Unofficially, we hear that a meeting of the PiS Political Committee will take place today regarding the European Parliament election lists.

At the government session, which will begin at 10:00, ministers will address the amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the National Railway Program until 2023. At the same time, a closed session of the verification committee will be held. Around 11:00, the committee members will present their decision regarding the property at Polna 46.

At 11:00, the parliamentary investigative committee for VAT fraud will question the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Jacek Kapica. At 13:00, the Minister of Digitization, Marek Zagórski, will hold his briefing.

At 15:00, the parliamentary committee on culture and media will consider the bill submitted by PiS to amend the broadcasting fees act, introducing compensation for public media, which we wrote about in January on 300POLITYKA. According to the current schedule, the second reading of the bill will take place on Thursday at 4:45 PM. This is indeed a contentious point, but much indicates that the Sejm will adopt the proposal on the same day, in a block between 9:00 PM and 12:00 AM.

At 18:00, the Presidential Couple will participate in the opening of the painting exhibition "Faces of Poland - Faces of Poles." Robert Biedroń, as part of his nationwide tour, will visit Kielce. A press conference is scheduled for 13:30, and the regional convention of Wiosna (Spring) at 18:00.

Also today, the EU General Affairs Council will meet, which will examine, among other things, the current situation regarding the proceedings initiated under Article 7(1) of the TEU concerning the rule of law in Poland and respect for Union values in Hungary.

- Paweł Kukiz has such ideas, very often extreme [for the Foreign Minister to be a persona non grata in Poland]. Indeed, foolish, racist words were spoken by the minister, but that's probably not a reason to draw such far-reaching consequences. However, we are indeed demanding an apology, because these are disgraceful words that were spoken, which should not have been. They are hurtful, they are false - stated Marek Suski in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News' "Polityczne Graffiti".

When asked what would happen if apologies were not forthcoming, he replied: - It will indeed lead to a cooling of relations, because we cannot allow ourselves to be defamed on the international stage. This is already manifesting in, for example, the cancellation of a summit. And we will see [how else it might manifest]. I hope that reflection will come from the other side.

- I think there will be some [trips around the country]. There's no set plan, that it has to be 15 or 10. There will be trips. The Prime Minister likes to travel, likes to meet people, ask about their problems - stated Marek Suski in a conversation with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News' "Polityczne Graffiti".

Both with Israel, and with Iran, and with all our foreign partners, we want to have the best possible relations. It is also untrue [that they don't want to], because we are consistently a very important, if not one of the most important, partners of Israel in Europe. We support each other in various projects, but tensions do arise, and these events you mention, scandalous statements that should not appear in the public sphere from Israeli politicians, belong precisely to the category of events we define as tensions, but let's not talk about the destruction of Polish-Israeli relations - stated Michał Dworczyk in an interview with Robert Mazurek on RMF FM.

- The statement, which was imprecisely conveyed by the Jerusalem Post, has been corrected. First by the Prime Minister Netanyahu's Chancellery, then in his conversation with Mateusz Morawiecki. Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that it was a manipulation - stated Michał Dworczyk in an interview with Robert Mazurek on RMF FM.

"There is a difficult situation in relations between Poland and Israel, between Poles and Jews. A racist statement. If it labels all Poles as anti-Semites, a negative trait. We must firmly say 'no,' condemn. Such characterizations cannot happen" - said Marshal Stanisław Karczewski on Radio Jedynka.

"No significant politician in Poland speaks this way. We are not reaching the border of such statements. We cannot comprehend this type of characterization. We care about historical truth. We are a proud nation, we respect everything concerning other nations" - he added.

- Last week, the Standing Committee adopted legislative solutions that will, among other things, lead to Uber starting to pay taxes in Poland. Until now, it only paid taxes in the Netherlands. Of course, for this to happen, the Council of Ministers and the parliament must adopt such a law. I am convinced that this law will come into force this year and Uber will start paying taxes in Poland. Not only that, because beyond the tax issues, a number of important matters have been regulated there - stated Michał Dworczyk in an interview with Robert Mazurek on RMF FM.

- This will certainly be a meeting [Saturday's PiS convention] at which new program proposals will appear - stated Michał Dworczyk in an interview with Robert Mazurek on RMF FM. - These proposals, before they are presented, will be approved by the PiS leadership - he added.

„Minister Czaputowicz should offer his resignation to the Prime Minister over the organization of the [Middle Eastern] summit. The diplomacy was not well conducted. Before such events, participating parties should be informed about which topics should not be raised. This was not a summit regarding Polish-Israeli relations and historical truth, but a summit dedicated to peace. It turned out to be a war summit” - said Paweł Kukiz in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on Polish Radio Trójka.

