In the Column Hall, celebrations will begin for the centenary of the Constituent Assembly. At 11:00 AM, the marshals of both houses of parliament and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will participate in the conference "Foundations of an Independent Poland. The Constituent Assembly".

At 1:00 PM, a meeting will be held concerning changes in the law related to escape rooms. The Prime Minister's statement to the media is scheduled for an hour later.

At 11:11 AM, the Pro-Polish Coalition - KORWiN, Liroy, Braun, and the National Movement will hold their press conference in the Sejm. The Supreme Executive Committee of PSL is also expected to convene today. The agenda is set to cover both the May European Parliament elections and the autumn parliamentary elections.

Photo: National Digital Archives

- We expect this visit [by French President Emmanuel Macron] in the first half of this year. There are [plans], but life has taught me not to give dates until we have 200% certainty, because situations, for example in the Middle East, situations within France, have led to several visits and the presence of President Macron, not in Poland, being cancelled at the last minute - stated Bartosz Cichocki in an interview with Marcin Zaborski on RMF FM. He emphasized that he is not certain of anything, but if this visit does take place, and it should, it will be a beneficial event for Poland, France, and Europe.

- I believe the public reception of the so-called European Coalition, meaning the appearance of Polish politics' Methuselahs, was not a good move by Civic Platform. Of course, the crucial factor in this camp's chances will be whether the Polish People's Party (PSL) can be drawn in. If so, the United Right camp will face a very difficult battle for the European Parliament in the spring. If the opposition goes in fragmented, we will likely achieve the best result, but I am far from being triumphant. In the autumn, we will face a broad opposition camp. We must do everything to convince the largest possible part of Poles by then that the United Right's government not only guarantees past successes but also opens us up to future ones – stated Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Marcin Wikło on TVP1's "Political Quarter Hour."

- I am surprised that Robert Biedroń has so sharply put the issues that divide Poles at the forefront of his programmatic demands. We are at a point, especially after what happened on January 13 in Gdańsk, where we need to look for what unites Poles. Worldview issues fuel mutual antagonisms. Robert Biedroń smiles very nicely, but he holds a poisoned knife behind his back and tries to do everything to divide Poles even deeper - stated Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Marcin Wikło on TVP1's "Political Quarter Hour".

- We, that is Porozumienie, have already chosen our candidates [for the European Parliament]. Marshal Adam Bielan will be among them. He will certainly be one of the leaders of the entire lists, and I can say that he will also be a leader in one of the districts - stated Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Marcin Wikło on TVP1's "Political Quarter Hour".

- I don't want to judge the actions of the NBP president. For me, the matter is important. The matter is very important; it's a question of transparency, of how institutions like the NBP use the money of Poles. The NBP is a very important institution, on which the security of millions of Polish families, financial security, depends. I know that salaries there should be high, but they shouldn't be higher than market level. The only thing I demand is transparency. If the NBP has nothing to hide, I don't understand President Glapiński's nervousness - stated Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Marcin Wikło on TVP1's "Kwadrans polityczny".

„My assessment of Donald Tusk's activities is negative. His actions aim to weaken Poland's position. The actions taken by the opposition, demanding restrictions for Poland. He has spoken out numerous times, supporting such actions. What Donald Tusk is doing is bad for Poland, and let's hope he fails, because it will mean he will try to unite bad, dishonest people who have destroyed Poland with people who want to serve Poland, and it will be a muddle of people who want to govern Poland well with those who want to grab the trough. This is their only premise for uniting. There is no programmatic common ground. Only seats, to remove PiS from power” - said Minister Marek Suski in an interview with Katarzyna Gójska on Jedynka radio.

“There is a significant portion of society that believes earnings should be transparent not only at the NBP but also in various other banks. Our money is there too. How much the presidents earn and how the money is distributed interests people. Meanwhile, we will probably soon know how earnings are shaped at the NBP, but we will not know how they are shaped at other banks, even those with State Treasury participation” - stated Minister Marek Suski in an interview with Katarzyna Gójska on Polskie Radio Jedynka. 

