The government session will commence at 9:00 AM. Ministers will discuss the expansion of the "Rodzina 500+" (Family 500+) program to include the first child – this is one of the elements of Kaczyński's "Fifth." Parliamentary work on the legislation – as we wrote on 300POLITYKA – is scheduled for next week, with the bill expected to be processed and adopted within a few hours.

At 10:00 AM, the Prime Minister will participate in a conference at the Warsaw Stock Exchange concerning the "Rodzina 500+" program. Also at 10:00 AM, a closed-door meeting of the committee for the reprivatization of Warsaw real estate will take place. Following this, around 10:45 AM, a press conference by committee members is planned – announcing decisions regarding the property at ul. Powsińska 31, as well as decisions concerning compensation and damages for tenants.

At 11:00 AM, a closed-door session of the investigative committee on VAT fraud will be held. Half an hour later, MPs are scheduled to question former Deputy Minister of Finance, Jarosław Neneman. At 11:00 AM, a press conference will be held at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister with Deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydło, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski, and Deputy Minister of Culture and National Heritage Jarosław Sellin.

At noon, President Andrzej Duda will present state decorations for services to people in need of assistance. Also today, President Andrzej Duda will visit Koło in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship, where at 5:00 PM he will meet with residents of the Koło district.

At midnight, the deadline for submitting candidate lists for Members of the European Parliament expires. In practice, some committees have already done so. This marks the beginning of the next stage of the campaign – it can be assumed that it will commence shortly after the holidays.

Also today, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will begin his visit to the USA. A meeting with the media in Chicago is scheduled for 10:00 PM Polish time, followed at 11:00 PM by participation in a Roundtable at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. During the night – already on Wednesday Polish time – PM Morawiecki will lay a wreath before the monument of Tadeusz Kościuszko, and will also participate in a screening of the film "Poland: The Royal Tour" and a Q&A session.

- I believe everyone should sit at this table, and therefore, opposition representatives should also be present. I think this would allow us to develop solutions that will be joint proposals for the next Sejm term and beyond. We will talk about the round table formula; the Prime Minister will present it, and as he announced, he will present the formula and date of the round table. If I were to decide, I believe opposition representatives should also sit at this table - stated Beata Szydło in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

„We need to invest more in teachers. The teaching profession cannot be perpetual volunteer work. Salaries must start with a decent remuneration. We propose 3,500 gross, so that it reaches 7,000” – said the leader of Wiosna, Robert Biedroń, in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News.

- I am surprised [by teachers] to this extent, because we are currently in the process of implementing raises for teachers. We implemented the first raise last year, another in January of this year, and we plan to implement the third stage of raises in September. For me, it is striking that the protests, these very strong protests in education, are happening precisely when raises are being implemented, and for example, there were no such protests when Civic Platform and PSL froze teacher salaries and there were no raises - stated Beata Szydło in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

“In the long term, Poland has committed to introducing the euro, but today there are no grounds for it – neither economically, nor are Poles prepared. I think it will be a matter of ‘when,’ but in the distant future. We can discuss it, but scaring people with the euro, as Jarosław Kaczyński does, is unfair because there will be no majority in today’s parliament or the next to push through such a constitutional change” - said the leader of Wiosna, Robert Biedroń, in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News. “Within 4-5 years, we will certainly not introduce the euro in Poland”.

- I am convinced that we will reach an agreement before the matriculation exams. I would very much like to achieve [an agreement by May], and I think the teachers want this too, and most importantly, we must think about the youth right now, and the matriculation exams are definitely the most important thing - stated Beata Szydło in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego". As the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized, she is convinced that all students will be admitted to the matriculation exams.

- In my opinion, Chairman Broniarz and the ZNP presidium are unnecessarily heating up the atmosphere. Today, scaring students, high school graduates, with the idea that perhaps these exams are invalid, is simply irresponsible. It would be easier for us to have a conversation if there were such reflection from the ZNP presidium - stated Beata Szydło in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Piasecki's Conversation".

- It's a matter of impressions. I admit that PiS is very active, with another convention every week, another round of promises each week, whether it's about pensioners, cows, or internet freedom. Some more serious, some less serious, they are undoubtedly trying to impose the conversation's agenda this way. The only thing is, there's nothing about Europe, nothing about the EU - stated Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet, when asked why the European Coalition is so sluggish in this campaign and unable to set the agenda.