"The Prime Minister's reaction that there will be no summit in Jerusalem is very good. This is a signpost for Poland. Thanks to the Visegrad Group for solidarity, for the fact that V4 should be expanded and linked with strong entities that demonstrate mutual solidarity"

- said Paweł Kukiz in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on Polskie Radio Program III.

“For the last 3 years, the crisis in foreign policy, the crisis of Poland's position, has been deepening. Many events confirm this fact. We remember the 27:1 vote, the entire sphere of European politics, marked by successive crises, the practical collapse of the Weimar Triangle, and the Polish-Israeli relations finding themselves in a deep crisis. We in Civic Platform have no doubt that the statements by Israeli politicians are unacceptable. What is happening now is a consequence, not a cause. The cause of the deterioration of Polish-Israeli relations are the actions taken by PiS a year ago – the amendment to the Institute of National Remembrance Act” - said Tomasz Siemoniak, Vice-Chairman of Civic Platform, at a press conference in the Sejm. “We urge the Polish government to take actions that will ensure that Polish foreign policy is not marked by further crises” - he added. “Poland deserves a serious, responsible foreign policy, conducted by people who are aware that everything has consequences. We need a long-term policy, not an ad-hoc one, not one aimed at election campaigns. Not only in Israel does the election campaign dominate the rulers' policy, because it has undoubtedly happened, but also in Poland, the rulers for the last 3 years have had the temptation to treat foreign policy situationally, depending on political interest” - said Sławomir Nitras from Civic Platform.

Grzegorz Schetyna is in close contact with Donald Tusk, and they are also discussing the European elections. Tusk is a politician of European caliber, but he loves Poland, our country, our place in the EU. I am convinced that he will do everything to ensure that a pro-European, pro-democratic, rule-of-law bloc wins these elections, although he will not get personally involved because he cannot due to his position in the EU – stated Borys Budka in an interview with Marek Kacprzak on the WP program "Tłit".

We are talking with local government officials, we are talking with people who have public trust. I would like to remind you that PO in many cities in Poland, where there were proven local government officials without a party affiliation – decided to support them, especially in order to win elections in the first round. There are many local government officials who do not agree with the centralization of the country. I am convinced that we will be able to persuade these local government officials, if not to start together in the elections, then to support this large pro-Polish, pro-European coalition. I am convinced that we will secure over 60% of Senate seats if there is a single opposition candidate in each of the 100 constituencies; it could be a good local government official, it could be a good senator, it could be a good person who has not been involved in politics so far – stated Borys Budka in an interview with Marek Kacprzak on WP's program "Tłit".

- Please note the official stance issued by the Religious Union of Jewish Communities in Poland, led by the chief rabbi, and the American Jewish Congress. Both of these statements are radically in defense of Poland. This is a significant advancement compared to what we had a year ago. We are witnessing a lack of professionalism from the diplomacy of one state, while we are talking about something that is very important to us – the Jewish diaspora and Polish-Jewish dialogue. Today, Jewish communities in Poland and the USA unequivocally stand with Poland, in defense of Poland. This is a significant advancement. Who do we owe it to? Precisely to Prime Minister Morawiecki, who prepared and signed a joint declaration with Prime Minister Netanyahu – stated Marcin Ociepa in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.

- We will make a decision on how we will proceed in the European Parliament elections next Saturday. The Supreme Council will convene, and prior to that, there will be a meeting of the National Executive Committee, meaning the statutory bodies - stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on TVP1's "Political Quarter Hour". He emphasized that there are several variants within the Polish People's Party (PSL), and a solo run is always a possibility.

- I will be speaking with the ministers about all these disciplinary measures applied against judges. It seems to me that there is also one particularly important issue, the direct access of judges to the European Court of Justice with preliminary questions, and no one should have any doubts. Polish judges are European judges, and no one can hinder a judge from asking questions to the EU tribunal. The European Commission will have to act if the summoning of Polish judges who ask questions to the CJEU becomes something of a structural nature [translation by TVN24] - stated Frans Timmermans in a conversation with journalists before the meeting of the EU General Affairs Council.