“The statements of Mr. President are the statements of a man who is defending his institution. This kind of situation is awkward for everyone” - he added. 

https://twitter.com/KurskiPL/status/1093783072888238081

- When you govern, challenges and problems of this kind arise constantly. You have to know how to deal with them. I don't think we can speak of any kind of defensive stance. This year will be full of many political events. We were aware of this, and we said so last year, that this year would be a 'fight for everything,' a political fight for everything, that the opposition would do absolutely everything to regain power. This autumn, there will be a turning point. I deeply believe that if we manage to win the parliamentary elections again, the tension will subside for many years. There will be reckonings within the opposition, a need to search for new leaders. This will ensure that at least for a few years, the long-desired political calm, I believe by Poles, will finally reign in Poland. But until then, I fear that the opposition will adhere to the principle of 'all's fair in love and war.' One of these tactics, of course, is the classic one of attacking the strongest point. Our strongest point within the United Right camp is the figure of our leader, Jarosław Kaczyński - stated Adam Bielan in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on the morning program Siódma9.

„It is in an article that appeared in Lithuania – that they are building a political organization that is intended to be stronger than political parties in Poland. An organization that is intended to be stronger than political parties. I don't know what its formula will be; for now, it's a somewhat strange association formula for a social activist, not even a trade union, while agricultural matters are addressed by agricultural trade unions. For now, it's a foundation, and I don't know in which direction it will evolve” – said Minister Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet. 

I am reassuring everyone. By the end of this month, the President will send invitations to world leaders for the commemorations related to the outbreak of World War II. These commemorations will primarily serve as an appeal for world peace, and indeed, such invitations will be dispatched. Only after these invitations reach their recipients will we wish to inform about them, as it is not appropriate to mention that an invitation has been sent to someone before it has actually been dispatched. By the end of this month, the President will invite leaders of other countries to Poland for the commemorations of the outbreak of World War II – stated Krzysztof Szczerski in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on the morning program Siódma9.

- Next week, on Monday, we will have a meeting here in Warsaw of all American ambassadors from the Three Seas countries, meaning 12 American ambassadors are coming to Warsaw. Political advisors from various American departments are also coming. Political advisors to the presidents of our region, the Three Seas part of the EU, are also arriving. The President will meet with them on Monday evening - stated Krzysztof Szczerski in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on the morning program Siódma9.

Donald Tusk, the then-leader of Civic Platform and former Prime Minister of Poland, paid tribute to Jan Olszewski, the late Prime Minister, on Twitter. Tusk described Olszewski as "a courageous defender in political battles, a participant in Solidarity, and a good man." He concluded his message with "May he rest in peace."

„Gazeta Wyborcza has launched another episode in the war against President Jarosław Kaczyński. They used transcripts of conversations conducted by Jarosław Kaczyński at Nowogrodzka. They are constructing a narrative that has little to do with reality. Focusing attention on whether it was re-invoicing, or whether it was done according to financial settlement practices. We know that absolutely not, that it wasn't an invoice in the sense of a document that could be paid. The problem isn't with the minutiae, but with the political operation that was orchestrated for political reasons. It has nothing to do with determining what is credible and what isn't” – stated Prof. Waldemar Paruch in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus's „Sedno Sprawy”.

"The attitude of Gazeta Wyborcza towards Law and Justice, and personally towards its leader Jarosław Kaczyński, has been known since the early 1990s. This will not have any social resonance because we know perfectly well what the GW environment looks like, what their value system is. This is an effect that reinforces the views of GW readers" - said Prof. Waldemar Paruch in a conversation with Jacek Prusinowski in Radio Plus's "Sedno Sprawy."

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Premier Mateusz Morawiecki na swoim profilu w mediach społecznościowych zamieścił wzruszający wpis upamiętniający zmarłego Jana Olszewskiego.

„Z ogromnym smutkiem przyjąłem wiadomość o śmierci Jana Olszewskiego. Rzeczpospolita poniosła dziś niewyobrażalną stratę. Cześć jego pamięci” – napisał.

Premier podkreślił, że Jan Olszewski był „wielkim patriotą i mężem stanu”. „Jego odejście to koniec pewnej epoki w historii Polski. Był człowiekiem niezłomnym, kierującym się zasadami, które zawsze stawiał wyżej niż doraźne korzyści polityczne” – dodał.

Mateusz Morawiecki przypomniał, że Jan Olszewski był „jednym z pionierów polskiej transformacji ustrojowej”. „Był premierem, który nie bał się podejmować trudnych decyzji, a jego rządy zapisały się w historii Polski jako czas odważnych reform” – zaznaczył.

