I know that power is attributed to me that I don't have. It's good that I don't have that much, because it's always unhealthy. It's not about me getting rid of anyone or not getting rid of anyone. These people wanted to run, and therefore they are running. There are various reasons for this, and there are also various kinds of political calculations involved. Because you have to look ahead, many years ahead. But above all, this is their decision. No one is forced to leave - stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM. It will be a slightly different [government], but we have quite serious personnel resources, and it seems to me that they are growing, and therefore we can risk this kind of move. And it also seems to me, although I cannot decide for others, that these people will return to Polish politics in 5 years - the PiS chairman continued.

- I don't want to talk about future and uncertain matters at this moment. That is, I am convinced that Joachim Brudziński and Beata Szydło will both enter the European Parliament. However, regarding the individuals who will take their places, it is, to some extent at least, still an open question at the moment. Although if you could look into my head, you would find some names, but please forgive me, I will be discreet – stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM, when asked who would replace Joachim Brudziński. - Well no, Minister Rafalska is not a first-choice candidate at this moment, but it is not out of the question that she will be on the lists. She is [being considered] – he added.

Of course, what other choice do I have? I am a citizen like any other - stated Jarosław Kaczyński in a conversation with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM, when asked if the prosecution decided to launch an investigation into Srebrna and summoned him, whether he would appear for such questioning. He added:

"I have nothing to reproach myself for. I will not talk about my attitude towards the protagonist of these events. However, I can say one thing: I wanted to do something very useful from the perspective not even just of my political camp, but simply of Poland. To somewhat balance the situation on the market of ideas, institutions that can support various kinds of ideas. I am talking here quite specifically about the very strong Batorego Foundation, which has no competitive institution on the right. Or even in the center. It is itself today a foundation... It's hard to classify a foundation this way, but if one were to classify it, one could say that it is very, very leftist. And if this building, which is the subject, had been built, the Lech Kaczyński Institute would have become a very strong foundation, and in the longer term - a perspective that doesn't concern people of my generation anymore, because paying off such loans takes a long time - this foundation or institute would be even much stronger. In short: it was precisely about using certain opportunities. Because that plot on Srebrna is a certain opportunity. It didn't work out, it didn't work out primarily due to the lack of the rule of law in Poland, meaning in Poland it can happen that something is simply denied to an institution that has the right to it for purely political and personal-political reasons."

- An investigation, in my opinion, makes no sense, but that is the prosecution's decision. And I do not want to influence it in any way. Here we are simply dealing with an example of certain unprofessionalism, but not on my part, but on the part of a person who is today treated as a kind of hero or even a victim - continued the PiS leader.

- No, that's an idea from the Law and Justice party [the new 'Five']. I invented 500+ once, that's true. I also invented many other things, but this particular 'Five' originated elsewhere... of course, I am very happy and participated in discussions on this topic, about what to do here, but I absolutely do not claim authorship – stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM.

- I will not argue here about who invented or rather suggested what, and when. It seems to me that the Civic Platform, when they talked about 500+ from the first child, their intention was rather to torpedo or compromise the program that was created and implemented – and nothing more could have been achieved under the financial conditions at the time. Meanwhile, the whole point is that we can govern – and govern honestly, and therefore we have greater financial opportunities today and can afford all these [proposals] – he continued.

I am not afraid in the slightest [of Donald Tusk's return], I do not believe in the miraculous abilities of politicians, and I'm talking about all politicians; no one is a miracle worker. There are situations that some can handle better and others worse, but above all, there is the social situation, the state of social awareness, the media situation, and here, without denying that Donald Tusk possesses certain skills, perhaps even talents, purely in the realm of rhetoric, it will not change the situation. It will depend on other factors - stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM. He added:

"Hope dies last. That's how you can put it, because in these other elements, it's hard to find something in the elements of the social situation that could somehow support this hope more. Well, there's this personal hope, but I repeat, without denying that individual politicians are more or less capable, they can do more or less, it is ultimately the situation that decides. And this is the saying of the late coach Górski, that you play as much as the opponent allows. The opponent will not allow for too much."

