I am once again requesting the President’s decision.
- Kosiniak-Kamysz on the SAFE program with the EU Commissioner for Defence
Hot Topic
04/25/2019
00:00
The Sejm will resume its proceedings at 10:00 AM with the first reading of the government's draft bill to extend the Rodzina 500+ program to first-born children. At 11:30 AM, a vote will be held on rejecting the proposal – a motion announced by Ryszard Petru. Following this, at 11:35 AM, the first reading of the government's draft bill concerning Matura exams and the classification of Matura students will take place.
After the consideration of this point, a one-hour break will be announced. It is possible that further votes will take place at 2:00 PM, although Michał Dworczyk mentioned yesterday a vote between 3 PM and 4 PM. It is not entirely clear whether the bill will be sent to committee at all – it is known that PiS wants to pass it at an express pace.
At 3:00 PM, the second reading of the government's draft amendment to the Road Transport Act, known as the lex Uber bill, will occur. At 6:00 PM, the second reading of the draft bill on expanding the 500+ program is scheduled and is planned to last an hour. At 9:00 PM, the Sejm will consider the opposition's motion to recall the Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation, Marek Gróbarczyk, and at 10:30 PM, the opposition's motion to recall the Minister of National Education, Anna Zalewska.
At midnight, the Sejm will vote on these motions in a 15-minute block. Subsequently, at 0:15 AM, the first reading of the draft amendment to the Supreme Court Act, submitted by PiS, will take place. Simultaneously, the session will continue tomorrow morning. Between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, a voting block will be held. During this time, the Sejm will elect, among others, a judge of the Constitutional Tribunal.
Sejm committees will also convene today. At 1:00 PM, the Committee on Social Policy and Family will consider the aforementioned government draft bill extending 500+ to the first child. A second meeting of this committee – to consider amendments submitted during the second reading – is scheduled for 5:30 PM. At 3:30 PM, the Committee on Education, Science and Youth will consider and opine on the aforementioned motion for a vote of no confidence in Anna Zalewska.
At 10:00 AM, a press conference of the SLD with the participation of Włodzimierz Czarzasty, Marcin Kulasek, and Anna-Maria Żukowska will be held in the Sejm. The topic is the teachers' strike. At 5:00 PM, President Andrzej Duda will visit Łosice in the Mazovian Voivodeship, where he will meet with residents of the Łosice poviat. In turn, at 7:00 PM, an additional session of the Senate will begin, during which the aforementioned bill on Matura exams and the classification of Matura students will be considered.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will participate in the Summit of Heads of Government of the Visegrad Group Countries and Japan in Bratislava. At 10:10 AM, the Polish Prime Minister is scheduled to be welcomed by the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini; at 10:20 AM, a family photo; and at 10:25 AM, a meeting of the Visegrad Group Prime Ministers and Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe. Subsequently, at 11:30 AM, press statements by the Visegrad Group Prime Ministers and Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, are planned.
Furthermore, exactly 686 years ago, the seventh king of Poland – Casimir III the Great – was crowned in Wawel Cathedral in Krakow.