Szef rządu podkreślił również zasługi Jana Olszewskiego dla wolności i demokracji w Polsce. „Był wielkim orędownikiem praw człowieka i demokratycznych przemian. Jego działalność jako prawnika i polityka miała ogromny wpływ na kształtowanie się wolnej Polski” – powiedział.

„Jego życie było przykładem poświęcenia dla Ojczyzny. Pozostawił po sobie dziedzictwo, które na zawsze pozostanie w sercach Polaków” – zakończył.

Jan Olszewski zmarł 20 lutego 2017 roku w wieku 88 lat. Był polskim prawnikiem, politykiem, premierem Polski w latach 1991-1992. Był również posłem na Sejm RP, a także jednym z liderów Porozumienia Centrum i Ruchem dla Jedności Europy. Odznaczony Orderem Orła Białego.

Jarosław Kaczyński's words are quoted on Twitter by Beata Mazurek.

https://twitter.com/beatamk/status/1093810265395814400

„Poland has an incredibly long and magnificent democratic, parliamentary tradition. Democracy in the First Republic was something very special, unique for its time. The parliamentarianism of the Second Republic did not have the chance to spread its wings for various reasons, but democracy for Poland has always been that promise of modernity, equality, freedom, and this promise is with us all the time, to this day. Freedom and solidarity were best expressed in those times by the principle that from the very first Sejm, the Constituent Sejm, passive and active suffrage was established for women” - said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawicki during the inauguration of the 100th anniversary of the Constituent Sejm. 

„The Constituent Sejm not only established the Second Polish Republic, not only was it meant to build laws, appoint and develop a constitution, but above all, it was meant to lead to the unification of Poland from its three very different partition-era parts. It fulfilled this task” - he added.

- The subject of our conference today is the Supreme Executive Committee, our meeting of regional leaders. I am here with those who will participate, the presidents of the PSL, the heads of regions. We will discuss the European Parliament elections and the elections to the Polish parliament. This meeting is preparing us for the National Council on February 23rd, where we want to make a decision on how we will approach the elections to the European Parliament and the national parliament. I believe we need to approach these elections collectively. There will be no time after the European Parliament elections to discuss further coalitions. This decision needs to be made as soon as possible. We have had a series of talks with various groupings on the democratic side. We have been cooperating with UED for a long time, with Nowoczesna, with SLD, with Platforma. We want to make the wisest and best decision. Of course, running independently is always an option for us. We are ready for that at any moment. We are probably one of the few political parties that is capable of running independently, but we are also interested – and these voices come not only from MPs but primarily from those we meet with across Poland – in building a common proposal for Poland - stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at a briefing in the Sejm.
- Anti-PiS is not an alternative and is not an alternative for Poles. We do not agree with many of the moves this government is making, but we want to build a positive proposal, not based on negating the current rulers, but on the common good of all citizens, on a new, better Poland - added the PSL president.

- Nobody has contacted me about a local government movement, because I don't think such a movement exists. The balloon has been inflated a bit. I don't know if the conclusions we're drawing are entirely credible. Donald Tusk will likely not reveal his role in politics for a long time yet. I don't think he's told anyone yet what role he wants to play - stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at a briefing in the Sejm.

„Prime Minister Olszewski always strove for Poland to be managed more efficiently, governed more honestly, and to avoid the pathologies and irregularities that were so often present during the times of the Third Republic. Prime Minister Olszewski served Poland very well, excellently. Honor his memory” - said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference.

- I didn't know, Jarosław Kaczyński also didn't know anything about it. It was new information for us, it surprised us [the Kazimierz Kujda affair]. We also didn't know, of course, why and for what reason Mr. Kujda's documents were in the restricted collection - stated Beata Mazurek in a conversation with journalists in the Sejm. - We know that this invoice did not reach the Srebrna company. Yesterday, information appeared that VAT was not paid on this invoice. So the attempt to constantly discredit Jarosław Kaczyński and our party has no justification. Especially since there were no financial ties between PiS and the Srebrna company - said the PiS spokesperson. - If the court decides, based on the documents, which I believe will be presented, then I understand that the invoice will be paid - she added. - He will speak soon - Mazurek replied to the question of why Jarosław Kaczyński is silent on the matter of the tapes. - I think on Monday you will be pleasantly surprised by the information you hear - said the PiS spokesperson. As she noted, it will not be a press conference.