– I will not protest against it in any way. Honestly speaking, I put my hand, or perhaps even both, into making this government come into being, and ensuring that Tadeusz Mazowiecki, not someone else, because there was another designated candidate, was convinced that he would be the Prime Minister, he was supposed to be the first one. And Tadeusz Mazowiecki became him, so in short, I will not protest against it. I believe that the fact that there are Piłsudski monuments in Poland, but also Dmowski monuments, is completely normal, only that there are those who want to tear down monuments, to destroy them. I am not talking about the incident in Gdańsk, although it is scandalous and should be dealt with appropriately by the justice system, but the person themselves is controversial, however, it also concerns other monuments – stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM, when asked if he was in favor of a monument to Tadeusz Mazowiecki being erected in Warsaw.

I believe that when it comes to these kinds of holidays, time must ripen for a moment of full consensus. I consider June 4th a very important date in Polish history, not because it was a very important date in my personal history and in the history of my late brother, but because something very significant changed. However, there are those who have different convictions here, and it's worth letting the tension in Poland subside before we celebrate it in such a way, although, I repeat, this can be discussed. But certainly, this approaching 30th anniversary will be an important date, and I am strongly in favour of us commemorating it, of us not pretending that nothing happened. I am deeply convinced that it was an important moment. A very important one – stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM, when asked about his thoughts on the idea of Civic Platform, which submitted a bill establishing June 4th as a state holiday.

• They are certainly very high [directors' salaries at the NBP]. It's worth it for society to also learn how things used to be – because at some point, a certain change occurred, I won't go into details here, but it used to be different at the National Bank, and I would appeal to Mr. President Glapiński to somehow show this – stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM

• I think that if one were to go back many years, even a dozen or more years, one could discuss – especially concerning the very function of the President of the National Bank. Certainly, these salaries are high, there's just a question that is worth asking – I'm talking about those who hold truly substantive roles, not those involved in so-called PR and so on, because here I completely agree – will good specialists be found in these fields, truly good specialists, given that commercial banks pay even significantly more? – the PiS leader continued.

- For example, I'd like to know if these high salaries you're talking about appeared with President Glapiński – because then I'd truly have serious complaints – or perhaps they appeared earlier – then the complaint would be smaller, because we know how it is when you lower wages – stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM. He added:

"After this revelation, I will certainly want to talk to President Glapiński, but please remember that I am not President Glapiński's superior. I know this – this is of course a joke now, maybe someone will take it seriously in a moment and conclude that it has just been admitted that there is a dictatorship in Poland – I am really not a dictator. I have considerable influence on what happens on the right side of the political scene, but far from what is attributed to me. But this is not an excuse – I say clearly: I will try to ensure that these matters are fully explained, including retroactively – and if there are some bad things there, then conclusions will have to be drawn: but within the scope of the possibilities that exist."

- I have trust [in Antoni Macierewicz regarding the Smolensk disaster]. I believe he is treading an incredibly difficult path. This is not a normal investigation into a plane crash. The editor and our listeners know perfectly well how this usually happens. After all, there have been similar disasters in nearby areas. However, all of those unfolded quite differently. In this case, we are dealing with a completely special situation. And that's all I can say for now - stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM.

- We will sit down with the party leadership, probably the political committee, and we will discuss, but a prime minister who won the elections is not changed. As far as the prime minister is concerned, I do not see such a possibility here. However, when it comes to ministers, there will be an evaluation of individual ministers, and it's not the case that if someone leaves, they always leave because they performed poorly. Sometimes it happens that someone else might be better, or someone is tired, or will be moved to other work, or there's a break from this kind of activity... I believe this government is a good government. The principle that 'good is the enemy of better' doesn't entirely apply in politics. This means you have to look for better, but generally speaking, I am satisfied with this government, which does not mean there aren't various kinds of shortcomings, because of course, there are always shortcomings, you can always find them, and a good opposition exists to find and point out such shortcomings, not to wage a total war under the slogan "Street and Abroad" - stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM, when asked how he imagines the government if PiS were to win the autumn parliamentary elections.