- The Presidium of the Convention of Elders is ahead of us. Today, we firmly reiterate our appeal to close tomorrow's Sejm session and for the Prosecutor General to provide information on the investigation into the Srebrna company, initiated by an Austrian entrepreneur against the most important politician in Poland, de facto wielding power, Jarosław Kaczyński. In our assessment, this is the only chance for the parliament's oversight function to be realized – stated Mariusz Witczak at a briefing in the Sejm.

https://twitter.com/USAmbPoland/status/1097845789601288192

https://twitter.com/StKarczewski/status/1097846275628826625

Tomorrow at 9:00 PM, the Sejm will consider the motion by the Civic Platform-Koalicja Obywatelska (PO-KO) club to dismiss Zbigniew Ziobro from the position of Minister of Justice, according to the latest version of the schedule seen by 300POLITYKA. Originally, MPs were supposed to consider the motion on Wednesday morning, and later the debate was moved to 3:15 PM. Ultimately, it will take place in the evening, with the vote scheduled between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM.

Thursday's votes, in turn, have been moved from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM and, according to the plan, will conclude thirty minutes after midnight. The Sejm will most likely adopt, among other things, the draft act on compensation for public media, and will also vote on the Senate's amendment to the act on remuneration at the National Bank of Poland (NBP).

Furthermore, at this session, the draft amendment to the act on electricity prices, which has already been referred for the first reading in committee, will most likely be voted on. The second reading is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:15 PM, meaning the Law and Justice (PiS) proposal could be adopted on Wednesday or Thursday evening. The first reading will take place in the Committee on Energy and State Treasury on Wednesday morning.

- By a resolution of the PiS Political Committee, the top candidates on the lists for the European Parliament in individual districts have been determined - wrote Krzysztof Sobolewski, head of the PiS Executive Committee, on Twitter. Among those running for the European Parliament are Joachim Brudziński, Beata Szydło, Adam Bielan, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Beata Mazurek, and Joanna Kopcińska.

Tomasz Poręba, by decision of the PiS Political Committee, has been appointed as the head of the election campaign for the European Parliament elections. 300POLITYKA has confirmed this information with party authorities. This morning, PAP reported on the possible nomination of the MEP for this position.

- We have so far dealt with certain speculations or media conjectures. At this moment, we will indeed have the full list of leaders for our lists [for the EP]. When I was heading to the studio, I didn't have this information yet. The [PiS] Political Committee has been deliberating since the afternoon - stated Jacek Sasin in an interview with Dorota Gawryluk on Polsat News. - These are very strong names. Each of these names you mentioned, Madam Editor, is a very strong name. These are popular politicians and we are indeed taking these [EP] elections seriously. These will be very strong lists and we want to fight for the best possible result, not even for PiS, but for Poland, because it is important who will represent us in the EP - added the PiS politician.

- Indeed, we have put forward very strong lists for the European Parliament, which include both MEPs and politicians who have previously worked in the government or the Sejm. I am sure these are truly well-constructed lists that will allow us to win these elections in order to continue this good change, not only in Poland but also there, in the EU - stated Tomasz Poręba in an interview with Edyta Lewandowska on "Gość Wiadomości" TVP Info.

- Certainly, these two campaigns [for the European Parliament and the Polish Parliament] will be linked by a very central message that we will consistently build, based on our credibility, which is our trademark, something that is absolutely beyond discussion. In keeping promises or implementing all the proposals that have been presented to Poles, I think we are very advanced with these proposals, and in fact, 80-90% have been realized - stated Tomasz Poręba in an interview with Edyta Lewandowska on TVP Info's "Gość Wiadomości".

-- 300POLITYKA LIVEBLOG:

Poręba: We will build a narrative based on our credibility. That's our trademark.

PiS reveals the top candidates for the European Parliament. Among those running are Brudziński, Szydło, Mazurek, Kempa, Zalewska, and Bielan.

Poręba: I am confident that these are very well-constructed lists that will allow us to win the European Parliament elections.

Sasin on PiS's EP lists: These are popular politicians; we are taking these elections seriously.

Tomasz Poręba appointed head of PiS's election staff for the European Parliament elections.

The Sejm postpones the vote on the motion of no confidence against Ziobro to the evening.

Karczewski: The PSL is hesitant whether to join the European Coalition. I am not surprised, as one must consider their fate before a certain consumption and annihilation.

Mosbacher: Between close allies like Poland and Israel, there is no room for offensive comments like those made yesterday by the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel Katz.

Witczak: We reiterate our appeal for the secrecy of tomorrow's Sejm session and for the Prosecutor General to provide information regarding the investigation into the Srebrna company.