10:00 AM – First reading of the draft extending 500+ to the first child
10:00 AM – SLD press conference in the Sejm regarding the teachers' strike
10:25 AM – Meeting of the Visegrad Group Prime Ministers and Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe
11:00 AM – Adrian Zandberg's press conference in front of the National Stadium regarding the educational roundtable
11:30 AM – Possible Sejm vote
11:30 AM – Press statements by the Visegrad Group Prime Ministers and Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, in Bratislava
11:35 AM – First reading of the draft concerning Matura exams and the classification of Matura students
12:00 PM – Sejm briefing on the occasion of Marek Jakubiak assuming the presidency of the Confederation parliamentary group
1:00 PM – Break in Sejm proceedings
1:00 PM – Sejm committee meeting on the draft extending 500+ to the first child
2:00 PM – Possible Sejm vote
3:00 PM – Second reading of the so-called lex Uber bill
3:00 PM – Jarosław Wałęsa's press conference in Puck
3:30 PM – Sejm Education Committee on the motion to recall Minister Anna Zalewska
5:00 PM – Meeting of President Andrzej Duda with residents of the Łosice poviat
5:00 PM – Consideration by the Senate Committee on Science, Education and Sport of the bill on Matura exams and the classification of Matura students
5:30 PM – Consideration by the Sejm Committee on Education of amendments submitted during the second reading of the draft extending 500+ to the first child
6:00 PM – Second reading of the draft extending 500+ to the first child
6:00 PM – Meeting with Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz in Błonie
7:00 PM – Additional Senate session
9:00 PM – Consideration by the Sejm of the motion to recall Minister Marek Gróbarczyk
10:30 PM – Consideration by the Sejm of the motion to recall Minister Anna Zalewska
00:00 AM – Sejm votes
00:15 AM – First reading of the draft amendment to the Supreme Court Act submitted by PiS
07:53
Belka:
The Rulers Provoked This Protest by Scattering Tens of Billions, Clearly Stating It's Before the Elections
- I haven't been an advisor for a long time, but the first thing that comes to my mind is that the rulers provoked this protest [of teachers]. They provoked it by scattering tens of billions, clearly stating that it's before the elections. So, I apologize. All those who are financially dissatisfied must stand up for themselves. One could say that this government provoked the strike to cover up two things: Srebrna and the EU campaign - stated Marek Belka in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".
07:55
Belka:
This Government Has No Moral Right to Say the Budget Isn't Elastic
07:58
Belka:
Family Support Program Should Have Been Implemented in Platforma's Second Term
- I believe that such a family support program should have been implemented in Platforma's second term, not in 2015. At that time, it seems it would have only been 400+. It would have been earlier - stated Marek Belka in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Piasecki's Interview".
07:59
„This is systemic barbarism that will hurt us all” – said Krzysztof Baszczyński, deputy head of ZNP, about the changes in the education law in an interview with Karolina Lewicka on TOK FM Radio's Poranek – „This is a lack of imagination. It closes off a student's ability to appeal a grade. I cannot fathom how such a thing can be proposed and then adopted”.
07:59
"This will undoubtedly be the subject of discussion in the education committee, and there are teachers there. If they vote for such a solution, it is a disgrace for those who do so. I say this with full responsibility. Such a situation cannot be allowed to happen" – said Krzysztof Baszczyński, deputy head of the ZNP (Polish Teachers' Union), in an interview with Karolina Lewicka on Radio TOK FM's Poranek program.
07:59
„I want to believe that Mr. President, whose wife is a teacher, will not sign such a bill, because its consequences are dangerous. This is not a method for solving the problem” - said Krzysztof Baszczyński, deputy head of the Polish Teachers' Union (ZNP), in an interview with Karolina Lewicka on Radio TOK FM's Poranek.
08:04
Baszczyński:
I Want to Believe That Eventually Those Who Insult Us, Who Slap Us in the Face, Will Also Receive These Blows
"I don't quite understand who is orchestrating this negative PR, who has influence over how we are insulted. He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. I want to believe that eventually those who write these absurdities, who insult us, who slap us in the face, will also receive these blows" - said Krzysztof Baszczyński, deputy head of ZNP (Polish Teachers' Union), in an interview with Karolina Lewicka on Radio TOK FM's Morning Show.
08:05
Belka:
Poland's Strong Economic Climate and VAT Gap Reductions Were Underestimated. Decency Would Dictate Giving Szczurek Some Credit
- In many matters, despite great respect for Andrzej Rzońca, as we worked together in the Monetary Policy Council (RPP), I never agreed with [statements about the 100 billion PLN deficit]. I think, firstly, that the very good economic climate was underestimated, and secondly, the successes in reducing the VAT gap. Decency would dictate giving at least some credit to Minister Szczurek. Today, as the latest data show, we are already at a wall. There is no longer any VAT gap that can be exploited - stated Marek Belka in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".