- No, I am not considering it - stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM, when asked about the scenario of him becoming Prime Minister. When pressed if he wouldn't take the role under any other circumstances, he replied:

"It's hard to say anything for certain in social life. I am aware that I will be 70 years old soon. Of course, there have been much older politicians holding various high offices; there are currently much, much older ones on the world stage, but I also know that Poland doesn't have such a gerontocratic tradition. In Poland, political careers generally ended around the age of seventy, if not cut short earlier by death or some other event. I repeat this, I take it into account. This doesn't mean that I'm planning to leave right now, that I want to step down, but I also believe that it is a good phenomenon that people a generation younger than me are taking the helm, or in many cases have already taken it. For someone who built parties - because in essence Porozumienie Centrum and Prawo i Sprawiedliwość are a continuation - the fact that this party will endure, that there are subsequent generations of politicians who will be able to lead it further in more or less the same direction - even though today's problems and the problems from almost 30 years ago are in many places different - that is a huge satisfaction. I would very much wish that God would allow me to still observe this, but perhaps a little bit from the sidelines."

- Certainly – and especially after Minister Katz's statement – there should be an unequivocal apology, because the statement was utterly scandalous. As for Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement, something resembling an apology did occur. And we don't entirely know what he said. He said it without cameras, without microphones, in Hebrew – stated Jarosław Kaczyński in an interview with Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM.

ORLEN Group to Cooperate with the National Support Centre for Agriculture under the Auspices of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development During the European Forum for Agriculture in Jasionka, companies from the ORLEN Group officially inaugurated cooperation with the National Support Centre for Agriculture. The project "Together We Power Polish Agriculture" is under the patronage of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski. The declaration of cooperation with KOWR on behalf of the ORLEN Group was announced by Łukasz Hołubowski, CEO of ORLEN Paliwa. The cooperation will cover a range of products from the Group's companies: ORLEN Paliwa, offering liquid fuels and LPG; IKS Solino – feed salt, salt tablets for water treatment; ORLEN Oil – oils and lubricants; as well as PKN ORLEN's fleet cards, ORLEN Ochrona services, and nitrogen fertilizers from Anwil's offering. "The National Support Centre for Agriculture is an institution of strategic importance for the development of this sector of the economy. ORLEN is a strategic concern for the Polish economy. I am pleased with the establishment of close cooperation between these two entities. In today's world, fuels are of great importance, including for agriculture. Agricultural production cannot do without them. The significance attached to this fact by the Government is evidenced by the allocation of PLN 1.2 billion from the state budget this year for so-called agricultural fuel, a refund of part of the excise duty included in the price of fuel used for agricultural production. KOWR has strategic companies within its structure that care for the development of plant and animal breeding. The cooperation with ORLEN declared today will be of great importance for their further development," – said Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

https://twitter.com/StruzikAdam/status/1101806588829069312

The Polish political party Nowoczesna has officially announced its decision to join the European Coalition. The announcement was made via a tweet from the party's official Twitter account, sharing a link to a related social media post: https://twitter.com/Nowoczesna/status/1101837821785051136.

The coming month will primarily see the continuation of candidate list arrangements for the European Parliament elections – the two largest formations, PiS and Platforma, intend to present theirs within the next ten days. The government will present a roadmap for implementing its program proposals, the so-called 'fifth,' and early elections for mayor will be held in Gdańsk. The CJEU will address the issue of the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), and Fitch will update Poland's rating. President Duda, in turn, will announce his decision regarding the act on compensation for public media.

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Elections in Gdańsk. On March 3, early elections for the mayor of Gdańsk will take place. There are strong indications that Aleksandra Dulkiewicz will become the new head of the city, possibly in the first round.