Timmermans: The European Commission will have to act if the summoning of Polish judges who pose questions to the CJEU becomes a structural issue.
https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/02/19/

***** POLSAT EVENTS -- KATZ'S WORDS CONDEMNED BY THE WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS AND CRITICIZED BY THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR - preview. -- POLAND STILL AWAITS THE WORD "SORRY" - Bogdan Rymanowski. -- GEORGETTE MOSBACHER'S TWEET. -- POLAND AWAITS ISRAELI AUTHORITIES' REACTION - Mira Skórka. -- IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REACTION, FURTHER STEPS ARE PLANNED - Skórka continues. -- ACCORDING TO THE OPPOSITION, THE GOVERNMENT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH ISRAEL SINCE LAST YEAR'S CRISIS RELATED TO THE AMENDMENT TO THE INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL MEMORY ACT - Skórka. -- ZBIGNIEW ZIOBRO'S SHARP CLASH WITH THE OPPOSITION - preview. -- THE OPPOSITION IS NOW USING EVERY OPPORTUNITY, AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE FEW, TO TRY TO FORCE THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE TO ACT REGARDING THE SREBRNA COMPANY, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO PiS - Agnieszka Milczarz. -- THE OPPOSITION DEMANDS SECRECY FOR TOMORROW'S SEJM DEBATES AND INFORMATION ON THE PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING THE SREBRNA COMPANY - Milczarz continues. -- EXCERPTS FROM A SEJM COMMITTEE SESSION. ***** TVN FAKTY -- THIS IS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT BE DISCLOSED; THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE HAS NO DOUBTS ABOUT WHAT Antoni Macierewicz did 3 years ago - Jakub Sobieniowski. -- THEY GAVE A TRUE ANSWER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS ABOUT MACIEREWICZ - Tomasz Siemoniak. -- EXCERPTS FROM MACIEREWICZ'S SPEECH ON DRONES. -- EVEN LECH KACZYŃSKI DECIDED THAT THE SECOND PART OF MACIEREWICZ'S REPORT WAS NOT PUBLISHED, NOR WAS IT BY PRESIDENT DUDA - Sobieniowski. -- HE DOES NOT WANT TO ACT AGAINST HIS CONSCIENCE - in the preview: The President of the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court is going into retirement. He does not want to act against his conscience and warns that the changes to the regulations, just signed by the president, will result in chaos and destruction. Judge Stanisław Zabłocki's decision is like a protest. -- THAT IS QUITE ELEGANT ON THE PART OF THE JUDGE - Marcin Horała. -- HE IS LEAVING IN PROTEST AGAINST FURTHER GOVERNMENT MOVES - Knapik. -- TUSK IN UKRAINE. -- ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER REMAINS SILENT: Poland demands an apology, but the Israeli Prime Minister is silent. However, the United States Ambassador to Poland is writing to the Israeli minister, and the head of the World Jewish Congress adds that "such language should not exist in civilized debate." -- KUJDA'S FILE IS 100 PAGES: Kazimierz Kujda surprised his party so much that he is no longer the head of the National Fund for Environmental Protection. He also surprised the PiS leader, despite working closely with him for years. The records of informant "Ryszard" at the Institute of National Remembrance were checked by "Czarno na białym" reporter Arkadiusz Wierzuk. -- IF ALL CANDIDATES FIND THEMSELVES IN BRUSSELS, A GOVERNMENT RECONSTRUCTION IS IMMINENT: PiS has a long list of people wanting to go to the European Parliament, but not everyone will get a spot on the ballot. Joachim Brudziński, Beata Szydło, Beata Kempa, or Anna Zalewska are just some of the names. If all candidates end up in Brussels, a government reconstruction is in the offing. -- RYSZARD TERLECKI: I'm staying - yes. -- KRZYSZTOF SKÓRZYŃSKI ON TERLECKI'S DESIRE TO RUN FOR BRUSSELS: This declaration means Ryszard Terlecki has dropped out of the long queue of those wanting to go to Brussels. And – according to our information – he was keen. However, he admitted that Beata Szydło "is going." -- SKÓRZYŃSKI ON SZYDŁO AND KEMPA: Beata Szydło wants to exchange her work in Warsaw for work in Brussels, along with Beata Kempa. -- SKÓRZYŃSKI ON THE SEARCH FOR