08:10
- This is desperation, not sense [regarding the changes in OFE]. If someone is trying to, so to speak, bury the Srebrna affair for people before the elections, because that's what it's about. The Srebrna affair necessitated 'biting the grass,' as President Kaczyński said. One can best 'bite the grass' by handing out money - stated Marek Belka in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego."
08:12
Belka:
I Will Join the Socialist Faction in the EP
- [In the EP, I will join the faction] of Socialists and Democrats. Meaning, socialists. A decent person, if nominated for the European Coalition lists by the SLD, should not be scheming - stated Marek Belka in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Piasecki's Conversation".
08:20
Wojtunik:
I'm Not Going to War with Anyone. It Seems to Me the Current Leadership of Special Services and Coordinators are Trying to Go to War with Me
- I'm not going to war with anyone. It seems to me that the current leadership of the special services and coordinators have been trying to go to war with me for 3 years. I have filed a notification [to the prosecutor's office against Ernest Bejda] in the name of principles - stated Paweł Wojtunik in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.
08:26
Wojtunik:
I am most likely under surveillance
- Some time ago, I was informed that some group from the Border Guard was dealing with me. I laughed it off then, because I never worked for the Border Guard, nor do I have any ties to them, other than those resulting from cooperation. At that time, I wouldn't even have thought of such a thing, but it's no secret, I don't want to complain about myself, that's not my nature, but it's no secret that both the coordinators and the current leadership of the Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA) and the Internal Security Agency (ABW) have some delusions about me and the other former heads, Krzysztof Bondaryk and Janusz Nosek, and are undertaking various actions against us, more or less provocative. For example, I have information that all banking institutions have been checked or asked about my financial accounts. I inform everyone that I have an account at mBank. There's no need to ask all financial institutions. I have enough information from colleagues that surveillance cars, so-called RPZ [mobile surveillance units], are once again on duty. I will not disclose the details of these vehicles now, nor the details of who is parked under my block or other blocks in my neighborhood. Most likely, yes [I am under surveillance] - stated Paweł Wojtunik in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.
08:33
Szydło:
I Advocate for Offering Teachers a Support System During Systemic Changes
- Certainly, if we were to decide on introducing a variant that increases teaching hours for teachers, which would also be linked to a significant salary increase within 2-3 years – something the trade unions currently oppose – then in my opinion, we must also discuss certain support measures for those teachers who might wish to leave the profession or who would have the qualifications to change professions. This is because it's likely that such a provision could also serve as a guarantee for teachers to accept this proposal – stated Beata Szydło in an interview with Dorota Łosiewicz on TVP1's "Polityczny Kwadrans" (Political Quarter Hour).
- I am an advocate for proposing a support system for teachers at the moment we are changing the system. These early retirement options, or simply offering the possibility of such a form of early retirement for teachers who reach a certain age and also a specific number of years in the profession – variants that have been used before – seem to me to be one of the good solutions – added the Deputy Prime Minister.
08:42
Szydło:
I'm Starting to Wonder What the Real Goal of the Strike Called by ZNP Is. The Suspicion Arises That It's More About Politics Than Education
- During our talks in the Tripartite Commission, we constantly heard "no." Every government proposal, and there were several, was rejected. Now we hear that ZNP does not want to participate in the roundtable. Well, I'm starting to wonder what the real goal of the strike called by this union is. The suspicion inevitably arises that it's more about politics than education. If there is no willingness to talk and to resolve the crisis that has affected Polish schools, and if the strike is only being intensified... I also have the impression that this strike is starting to get a bit out of hand for Chairman Broniarz. This is because, at the moment, his pronouncements, for instance, or his appeal to teaching councils to still proceed with the classification for final year students, are met with a negative response. The question is whether Mr. Broniarz hasn't already inflamed the situation too much and whether he still controls it - stated Beata Szydło in an interview with Dorota Łosiewicz on TVP1's "Political Quarter Hour."