- The fundamental difference between us is that PiS advocates for weakening the EU. The slogan "Europe of Fatherlands" is precisely a slogan for weakening the EU, stripping it of parts and competencies and returning those competencies to nation-states. The European Coalition believes that in the modern world, with increasing competition from new economic powers, stronger integration is needed. No, we don't necessarily have to use such extremes, terms [federalization] from the language of constitutional law. Closer integration - stated Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.

- I probably wouldn't use such language [that the 13th pension is a handout], because people who will receive this money often desperately need it and might feel personally offended, but I suppose no one doubts that if Mr. Kaczyński, a month after the budget act was passed, which contained no mention of this matter, comes up with the idea of giving a gift in the form of the so-called 13th pension in an election month, there is likely some connection between the two - stated Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.

- My career in the People's Republic of Poland ended with me raising pigs with a doctorate in international law. Mr. Rulewski, as I understand it, did not mind that at one time, together with Miller, we were concluding accession negotiations, we brought Poland into the EU, we signed the accession treaty. Then everything was fine - stated Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet. As he emphasized, Rulewski's departure from the Civic Platform (PO) club is his choice, but it is very emotional and unfair in all of this. - This behavior is unfair, but it's his business - he added.

"My Europe" is the title of the first election spot by MEP Róża Thun, the leader of the European Coalition's list in Lesser Poland and Świętokrzyskie. It focuses on the role of building a European community and a strong position for Poland based on concrete projects, such as roaming. The MEP presents the behind-the-scenes of her work so far in the European Parliament. Speaking about Poland's role in the European Union, Róża Thun says: - Building a community, a lasting structure, strengthens Polish independence, even though others say it means losing it.

- First and foremost, I am very pleased because, according to the information I have managed to obtain, the greatest treasures, historical monuments, and in this religious and spiritual dimension, those sacred to all Christians, Catholics, have been saved thanks to the firefighters, and interestingly, also priests who, as it turns out, were specifically trained for such a dramatic fire. The fire itself has stirred the hearts not only of the French, but I believe the entire Christian world. However, I don't wish to look for or find any particular symbolism in it, because such events have happened throughout the history of Europe and France - stated Joachim Brudziński in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.

- We'd be most willing to enter into these talks and sign an agreement at any moment. Such readiness on the part of the government is declared all the time – stated Joachim Brudziński in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus. He added:

"We have indeed taken many steps as part of talks and work. Now, we would primarily expect, out of responsibility for the youth. I mean, primarily the increasingly stressed and nervous youth, who should receive their grades in the coming days and then calmly prepare for their final exams (matura). Understanding the essence of this dispute and having many teachers among my friends, including those who are striking today, but first and foremost, I would like to thank those teachers, educators, and pedagogues who, despite ostracism from the entire community – and this is the most shocking and astonishing – teachers who, like any community, are diverse in terms of political sympathies and antipathies, but it always seemed that in the teachers' room they were united by one goal – the well-being of the children or youth entrusted to them, their students. And now these divisions have gone so deep that responsible pedagogues who participated in the exams and remained by their students' side heard at times very vulgar and harsh words. Only pigs sit at the exam, those famous gauntlets arranged for teachers entering for the exams. Teachers dressed in black, remaining silent."

„Prime Minister Morawiecki, at a very early stage, I believe he was one of the first leaders to very clearly state that we must rebuild the [Notre Dame] cathedral. Not to contend with misfortune, but to demonstrate attachment to this place, to show European solidarity, the solidarity of our culture. This event showed that more unites us in Europe than we think, that there is a foundation on which we all meet, and quite spontaneously, without planning or preparation, we say exactly the same thing, our emotions run in the same direction” - said Deputy Minister Konrad Szymański in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on Radio Trójka.

„We have our experiences. Our tradition, from the time of the unfortunate events in Warsaw [in 1944], of reconstruction and monument preservation is known worldwide, so I am convinced that we have a great deal to offer [regarding the reconstruction of Notre Dame]. We have such readiness. The Prime Minister declared it on behalf of the government, and this readiness will transform into actions and the most far-reaching concrete steps, as far as it will be needed. Let us remember that France is the host of this place, the French episcopate. We do not want to do anything ourselves, but France can be assured not only of emotional, cultural solidarity, but also of readiness to provide very concrete aid, because we all need this” - said Deputy Minister Konrad Szymański in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on Radio Trójka.

