting with PMM: Two hours ago, I received a proposed agenda for the conversation via email from the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.
PMM in Davos: An economic growth rate of 5% is a source of envy for many prime ministers I have spoken with here.
An additional Senate session next Friday.
PAD: NATO has proven to be a living alliance, showing the ability to make decisions and take action.
PO in the Senate is submitting an amendment to the budget that will restore the old subsidy amount for ECS. Borusewicz: This is an institution established, created, and built by Adamowicz.
Zgorzelski: We believe that one must respond positively to invitations, whether from the head of state or the head of government. PSL has never thrown a tantrum.
https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/01/24/

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POLSAT NEWS EVENTS

-- THE SENATE ADOPTED A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING PAWEL ADAMOWICZ.

-- YESTERDAY, SENATORS UNANIMOUSLY HONORED THE MEMORY OF PAWEL ADAMOWICZ - Dariusz Ociepa: But today, agreement was lacking.

-- THE BONE OF CONTENTION WAS THE CONTENT OF THE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING PAWEL ADAMOWICZ - Ociepa continued: Platforma had its project, PiS had its own. A hours-long tug-of-war began over individual words and entire paragraphs.

-- THE SPECIAL GUEST DURING THE DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE WAS TO BE PIOTR ADAMOWICZ - Ociepa: The Marshal agreed to the guest's presence in the hall, but not to his speech.

-- ULTIMATELY, PIOTR ADAMOWICZ DID NOT COME - Ociepa continued: It is known unofficially that the president's brother would have participated if there had been a compromise around the resolution.

-- FIRST FINDINGS OF GDAŃSK INVESTIGATORS REGARDING PAWEL ADAMOWICZ'S MURDERER.

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TVN FAKTY

-- A NOTE FROM THE PRISON SERVICE, CONTAINING THE WORDS OF STEFAN W.: I WOULD LIKE JAROSLAW KACZYŃSKI TO BECOME A DICTATOR, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE IN POMERANIA BECAUSE IT'S A PLATFORMA HOTBED.

-- THE MINISTER OF CULTURE POLITELY LEAVES THE STUDIO.

-- THE EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CENTRE IS CLEARLY NOT HIS AREA, AND THE QUESTION ABOUT THE WITHDRAWN SUBSIDY IS CLEARLY NOT CONVENIENT FOR HIM EITHER - Anita Werner.

-- THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER COULD HAVE ANSWERED BRIEFLY [WHETHER HE WILL MEET WITH ECS REPRESENTATIVES] - Arleta Zalewska: Yes or no, he could have clearly presented his position on the dispute over the subsidy for ECS. But both in Łódź and in the radio studio this morning, the Minister of Culture chose this path [leaving the studio].

-- IMPORTANTLY, THE MINISTER OF CULTURE WAS ASKED HERE EXCLUSIVELY ABOUT HIS PERSONAL DECISION, BECAUSE HE HAS THE MOST KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHY THE MINISTRY CHANGED THE AMOUNT OF THE SUBSIDY FOR 2019 FROM 7 TO 4 MILLION ZŁOTYCH - Zalewska continued.

-- ALEKSANDRA DULKIEWICZ: I would describe this situation as being in dialogue. I have also spoken with Prime Minister Morawiecki, yesterday. Next week, Marshal Struk and I are invited for a conversation with the Prime Minister and Minister Gliński.

-- THE INTERVENTION OF THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT WAS THEREFORE NECESSARY, BECAUSE PREVIOUS APPEALS TO THE MINISTER, INCLUDING THOSE FROM ANTI-COMMUNIST OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS, REMAINED UNANSWERED - Zalewska.

-- DID THE PRESIDENT OF THE NBP STAND BEHIND THE CONVERSATION AFTER WHICH THE FORMER HEAD OF KNF WAS ARRESTED? - report based on the publication "Gazeta Wyborcza".

-- THE VAT INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE HAS A NEW LIST OF WITNESSES, IT INCLUDES 26 PEOPLE, INCLUDING DONALD TUSK, EWA KOPACZ, BARTŁOMIEJ SIENKIEWICZ, AND GRZEGORZ SCHETYNA.