08:49
- We had discussed potential changes concerning education law and matriculation exams earlier. We were prepared for such an eventuality. I personally spoke with President Kaczyński and Minister Zalewska about this before the holidays. Of course, we were waiting all along; we were prepared, the draft bill was ready, prepared by the ministry. However, we were also continuously awaiting a decision from the trade unions, and it seemed that the decision regarding matriculation exams would be positive, concerning the pedagogical councils. But because the situation is currently uncertain and it might happen that in some schools there will be no classification, we cannot allow young people to miss the chance to take [the matriculation exam] – stated Beata Szydło in an interview with Dorota Łosiewicz on TVP1's "Political Fifteen Minutes".
08:55
Schetyna:
Parliament's Work Organization Resembles that of the Polish State. This Terrifies Me. It's a Group of Amateurs Who Drop Everything.
„The organization of the Sejm’s work looks like the organization of the Polish state’s work. This terrifies me. It’s a group of amateurs who drop everything, and we see that today. The problem truly exists and needs to be solved, but not by telling local government officials to handle classification because we can’t talk to teachers” - said PO leader Grzegorz Schetyna in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News.
09:11
"They don't want to reach an agreement. Why isn't the Prime Minister talking? Why, in the third week of the strike, isn't he initiating talks in the dramatic situation of Polish schools? Why isn't the Prime Minister talking to the teachers? Why is he running away from this? Why is he hiding behind Kuchciński, Karczewski, and Duda?" said PO leader Grzegorz Schetyna in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News.
09:15
Schetyna:
The form of the strike is drastic, dramatic, but because no one engaged in talks
"The form of the teachers' strike is drastic, it is dramatic, because a strike, not conducting classes, is the ultimate step, but I believe it is because no one engaged in talks with the unions and teachers. There were no discussions, and these are the consequences. PiS bears 100% responsibility for the situation in Polish schools"
- said the Civic Platform (PO) leader Grzegorz Schetyna in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News.09:38
Lubnauer:
Poland Needed a Round Table Twice: After 45 Years of PRL and Now After 3 Years of Zalewska's Rule at the Ministry of Education. This Shows the Scale of Destruction in Polish Education
- In the history of Poland, a round table was needed twice. After 45 years of PRL, and now after 3 years of Minister Zalewska's rule at the Ministry of National Education. This, in my opinion, testifies to the scale of destruction in Polish education. I would like to remind you that this education has been very intensively reformed by Minister Zalewska for 3.5 years. The destruction is greater than perhaps Bismarck ever did to Polish education – stated Katarzyna Lubnauer in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.
- A bad government that was unable to bring the strike to an end must solve problems with prosthetics. In this sense, this act [on matura exams] is a necessity, but it is a bad act, implemented in an urgent manner, although we are aware of the problem – she added.
09:38
Lubnauer:
There's no formal leader of the European Coalition, but Schetyna is undoubtedly the leader of its largest party.
- [Grzegorz Schetyna] is certainly the head of the largest grouping within the European Coalition. The EC has five leaders. These are the leaders of the five groupings that signed the agreement. There is no formal leader of the entire European Coalition, but Schetyna is undoubtedly the leader of the largest of these groupings - stated Katarzyna Lubnauer in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.
10:12
According to information obtained by 300POLITYKA, the Sejm will not consider the draft amendment to the Supreme Court Act during this session. Following changes to the schedule, voting blocks are planned for 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and midnight. Additionally, the Sejm will debate the motion to dismiss Anna Zalewska at 10:30 PM, and Marek Gróbarczyk at 9:00 PM. Tomorrow, another voting block is scheduled between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, although there are rumors about the possibility of it being moved to tonight.