- If it weren't for the escalation of this strike by the union leaders, the ZNP, Mr. Broniarz, then this agreement would probably have been signed long ago. I don't know what ultimate intentions lie behind Mr. Broniarz's actions, whom we have indeed seen in recent years always alongside opposition politicians, or at KOD marches, alongside Mr. Kijowski, Mr. Schetyna, other PO politicians. We remember that famous speech at the PO convention by Mr. Broniarz, who addressed Schetyna saying, "Dear Grzegorz, thank you for the invitation." Here, I am not entirely sure that only and exclusively union intentions are behind this strike, but I don't want to say that this strike is a political strike in the sense of the protesting teachers who are striking. That is certainly not the case. Teachers are frustrated and rightly so, they should earn more. But as responsible people, they should also recognize that our government is a government that, in the final outcome, if we sum up all the raises that have taken place since we took power, with the proposals we have put on the table, means that 9 billion PLN would flow to teachers. These are amounts that make an impression. Are they satisfactory amounts - probably not - stated Joachim Brudziński in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.

„Monetary integration is a serious issue because it is enshrined in the treaties. For many years, I have heard complaints that there is no discussion about the euro in Poland. Well, there is one now. The problem is that the opposition does not have a unified stance, they are unable to utter a single, simple sentence on such a serious matter as whether Poland should join the [euro]zone or not. It would be good to finally know such a stance” - said Deputy Minister Konrad Szymański in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on Radio Trójka.

“Without a clear declaration [from the opposition regarding the euro], the European elections are becoming Russian roulette. By voting for the opposition, we don't really know who we will be electing. That is the problem. The United Right's stance is clear. Poland should not join the eurozone today” – said Deputy Minister Konrad Szymański in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on Radio Trójka.

- In this matter, after the meeting of the [PiS] Political Committee, a concrete and precise answer was given. The only one who has the decisive voice here, regarding the date of this reconstruction, the scope of the ministers, and the names of future ministerial candidates, is Prime Minister Morawiecki. He will communicate about it, and such speculations by various politicians are absolutely out of place. The Prime Minister has the decisive voice here, he will make the decisions, he will communicate them to the public - stated Joachim Brudziński in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.

- These works are very advanced, and now only a political decision practically lies ahead of us. There are still things to consult. We also do not hide that we are consulting this project with the Kukiz’15 club, which very often rightly spoke about lay judges - stated Patryk Jaki in an interview with Piotr Gocek on "Sygnały dnia" PR1, when asked about the progress of work in the Ministry of Justice, including the introduction of lay judges. He added:

"In general, I am in favor of a larger number of judges being elected in universal elections in some perspective, but I am saying this is my personal opinion, because I believe that, firstly, everyone could see the quality of the Polish judiciary, as it is, in various kinds of statements. That's the first point. And secondly, with politicians, if someone doesn't like a politician, then once in a while, once every four years, you can say "goodbye" to Jaki, but you can't to a judge, even though they wield more power than Jaki; judges have the most power in Poland."

- We are currently working to propose a concrete formula [for the roundtable discussion] by Thursday. First and foremost, we want objective representation to be established for organizations involved in education, so-called non-governmental organizations, and parental representation – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a briefing on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

- We have, of course, already developed the principles for inviting trade unionists, because it is known that trade unionists are very interested in this, but also pedagogues, educators, teachers, parents, and non-governmental organizations. Yes, we would also like to invite members of the opposition to participate on the basis of absolute full, equal, substantive, and professional engagement, so that we can all delve into the matter of improving education at the roundtable – added the head of the Polish government.

- I would like to announce this the day after tomorrow, on Thursday, in a very concrete form, and probably next Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, within these terms, meaning in about a week with a tiny bit more, we would like to organize the first roundtable session - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a briefing at the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

- Today, the fact that within the framework of this budget, most likely – this will be confirmed before the end of the year – we will be able to finance this program [500+ for the first child] without the need for an amendment, and at the same time make certain pro-development shifts in emphasis, is a very positive development for growth in the short term, medium term, and long-term trends. This is something that, as a former economist and economic activist, fills me with immense optimism. I know that Poland's economic development will be better thanks to this program than it would be without it - stated the Prime Minister at a briefing at the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

- The President has just made a decision to delegate his representatives to the education roundtable discussions, which will take place according to the organization proposed by the government. These will be the president's advisors, led by Professor Andrzej Waśko, who will participate in the roundtable, organized by the government, on behalf of the president - informed Krzysztof Szczerski in a conversation with journalists.