ZALEWSKA'S SUCCESSOR: If all those intending to swap their government posts for the European Parliament get mandates, then a minor reconstruction, or at least a slimming down of the government, is expected at the end of May, as the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Humanitarian Aid are also heading to Brussels, as is Anna Zalewska. While their positions will likely disappear in the first two cases, the Minister of Education is already preparing a closing report, and the search for a successor – according to "Fakty" information – is underway. -- KACZYŃSKI ACCELERATED DUE TO INTERNAL PARTY DISPUTES - SKÓRZYŃSKI CONTINUES: Jarosław Kaczyński accelerated the finalization of the lists because very sharp disputes began in the party's hinterland over positions that guarantee, or almost guarantee, five years of work in the European Parliament. -- POLITICAL TURMOIL SURROUNDING KOREAN TRAMS: Korean trams and political turmoil. Koreans won the tender in Warsaw, but not everyone is happy about it in Bydgoszcz. Polish trams are rolling out of the factory there. The Voivode has already written a letter, and an MEP is calling for an investigation from the European Commission. -- KAPICA'S TESTIMONY: Former Deputy Minister of Finance before a parliamentary investigative committee. "Combating VAT fraud was not within my responsibilities," said Jacek Kapica, who also headed the Customs Service from 2008. ***** TVP WIADOMOŚCI -- COURTS SHOULD OPERATE FASTER - on the headline. -- NOT FOR THE GOOD OF THE FATHERLAND BUT FOR EASY JOBS - Kukiz. -- FIGHT FOR A RETURN TO POLITICAL SALONS - in the previews. -- LIVE FROM NOWOGRODZKA STREET, THE HEADQUARTERS OF PiS. -- KUŹMIUK RESIGNED FOR PERSONAL REASONS - in the report from Nowogrodzka. -- DRAFT OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE REFORM - in the preview. -- THE TREND IS RIGHT, POSITIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE PROJECT - Prof. Kruszyński. -- THE STATE FAILED TO DESTROY THE POLISH PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE - Bogdan Święczkowski at the committee meeting. -- IN THE REPORT ON THE MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE AGAINST ZIOBRO. -- A FLOOD OF COMMENTS AFTER KATZ'S SCANDALOUS STATEMENT - in the preview. -- THE HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER PUT ON A BRAVE FACE - Korab. -- WE EXPECT UNEQUIVOCAL CONDEMNATION FROM THE PRIME MINISTER - Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk. -- MOSBACHER'S TWEET. -- IT APPEARS THAT MEDIA PRESSURE, INCLUDING ISRAELI MEDIA, MAY BE HAVING AN EFFECT - TVP correspondent in Israel. -- THERE WAS NO DECISIVE REACTION TO IRREGULARITIES IN THE FUEL MARKET - in the preview about the investigative committee. -- DESPITE SIGNALS, NOTHING CHANGED - Damian Diaz. -- KAPICA ONCE REVEALED THAT THE GOVERNMENT KNEW WHAT TO DO BUT DID NOT DO IT - Diaz. -- THE PRESIDENT OF PiS FILED NOTIFICATIONS WITH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE REGARDING DEFAMATION DUE TO THE LACK OF RESPONSE TO PRE-TRIAL NOTICES - no material. -- COURT RULING ON THE REVERSAL OF REPRIVATIZATION DECISIONS - in the preview. -- POST-COMMUNISM REACTIVATION - Belka. -- POST-COMMUNISTS HAVE JOINED THE RANKS OF THE EUROPEAN COALITION - Dominik Cierpioł. -- THE GREENS, DISSATISFIED WITH SUCH AN ALLIANCE, ARE LEAVING - Cierpioł. -- EVERYONE IS GOING FOR EASY JOBS, MONEY, HIGH PENSIONS - Kukiz. -- THESE ARE MOSTLY PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE POWER STRUCTURE OF THE POLISH UNITED WORKERS' PARTY; CIMOSZEWICZ STARTED HIS CAREER AT 18, AND WAS PRIME MINISTER AT THE END OF THE 90S - Cierpioł. -- ARCHIVAL STATEMENTS BY MILLER AND CIMOSZEWICZ FROM THE 1980S. -- SWEDEN DOES NOT WANT TO EXTRADITE STEFAN MICHNIK - Belka. -- THE AMBASSADOR HAS BEEN SUMMONED TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REGARDING THE REFUSAL TO EXTRADITE STEFAN MICHNIK - in the preview. -- IN THE MATERIAL BY TULICKI ABOUT THE GENOCIDE CHARGE AGAINST MICHNIK. -- THE POLISH CONSUL WHO DEFENDED CHILDREN BEING TAKEN AWAY HAS BEEN EXPELLED. -- IN THE MATERIAL, CHILDREN TAKEN FROM PARENTS ARE PLACED IN HOMOSEXUAL FAMILIES OR WITH PEDOPHILES.