EP Campaign. At the end of February, the President officially called for the European Parliament elections, but the major parties have not yet presented their full candidate lists. The PiS Political Committee recently deliberated on this matter at the beginning of March. Meanwhile, Platforma intends to reveal its lists in the second or third decade of March. As Sławomir Neumann stated on Radio Zet: "By March 10, Platforma will be submitting its candidates for the national board in all districts. Our partners will also finalize their candidates by March 10. Then it will need to be arranged and compiled. The deadline is actually April 16, for the registration of lists. I think it will be the second or third decade of March when we, as the European Coalition, will be able to propose, to show the full composition of the lists in these 13 districts." The PO National Council is scheduled to take place on March 16 or 23.

Kwiatkowski's Hearing. On March 6 at 10:00 AM, the parliamentary committee investigating VAT fraud will question the former Minister of Justice, now President of NIK, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski. On March 5 at 9:00 AM, the committee will question Adam Rapacki and Piotr Niemczyk.

Celebrations for the 20th Anniversary of Poland's Accession to NATO. In connection with the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO, the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, will participate in several events between March 4-12. The plan includes visits to Żagań and Orzysz, a briefing for the senior leadership of the Ministry of National Defence and the Polish Armed Forces, and a visit to the Multinational Corps Northeast. On March 12, President Andrzej Duda, along with Czech President Miloš Zeman, Slovak President Andrej Kiska, and Hungarian President János Áder, will participate in ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of NATO enlargement, which will be held in Prague.

Kaczyński's 'Fifth' Roadmap. "At the nearest Council of Ministers meeting on March 5, a roadmap for the projects [from the so-called Kaczyński's 'fifth'] that I have been talking about will be presented. We will also present detailed solutions to you then. I want to assure you that all these programs have been very carefully calculated," said Joanna Kopcińska at a press conference.

CJEU on the KRS. On March 19, the Court of Justice of the European Union will hold a hearing concerning questions from the Supreme Court regarding, among other things, the National Council of the Judiciary's capacity to fulfill its constitutional duty of safeguarding the independence of courts.

EU Summit. On March 21 and 22, a European Council meeting will take place. During the summit, the council will focus on employment, growth, and competitiveness. EU leaders will also discuss climate change, external relations, and ways to combat disinformation. The heads of state will also address the need to protect the democratic and fair nature of European and national elections across the EU.

Poland's Rating Update. Fitch – one of the three major rating agencies – has scheduled two reviews of Poland's rating for this year. The first will take place in a few weeks, on March 29. The next is scheduled for September 27.

PAD's Decision on Compensation for Public Media. At the end of February, the Senate passed the act on so-called compensation for public media. Now, the ball is in President Duda's court, who has 21 days to make a decision. Therefore, it can be assumed that PAD will have to announce his verdict by the second half of March at the latest.

Sejm and Senate. The only session of the Sejm this month will be held from March 13-15 – the agenda is not yet known, but it is possible that the MPs will address the opposition's motion to dismiss the Minister of Agriculture. The Senate, on the other hand, will convene from March 20-22.

Photo: *Sejm*

'I am considering it very seriously [running for the EP], but the decision on the final shape of the lists will be made only after the 10th of this month, because our structures will be selecting candidates and submitting them until the 10th. Then the national board will decide who among these individuals will be on the lists and in what order' – stated Ewa Kopacz in an interview with Diana Rudnik on TVN24's "Fakty po faktach". She added:

"I am an MP here, from Warsaw. I also have my office here; I talk to the people of Warsaw here. In my private life, as in politics, I always try to be loyal, because it pays off, so I want to be loyal to my voters from 3 years ago."

- 'I believe that despite everything, these initial conversations I had with the chairman, my arguments will be taken into account, and I think some spot will be found. If not second, then third; if not third, then last' – emphasized the former Prime Minister.