- May 3rd is also a very important holiday for me personally. In fact, I began my entire public activity with illegal demonstrations commemorating the anniversary of the constitution. I believe there are many good reasons why we should meet on May 3rd and have a few serious words to say about the constitution, Poland's place in Europe – after all, it's also the anniversary of our accession to the EU – and about the importance of freedom and free elections - said Donald Tusk in an interview with journalists in Strasbourg.

- I see only good reasons to meet with interested parties on this particular day, and I especially invite everyone to the University of Warsaw - declared the former Prime Minister. As he emphasized, he will have "something interesting and important to say" on that day.

"The Round Table is a proposal for a nationwide debate on the future of education. This is also a postulate raised during the talks we have been holding in recent weeks with social partners, which I hope will still end successfully and we will reach an agreement. We are seeking consensus. I perceive it very positively that all parties who sat down at the table in the Social Dialogue Council see the need for discussion, seeking agreement, and exiting the difficult situation that arose when the trade unions, primarily ZNP, began their protest" - said Deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydło at a press conference. 

„The government wants agreement and dialogue. We want to jointly develop a vision for the future of Polish education. I think this is particularly important at a time when we are finalizing the education reform, which is changing the system. This is a good moment to take another step and, in this next step, discuss the changes that will be necessary, and which concern, among other things, and perhaps as a priority, teacher salaries, but through a change in the system. Everyone is talking about this: unions, the government. We see that the current salary system is not fulfilling its role and we need to consider developing a new one, which will naturally translate into us developing a joint position that will later become a legal act, prepared by the government, because changes in education law will then have to occur” - Vice Prime Minister Beata Szydło said at a press conference.

„Regarding the participation of the opposition at the round table, an invitation will be extended to opposition politicians. I cannot imagine the round table without the opposition. Politics should not touch such a sensitive area of life as education, the future of our schools, our youth. I hope we will manage to put politics aside a bit, and we will talk about this future and work out good solutions” - said Deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydło at a press conference. „I hope that the opposition politicians will not refuse to participate in this nationwide debate” - she added.

- We are ready [for talks], the question is what the government side will bring. If they come again with an agreement in the Solidarity version, it will be difficult to reach any consensus – stated Sławomir Broniarz in a conversation with journalists.

- This information is fluid. Contrary to what Minister [Zalewska] says, the determination of teachers not to grade students is growing. This is not the fault of these teachers, however; the question is for the government, what the government has been doing since January 10th, because that's when they learned about the protest - stated Sławomir Broniarz in a conversation with journalists.

„Today marks the 9th day of the teachers' strike. In this strike, hundreds of thousands of teachers across Poland are protesting against their low salaries. They are demanding serious talks with the government regarding the future and their remuneration. Today, Deputy Prime Minister Szydło announced the organization of a roundtable on educational needs” - said the Civic Platform spokesperson, Jan Grabiec, at a press conference in the Sejm.

„We are ready to sit down for talks even now, even tomorrow, talks that will lead to the end of the teachers' protest, to salary increases that will meet their aspirations and needs. We call on the prime minister for such a meeting to take place now, as soon as possible” - he added. 

- I would like to appeal to Poles not to be fooled by Mateusz Morawiecki's empty words. In reality, this proposal, which is ostensibly called privatization, is a second seizure of OFE, only more subtle - Ryszard Petru said during a press conference.

- OFE is intended to finance "Kaczyński's Five". 160 billion times 15% is 24 billion. But there is a second element, which no one has spoken about until now. Every year Poles contribute 3 billion PLN to OFE. The moment OFE are transferred to IKE, our entire contribution will flow to ZUS. Thus, the government will save an additional 3 billion. From this operation alone, we have 27 billion PLN which can go towards financing "Kaczyński's Five" - Petru continued.

- Let's assume that half of Poles decide to transfer their money to ZUS. Then 160 billion PLN divided by two is 80 billion PLN. This is the two-year cost of financing "Kaczyński's Five". That's the trick - Petru stated.

The politician also referred to the proposal of 500+ for the first child.

- 500+ for the first child costs us approximately 19 billion PLN annually. I propose, given the teachers' strike today, let's give 250 PLN for the first child. This amounts to 9.6 billion PLN. Teachers want 1000 PLN per month. 1000 PLN times 700,000 teachers is exactly 8.4 billion PLN. Teachers' raises can be financed - Petru assessed.