"It is still difficult to forget the tragedy in Koszalin from a month ago. It is hard to speak without deep regret and sadness. We must not allow similar misfortunes to happen ever again, for this to not be repeated. It is our commitment to verify all such facilities [escape rooms]. In the month that has passed since the tragedy, services subordinate to Minister Brudziński have conducted a detailed verification wherever possible" - said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference.

"We are a government that strives to rectify irregularities, imperfections, or even pathologies that appear in various places, within the system, on many fronts. It is best when we can do it preventatively, but sometimes it happens that our actions must be carried out very strictly following unfortunate accidents" - he added.

"No desire for profit should ever come at the expense of safety, of safety regulations. It should always be present. We want to introduce appropriate provisions and regulations that will additionally seek to secure market activities and prevent these misfortunes in a preventative manner" - the Prime Minister explained. 

„Jan Olszewski was a man whose life, from very early years, was inextricably linked to the fight for a free and independent Poland. He even managed to be involved in the underground resistance, despite being born in August 1930. When the war ended, he wasn't even 15 years old. Later, the PSL, then the beautifully lived first half of the 1950s, when he was a man who set an example that in those hellishly difficult times, it was possible to live and study with dignity” - recalled the leader of PiS, Jarosław Kaczyński, on TVP Info.

„Later came KOR, Solidarity, the work in creating Solidarity. Then activity in independent Poland, creating the independence camp. He was a man who realized that the changes that took place in 1989 and in the following years were far from sufficient, that this was not yet what could be described as a truly democratic and truly independent state. He fought very consistently for this to change. It was a difficult fight. We haven't completely won it yet, but he was very involved in it. He was a man of statesman stature” - he added. 