10:24
The Sejm was scheduled to address the draft amendment to the Supreme Court Act submitted by PiS tonight. However, this item – as reported by 300POLITYCE – was removed from the agenda this morning. It now turns out that PiS has submitted an amendment to this draft. Its content is not yet available.
10:53
Dworczyk:
Invitations to the Round Table Sent to All, ZNP First and Foremost
„I would like to appeal to this trade union [ZNP] and to all others to meet tomorrow at 12 PM in the conference rooms of the National Stadium and begin a dialogue. Invitations have been sent to everyone. Of course, to the Polish Teachers' Union as well, perhaps even first and foremost” – stated Minister Michał Dworczyk at a press conference in the Sejm. „Besides sending them in paper form, we have also sent emails with a scanned copy of a similar letter, so there should be no doubt that these invitations have arrived”.
11:10
“The legislative process takes longer [than 1.5 hours]. It’s not just the Sejm. There is the Senate and the President’s signature. All [works] are carried out in accordance with current law. Indeed, it is an extraordinary procedure because the situation is extraordinary. Who could have predicted that some unionists, teachers rather cynically exploited by them, would take final-year students hostage and lead to a situation where we are unsure if the final exams will take place? Hence Prime Minister Morawiecki's decision that the state of uncertainty must be ended and the law changed so that the final exams can take place” – said Minister Michał Dworczyk at a press conference in the Sejm.
11:18
Nitras:
What PiS Distributes at Saturday Election Conventions Must Be Collected from Our Taxes Within a Week
“All these Fridays and what PiS calls President Kaczyński's gifts will be financed by Polish taxpayers, and particularly by Polish entrepreneurs. What Minister Czerwińska euphemistically calls an increase in tax revenues is nothing other than a whole series of new and higher taxes that Poles will be paying from January 1, 2020,” said Izabela Leszczyna from Civic Platform (PO) at a press conference in the Sejm.
“What PiS distributes on Saturdays at election conventions, must be collected from our taxes within a week. There are 10 such taxes. Kaczyński's Five actually costs us Kaczyński's Ten, and incidentally creates something that may not be a popular slogan yet, but a certain term with which Prime Minister Morawiecki will go down in history – the term 'Morawiecki's Hole'. They manage to spend all the money that we, as a state, possessed,” added Sławomir Nitras.
12:42
Lubnauer:
Nowoczesna will not participate in the PMM roundtable talks. There is no sense in a debate aimed at being a government media stunt
https://twitter.com/KLubnauer/status/1121363280604409856
12:49
First Reading of the Bill on Matriculation Exams in the Sejm:
The Situation is Extraordinary.
- Growing chaos and a sense of uncertainty as to whether the matriculation exams will take place have caused Prime Minister Morawiecki to submit to the Council of Ministers yesterday, and today we are presenting a draft bill in the Sejm which will guarantee that every graduating student will be able to take the maturity exam on May 6th - stated Michał Dworczyk during the first reading of the draft bill concerning matriculation exams and the classification of graduating students.
- The government is presenting a project dictated by concern for the well-being of graduating students. They must have certainty that they will be able to take the exam - the head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister continued. - The procedure is exceptional because the situation is extraordinary, and the state cannot be passive in such a situation. The state cannot be theoretical; the state must create mechanisms for action in extraordinary moments - he added.
13:04
A self-amendment to the bill amending the Supreme Court Act, submitted by PiS (Law and Justice party), effectively nullifies the earlier proposal designed to "safeguard" against potential obstruction in the procedure for electing the First President of the Supreme Court and chamber presidents. The self-amendment also scraps the change that would have expanded the powers of the Disciplinary Chamber, specifically its handling of requests to lift judges' immunity.
- This self-amendment introduces fundamental changes to the draft act amending the Supreme Court Act and other acts. All changes have been deleted from the draft, except for provisions concerning regulations related to nomination proceedings for judicial positions - it was stated in the justification.