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TVP WIADOMOŚCI

-- THIS YEAR'S POLISH DELEGATION IN DAVOS IS EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG: THE PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER, AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ARE PRESENT - Krzysztof Ziemiec from Davos.

-- THE PRESIDENTS OF POLAND AND BRAZIL HAVE AGREED TO ANOTHER MEETING IN WARSAW AND THE BEGINNING OF NEGOTIATIONS THAT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE MUTUAL TRADE RELATIONS - Damian Diaz.

-- POLAND - IN THE ABSENCE OF THE UNITED STATES - ACTED AS AN ADVOCATE FOR TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS - Diaz.

-- THE PRIME MINISTER BROUGHT POLAND CLOSER TO INVESTMENTS FROM AMERICAN GIANTS - Diaz.

-- THE PRIME MINISTER IS URGING CONCERNS TO CREATE WELL-PAID JOBS IN POLAND, RATHER THAN DRAWING POLES TO SILICON VALLEY OR LONDON - Diaz.

-- PAD MET WITH THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF NATO - Diaz.

-- HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT OVER 250 BILLION ZŁOTYCH VANISHED FROM THE BUDGET DURING 8 YEARS OF PO-PSL RULE? THEY WILL HAVE TO EXPLAIN THEMSELVES BEFORE THE COMMITTEE: DONALD TUSK OR EWA KOPACZ - announcement.

-- TESTIMONY OF RENATA HAYDER BEFORE THE VAT FRAUD COMMITTEE - Maksymilian Maszenda.

-- THE COMMITTEE HAS DECIDED TO SUMMON ADDITIONAL WITNESSES, INCLUDING DONALD TUSK, MINISTERS OF INTERIOR AND ECONOMY DURING THE PO-PSL GOVERNMENTS - Maszenda.

-- MULTI-MILLION ZŁOTY BRIBES FOR WARSAW CITY HALL OFFICIALS UNDER SCRUTINY BY THE VERIFICATION COMMITTEE - announcement: The committee questioned one of the accused in the privatization scandal today, or rather tried to question him, because Janusz P. did not want to answer questions.

-- FOR MANY, THE BEHAVIOR IS INEXPLICABLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF SOMEONE'S DEATH. OPPOSITION POLITICIANS ARE TRYING NOT TO REMEMBER THE WORDS WITH WHICH THEY ATTACKED PAWEL ADAMOWICZ WHEN HE DECIDED TO RUN IN GDAŃSK AGAINST THE PARTY'S WILL - announcement.

-- A WITCH HUNT, A STAMPEDE, HATRED - WORDS RELATED TO THE TRAGIC DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT OF GDAŃSK ARE BEING USED IN ALL CONTEXTS - Marcin Tulicki: Especially by opposition politicians.

-- THE OPPOSITION CONDEMNS THOSE WHO SPOKE ABOUT PAWEL ADAMOWICZ'S LEGAL PROBLEMS. THEY TRY TO FORGET THEIR OWN STATEMENTS - Tulicki.

-- SOME JOURNALISTS ALSO DON'T REMEMBER THEIR ARTICLES ABOUT ADAMOWICZ - Tulicki.

-- STEFAN W., WHEN HE DEALT THE FATAL KNIFE BLOWS, WAS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR OTHER PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES - announcement.


20:38

Zybertowicz:

I Don't Know If There Was an Assassination Attempt in Smolensk, But Anita Gargas's Report Suggests Russians Have Something to Hide, Yet No Proof Emerges from Clues

"I don't know if there was an assassination attempt [in Smolensk], but when editor Gargas brought the film showing how the Russians dismantled the wreckage and broke the windows two days after the tragedy, one can say it's a clue that they have something to hide. No proof emerges from these clues. From the fact that certain clues indicated that an assassination attempt [in Smolensk] might have occurred, no proof of an assassination attempt results" – said Prof. Andrzej Zybertowicz in an interview with Monika Olejnik on "Kropka nad i" on TVN24.