34% of respondents believe the government is responsible for the lack of agreement between the government and teachers, while 16% point to the teachers. According to 36% of those surveyed, both sides are equally responsible, and 6% believe neither side is. The study was conducted by Kantar on behalf of TVN.

https://twitter.com/styszka/status/1118191904997376001?s=12

- I wouldn't repeat it. I oversee the fire service. Fires also happen in Polish cathedrals and churches - said Joachim Brudziński in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" on Polsat News.

- An agreement will be reached. We, from the government's side, always have the will and readiness - said Joachim Brudziński in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.

-Teachers say these are just words, that they want more - stated the journalist.

- Herein lies the crux of the matter. We want more. Police officers also wanted more, and they received as much as we could afford, along with other uniformed services - Brudziński replied.

- I think sending such an individual invitation to local government officials, as those overseeing education, is simply necessary. If there are local government officials, then yes. This is our condition. Invitation to local government officials - said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" on Polsat News.

- We still have a few days until the high school leaving exams (matura). Are we capable of reaching an agreement in these few days? In my opinion, the teachers are. But if the government comes again with the same proposal, because it wants to play for time, to prolong the negotiations, it's the wrong path. It may end in a provisional government success, but it will actually end in the defeat of Polish education - said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.

-- LIVEBLOG 300POLITYKI:
WKK on the educational round table: This is our condition. Invitation to local government officials.
Brudziński on negotiations with teachers' unions: An agreement will be reached. There is always willingness and readiness on our part.
Brudziński on Krynicka's and Andruszkiewicz's comments after the Notre Dame Cathedral fire: I would not repeat it. Fires also happen in Polish cathedrals.
Tyszka: Kukiz'15 committee has been registered in all 13 electoral districts for the EP as the third committee in Poland.
Who is responsible for the lack of agreement between the government and teachers - a new poll.
PAD: I agreed with the proposal for the round table to be held in an expanded RDS format. I am ready to make the Belvedere available.
Neumann to Morawiecki: The meeting should take place as soon as possible. Serious consideration of teachers' demands, including granting appropriate pay raises, would allow the protest to end before the holidays.
Petru: I would like to appeal to Poles not to fall for Morawiecki's round words. In reality, this proposal is a second, more refined partition of OFE.
Grabiec on the round table on education: We are ready even now. We call on the Prime Minister to hold such a meeting as soon as possible.
Broniarz: Contrary to what Zalewska says, teachers' determination to not classify students is growing.
Broniarz: If the government side comes again with an agreement in the Solidarity version, it will be difficult to reach any agreement.
https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/04/16/

*****

POLSAT EVENTS

-- NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL FIRE.

-- GOVERNMENT AND UNION REPRESENTATIVES RETURN TO TALKS ON TEACHERS' STRIKE.

-- THEY HAVEN'T MET YET, AND IT'S ALREADY KNOWN WHAT THE RESULT OF THURSDAY'S GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH UNION REPRESENTATIVES MIGHT BE - Agnieszka Milczarz.

-- ZNP AND FZZ STILL DEMAND TWICE AS MUCH [AS THE GOVERNMENT OFFERS] - Milczarz continues.

-- UNION REPRESENTATIVES WANT A MEDIATOR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TALKS - Milczarz: The government is not responding to this request, it maintains its offer of talks generally about changes in education at a round table.

-- THE PRESIDENT HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE ROUND TABLE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE BELVEDERE - Milczarz continues.

-- THE OPPOSITION, ALTHOUGH IT BELIEVES THE ROUND TABLE ON EDUCATION SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE 3 YEARS AGO, IS NOT REFUSING TALKS - Milczarz.

-- THE GOVERNMENT ASSURES THAT THE MATURA EXAMS WILL TAKE PLACE - Milczarz: Much depends on the outcome of Thursday's talks.

*****

TVN FACTS

-- NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL FIRE.

-- ARE POLISH MONUMENTS WELL PROTECTED? NIK REPORT INDICATES NOT ONLY A LACK OF SYSTEMS BUT ALSO, FOR EXAMPLE, HYDRANTS.

-- 70% OF SCHOOLS MAY HAVE PROBLEMS CONDUCTING MATURA EXAMS, POLES ARE ALMOST EQUALLY DIVIDED IN A KANTAR POLL - in the preview.

-- ZNP CALLS FOR ACCELERATION OF RDC - Maciej Knapik.

-- PAD: My wife and I express our solidarity.