Kaczyński: Olszewski was a man whose life was closely tied to the fight for a free and independent Poland PMM on escape rooms: No desire for profit should ever come at the expense of safety Mazurek: Kaczyński will soon comment on the tapes PMM: Prime Minister Olszewski served Poland excellently. He always strove for Poland to be governed more efficiently and honestly, to avoid the pathologies and irregularities of the Third Republic. WKK: Tusk will probably not reveal his role in politics for a long time yet WKK on NKW: This meeting is preparing us for the National Council on February 23rd, where we want to decide how we will approach the European Parliament and national parliamentary elections. https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/02/08/ ***** Polsat Wydarzenia (Events) -- JAN OLSZEWSKI HAS PASSED AWAY. -- [HIS] GOVERNMENT LASTED ONLY SEVEN MONTHS; THE CABINET WAS DISMISSED AFTER ANTONI MACIEREWICZ'S LUSTRATION ACTION - Mira Skórka. -- IT WAS THE FALL OF THIS GOVERNMENT THAT SHAPED A LARGE PART OF THE POLISH RIGHT - Skórka continues. -- HIS FUNERAL WILL BE OF A STATE CHARACTER WITH FULL CEREMONY - Skórka. -- THE TROUBLED PAST OF KAZIMIERZ KUJDA, FORMER HEAD OF SREBRNA. -- THE POLITICIANS OF PIS, INCLUDING THE PARTY CHAIRMAN, ARE SURPRISED BY THIS SITUATION - Grzegorz Kępka. -- IRONICALLY, IT WAS PIS THAT DECIDED ON THE PUBLICATION OF KAZIMIERZ KUJDA'S FILES, DECLASSIFYING THE SAFE DOCUMENT COLLECTION OF THE IPN - Kępka continues. -- BUT IF NOT FOR THE INTEREST IN THE SREBRNA COMPANY, NO ONE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND - Kępka. ***** TVN Fakty (Facts) -- A MEMORIAL TO JAN OLSZEWSKI ON THE FRONT PAGE. -- HE WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE NECESSITY OF DEFENDING TORTURED AND REPRESSED WORKERS, WHICH LATER LED TO THE FORMATION OF KOR. HE WAS THE ONE WHO WAS MONITORED AND WIRETAPPED BY THE SECRET POLICE - Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska. -- AFTER HE BECOMES PRIME MINISTER, HE PARTS WAYS WITH HIS FORMER OPPOSITION COLLEAGUES, AND LUSTRATION FOLLOWS - KKZ. -- FOLLOWING THE SO-CALLED NIGHT OF THE FILES, OLSZEWSKI'S GOVERNMENT FALLS, HELPING THE RIGHT-WING BUILD THE MYTH OF THE FOURTH REPUBLIC – THE NECESSITY OF FIGHTING THE SYSTEM AND SB AGENTS - KKZ. -- FOR THE RIGHT, HE WAS A SYMBOL, BUT HE EARNED RESPECT FROM POLITICAL OPPONENTS - KKZ. -- KUJDA NOW HAS TO EXPLAIN NOT ONLY THE RECORDINGS BUT ALSO WHAT HE DID EARLIER - in the preview. -- SINCE THE 90S, HE HAS BEEN OPERATING IN THE IMMEDIATE CIRCLE OF PIS, WHERE PJK ONLY ALLOWS ESPECIALLY TRUSTED INDIVIDUALS - Krzysztof Skórzyński. -- KUJDA'S PROFILE AS A CANDIDATE FOR COOPERATION from SB files. -- THE FACT THAT THE SPOKESPERSON IS ISSUING THE STATEMENT PERSONALLY SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT A FIGURE KUJDA WAS TO PIS - Skórzyński. -- HE HELD DISCUSSIONS EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NO LONGER THE CHAIRMAN OF SREBRNA - Skórzyński. -- A REPORT ON WHAT THE SAFE COLLECTION CONTAINS. -- A KOD ACTIVIST WAS BEATEN BUT CHARGED WITH PARTICIPATION IN A BRAWL; THE PROSECUTOR WAS CHANGED, AND THE LEGAL ASSESSMENT OF THE INCIDENT CHANGED - in the preview. ***** TVP Wiadomości (News) -- JAN OLSZEWSKI HAS PASSED AWAY IN WARSAW AT THE AGE OF 88. -- ONE HUNDRED YEARS SINCE THE OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE SEJM. -- TEACHER RAISES COMING IN MARCH. THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION HAS SIGNED THE APPROPRIATE ORDINANCE - preview: There will also be start-up bonuses and bonuses for outstanding work. Another tranche in September, despite this, ZNP is announcing a strike. -- 4 BILLION ZLOTYS HAS BEEN ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET FOR RAISES - Bartłomiej Graczak. -- UNIONISTS DO NOT APPRECIATE THE CHANGES THAT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CALLS A BREAKTHROUGH - Graczak. -- AT THE REQUEST OF ZNP, TEACHER RAISES IN THE CAPITAL HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED - Graczak. -- IN THE CAMPAIGN, TRZASKOWSKI PROMISED A HIGHER AMOUNT, AND THE RAISES ARE STILL NOT HERE - Graczak. -- CHANGES IN THE LAW RELATED TO ESCAPE ROOMS WERE DISCUSSED AT THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND ADMINISTRATION - no report. -- UNPRECEDENTED – THIS IS HOW THE CHAIRMAN OF KRRiT COMMENTS ON THE ATTACK ON MAGDALENA OGÓREK - preview: Support for TVP journalists is coming from many circles. On the other hand, an attack on public television is ongoing, carried out not only by political activists but also by politically engaged journalists. -- MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE STANDING UP FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. THE CIVIC CLUB FROM OLSZTYN, AMONG OTHERS, EXPRESSED OUTRAGE - Marcin Tulicki. -- DEMONSTRATORS IN FRONT OF TVP ARE SUPPORTED BY JOURNALISTS FROM "GAZETA WYBORCZA" AND PO POLITICIANS - Tulicki.

„It was Jan Olszewski who built the foundations of the independence program in Poland” – stated Antoni Macierewicz of PiS in an interview with Danuta Holecka on TVP Info’s “Gość Wiadomości” – „Olszewski’s entire independence program was a great threat to theft. Jan Olszewski was a man who was never prepared to make a deal with Russia against Germany, or with Germany against Russia. He was aware that in Central Europe, strength needed to be built based on our own economic and military capabilities, in cooperation with the United States”.

President Andrzej Duda stated that he considers declaring a National Mourning to be necessary. He also announced that he would take appropriate official actions on this matter in agreement with the Prime Minister.