20:41

Prime Minister Morawiecki: I Will Invite Cooperation. I Want the Opposition to Be an Extremely Important Element of Our Democratic Architecture
I will certainly try, because I believe we should talk to each other in a civilized manner. I will invite cooperation. I want the opposition to be an extremely important element of our democratic architecture, to be constructive. I believe that various interesting proposals can flow from that side – said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in a conversation with Krzysztof Ziemiec on the TVP Info program “Gość Wiadomości”.

20:44

Zybertowicz:

I doubt Adamowicz was a great Mayor of Gdańsk. During his 20 years as a wonderful, great mayor, a mafia and impunity flourished for many circles during 7 years of a Prime Minister from the Tricity.
"I have doubts whether [Adamowicz] was a great mayor of Gdańsk. Two days ago, the portal Onet published a text by Mikołaj Podolski titled 'The Dark Side of Gdańsk'. A few years ago, I wrote an analysis based on a book by editor Kittel, who wrote an investigative report 'Mafia in Polish' and described the impunity of mafia and criminal circles in the Tricity, which are connected with the police, secret services, prosecutors, and judges. I point out that during the tenure of this wonderful, great mayor for 20 years, during the 7 years of a Prime Minister originating from the Tricity, the mafia and impunity of many circles flourished. Let's refrain from evaluating the efficiency of local governments" – said Prof. Andrzej Zybertowicz in a conversation with Monika Olejnik on "Kropka nad i" on TVN24.

21:29

Piotr Adamowicz: Organizing the Funeral Required Reconciling Several Interests: Family, Institutional Church, My Brother's Wishes, and State Considerations

[Organizing the funeral] required reconciling several interests: the family's, the institutional church's, my brother's expectations, and state considerations. I believe it succeeded. There were some minor frictions” – said Piotr Adamowicz, the late President of Gdańsk's brother, in an interview with Piotr Jacoń on TVN24.


21:31

Piotr Adamowicz: I Am Neither a Supporter of Duda Nor Morawiecki, But They Are Legally, Democratically Elected Representatives of Power. I Spoke with the Prime Minister Five Times, for Which I Am Grateful

"You are invited to weddings and baptisms, but in principle, anyone can come to a funeral. The political sympathies of myself or my family are clear. The current ruling camp is in power. I am neither a supporter nor a fan of President Duda nor Prime Minister Morawiecki, but they are legally, democratically elected representatives of power. From the beginning, it was known that we did not want this to be a state funeral. The organizer was the city in cooperation and agreement with the family. It was necessary to establish the conditions for participation, attendance, etc. I spoke, for which I am grateful, five times with the Prime Minister" – said Piotr Adamowicz, the brother of the late Mayor of Gdańsk, in a conversation with Piotr Jacoń on TVN24.


21:32

Piotr Adamowicz: "In the consensus of many experts, Archbishop Gocdź's sermon was one of his best, which doesn't mean it has to please everyone."

"I had a very long conversation with Archbishop Gocdź. I understand him. In the consensus of many experts, Archbishop Gocdź's sermon was one of his best, which doesn't mean it has to please everyone" - said Piotr Adamowicz, the brother of the late Mayor of Gdańsk, in an interview with Piotr Jacoń on TVN24.


21:33

Piotr Adamowicz: I Don't Think Archbishop Gocd Voted for the Ruling Party's Representative in the Last Election. I Know, But I Can't Say More.

“*It is obvious to me, and I want to state this clearly, that I understand him. He is the host of the Gdańsk church. That is beyond dispute. He is a very emotional and sentimental person*,” said Piotr Adamowicz, the brother of the late Mayor of Gdańsk, in an interview with Piotr Jacoń on TVN24.

“*I don't think Archbishop Gocd voted for the representative of the party currently governing Poland in the last election. Please don't ask me further questions. I know, but I can't say more*,” he added. 


21:37

Piotr Adamowicz: We were dealing with a grilling of Paweł. I don't know if it was organized, but it smelled of organized grilling

We are dealing with so-called public media and some private ones… As a journalist, I know how the media operate. These were not journalistic behaviours. In some media, we were [dealing with] a grilling, I don't know if it was organized, but it smelled of organized grilling. Did it have an influence on this person [the perpetrator]? I don't know” - said the brother of the late Mayor of Gdańsk, Piotr Adamowicz, in a conversation with Piotr Jacoń on TVN24.