-- THE GOVERNMENT SIDE WILL COME WITHOUT A NEW OFFER - Knapik.

-- LET THE GOVERNMENT CHANGE ITS TUNE - ZNP.

-- TEACHERS, YOU ARE NOT ALONE - Wiosna.

-- MANY PARENTS ARE TIRED, 47% SUPPORT THE STRIKE COMPARED TO 49% AGAINST - Knapik.

-- 3-4 THOUSAND NET - that's what most respondents would pay - from a Kantar study, but as many would leave their earnings at the current level - Knapik.

-- 500+ FOR 1 CHILD MEANS A MINUS 10 BILLION IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR - in the preview.

-- FOR THE FACTS TALKERS, A RAISE IN THE TAX-FREE AMOUNT IS BETTER - Arleta Zalewska.

-- PMM KNEW HE WAS PUTTING THE MOST VALUABLE POLITICAL PROGRAM OF THIS TERM ON THE TABLE - Zalewska.

-- OVER 41 BILLION NEXT YEAR IS THE COST OF THE ENTIRE PROGRAM - Zalewska.

-- IF 250 PLN WERE GIVEN PER CHILD, TEACHER RAISES COULD BE FINANCED - Petru.

-- PIS ONCE PROPOSED A REFERENDUM ON THIS MATTER - in the preview about OFE.

-- REFERENDUM? PLEASE REMIND ME? - Beata Szydło from K. Piasecki's program.

-- TWICE AS MANY ELECTORAL COMMITTEES AS 5 YEARS AGO - in the preview.

-- RUSH HOUR AT THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION, THERE ARE ALMOST TWICE AS MANY ELECTORAL COMMITTEES AS FIVE YEARS AGO - in the preview.

-- THESE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS WILL BE EXCEPTIONAL BECAUSE FOR MANY PARTIES THEY WILL PROVIDE AN ANSWER ABOUT THEIR CHANCES IN THE AUTUMN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS - Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska.

-- PERHAPS THAT'S WHY THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION HAS REGISTERED TWICE AS MANY COMMITTEES AS FIVE YEARS AGO - Kolenda-Zaleska continues: Among them, of course, the biggest ones, but also many small, sometimes exotic committees.

-- MIDNIGHT MARKS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING LISTS OF SUPPORT UNDER CANDIDATES' NAMES - Kolenda-Zaleska: Now district commissions will verify both signatures and the candidates themselves.

-- THE TWO MAIN COMMITTEES HAD NO PROBLEM [REGISTERING LISTS], BUT THE SMALLER ONES ALSO SUCCEEDED - Kolenda-Zaleska continues: Both Wiosna, the left, and Kukiz'15 have lists in all districts.

-- MAREK JUREK WILL ULTIMATELY RUN FOR KUKIZ 15 - Kolenda-Zaleska.

-- RADOSŁAW SIKORSKI: Polls show a tie between the European Coalition and PiS, which - I believe - is a good omen, because I think the ruling party is overestimated in the polls, as there is a slight fear in Poland.

-- THIS IS NOT AN EASY CAMPAIGN FOR EITHER GROUP [PO AND PIS], PREPARED PLANS ARE BEING DISRUPTED BY CURRENT POLITICS - Kolenda-Zaleska.

-- IT MAY DEPEND ON THE UNDECIDED WHO WINS THESE ELECTIONS, FOR NOW NO ONE IS COURTING THEM - Kolenda-Zaleska continues.

*****

TVP NEWS

-- NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL FIRE.

-- THE GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO SEND POLAND'S BEST SPECIALISTS IN MONUMENT RESTORATION TO PARIS - Marcin Szewczak.

-- DESPITE THE ZNP STRIKE, EIGHTH-GRADE EXAMS TOOK PLACE EVERYWHERE - preview.

-- EXAMINATION COMMISSIONS WERE ASSEMBLED THANKS TO THE SACRIFICE OF EDUCATORS, MAINLY RETIRED TEACHERS - Jan Korab.

-- THE ZNP PRESIDENT INCITED TEACHERS TO CONTINUE THE STRIKE AND AGAIN THREATENED MATURA STUDENTS - Korab.

-- ON THURSDAY, FURTHER TALKS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND UNION REPRESENTATIVES, A ROUND TABLE AFTER THE HOLIDAYS - Korab.

-- ANDRZEJ DUDA WANTS TO CREATE DECENT CONDITIONS FOR TALKS AND MAKE THE BELVEDERE AVAILABLE FOR WORK - Korab.

-- ZNP IS LITTLE INTERESTED IN QUALITATIVE CHANGES IN EDUCATION - Korab.

-- THE GOVERNMENT HAS ADOPTED REGULATIONS EXPANDING 500+ TO THE FIRST CHILD - preview.

-- THE DRAFT LAW ON THE WINDING DOWN OF THE OPEN PENSION FUNDS (OFE) WILL GO TO SOCIAL CONSULTATIONS - preview.

-- THE OPPOSITION CRITICIZES THE IDEA. THE SAME ONE THAT WROTE OFF MONEY FROM OFE SEVERAL YEARS AGO - Dominik Cierpioł.

-- THE GOVERNMENT'S IDEA REGARDING OFE IS NOT RELATED TO CURRENT EXPENDITURES. THE IDEA OF THE CHAIRMAN OF PIS WAS ANNOUNCED AS EARLY AS 2016 - Cierpioł.

- I've led the PSL through the toughest three and a half years in its history. The hardest part is behind us. The ruling party's desire to kill the PSL, to break up the club, to eliminate it from bodies shaping parliamentary work, such as Sejm committees, the Sejm presidium. A desire to destroy, to eliminate in the local government campaign. This monstrous attack that occurred against us, we have survived all of it and won. Two million votes went to the PSL - said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.

- I have no doubt that any pretext will be good, so just a slightly lower economic growth, rising unemployment, some other reasons, and there will be an immediate withdrawal from this program [500+ by the opposition], which is strongly identified with our government as a PiS program, already proposed during the campaign. Therefore, any modification of this program would certainly serve to significantly limit it. I am convinced that there would be a withdrawal from this program [in case of a change of government]. Let me remind you, perhaps, that the declaration that the retirement age would be maintained had no bearing on reality when, shortly after winning the elections, the retirement age for women was extended by 7 years, for men to 67 [years of age], and this age was equalized. We restored it, but for me, this is a complete loss of such credibility - stated Elżbieta Rafalska in an interview with Michał Adamczyk on TVP Info's 'Gość Wiadomości'.

„A few years ago, the Łazienki Bridge burned. Does this mean that the burning Łazienki Bridge is a symbol of the declining bathroom industry? That is stupid. The largest Muslim temple in Jerusalem was burning. On the same day, at the same time [as Notre Dame Cathedral]. Is this an example of the decline of Islam? The Vitkac department store was burning in Warsaw on the same day. So what?” - commented Robert Biedroń, leader of Wiosna (Spring party), on the discussion surrounding yesterday's fire in Paris on TVN24's 'Kropka nad i'. 

“The elegant interior [of the Belvedere] won't solve the problem [of the teachers' protest]. I would prefer Jarosław Kaczyński, who holds the key to resolving this situation today, to summon Prime Minister Morawiecki, because he has influence over him, and to resolve this matter as he did in the case of cows, pigs, and many other issues that PiS promises to solve” – said Robert Biedroń, leader of Wiosna, in an interview with Monika Olejnik on "Kropka nad i" on TVN24. 

“We need to sit down at the table. I appeal to Prime Minister Morawiecki. Stop burying your head in the sand. Urgently, tonight, tomorrow, sit down and talk. Not just with the teachers. Invite parents to this table as well. Let parents also express their position on this matter, let them express their frustration” - said Robert Biedroń, leader of Wiosna, in an interview with Monika Olejnik on “Kropka nad i” on TVN24.

- Balcerowicz and Wałęsa in a pivotal conversation on the 30th anniversary of democratic transformations in Poland. Thirty years ago, Poles decided that freedom was paramount. We achieved it, but we also paid a heavy price – politically, economically, and socially. What does freedom mean to Lech Wałęsa and Leszek Balcerowicz? How did their actions and decisions lead to the transformations in Poland? What price did the architects of these transformations pay? And is freedom a gift to society that lasts forever? These and other important questions are answered in a book that records the first conversation between the authors of Poland's transformation. Wałęsa and Balcerowicz reveal the behind-the-scenes realities of that period, discuss making difficult choices, personal sacrifice, grueling work, and their mutual relationship – that of a trade union leader who became president and a scholar entrusted with the responsibility of rebuilding a devastated country. Together, they accomplished something great – they won freedom – announces the publisher of Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska's new book, which will be available for sale on June 3rd.