This means that only the provisions remain, which, according to the opposition, PiS will use to challenge future rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). In practice, this concerns the termination of proceedings related to the appointment of Supreme Court judges made by the National Judicial Council (KRS), for which preliminary questions were posed to the CJEU.
According to Marek Ast, the Speaker of the Sejm had doubts regarding the so-called anti-obstruction procedure in the election of the aforementioned First President of the Supreme Court, because the Constitution clearly states that the First President of the Supreme Court is appointed by the President for a six-year term from among candidates presented by the General Assembly of Supreme Court judges. This provision would have been utilized if there had been a change of government and president, and the "old" judges attempted to block the election procedure until a new head of state was appointed.
13:16
SLD:
We Will Not Participate in a Pseudo-Round Table on Education, We Condemn the Procedure for the Student Classification Bill
13:22
According to the current schedule, the second reading of the amended bill on the Supreme Court will take place at 9:00 PM. Following an amendment proposed by PiS, the project has been significantly shortened, a development we reported on 300POLITYCE. The first reading, in this case, will likely occur during a committee session.
https://twitter.com/MichalOlech/status/1121373390961553410
13:28
Broniarz:
ZNP Suspends Strike from Saturday. Suspends, But Doesn't End It
- From Saturday, April 27th, 6:00 AM, ZNP will suspend the nationwide strike. It will suspend, but not end it. I will say more, from today we are entering a new phase, which will be much more difficult, but which will also reveal a new face of the new protest. We are halfway there, but I can unequivocally state that today, or tomorrow, or in the coming days, we will not sign the agreement that the government has reached with 'Solidarność' - stated Sławomir Broniarz at a briefing.
13:29
Broniarz:
Prime Minister Morawiecki, we give you until September
- Prime Minister Morawiecki, we are giving you until September. We are waiting for concrete solutions from you. We will present our proposals, but we expect a complete, masculine attitude from you that will also respond to the expectations of over half a million teachers and several hundred thousand parents and students. We are waiting for your solution to this problem - stated Sławomir Broniarz at a press briefing.
13:39
Broniarz:
In June, We Want to Organize a Real Educational Roundtable
- In June, we want to organize a real educational roundtable. We also want to build a broad coalition for the creation of this September package, a good education. We also want to promote the 'School for a Six' program, which will be our approach towards the needs of students, teachers, and parents. It will respond to the real needs of this community. We want to develop it together with social partners, students, parents, non-governmental organizations, and experts who, regardless of the circumstances we have had to work in, have often stood by our side – stated Sławomir Broniarz at a briefing.
14:11
Szydło:
Thank You for ZNP's Decision. Good, Important, and Necessary for Everyone
“Today’s decision by ZNP regarding the suspension of the strike is good news, a good decision. It is a decision that takes into account the well-being of high school seniors and the well-being of children. We are very pleased with this decision. The problems of education remain issues to be resolved, which is why the formula of a round table and discussions on changes in education is still relevant,” said Deputy Marshal Beata Mazurek at a press conference in the Sejm. “We are pleased that high school seniors will be able to calmly take their matriculation exams and that this stress, associated with this situation, will no longer affect them and their parents.”
“I want to thank ZNP for this decision. It is a good, important, and necessary decision for everyone, primarily for high school seniors and their parents, but also necessary for teachers. The government is open to talks. We want to conduct a dialogue and, as we have declared, we want to seek solutions that will also be accepted by the social side,” added Deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydło.
14:11
Dworczyk:
We have no guarantee that classifications will take place in all schools, hence the necessity of this act
- We have no guarantee that these classifications will take place in all schools, hence the necessity of this act. We cannot risk even one school where the matriculation exams might not be held, because the well-being of the matriculant is the highest priority here – stated Michał Dworczyk in the Sejm, during the discussion on the draft act concerning matriculation exams.
14:14
„We are not withdrawing the bill. We will proceed with the bill to the end in case of any eventuality and a situation that may not be foreseeable today, but could happen. We have an obligation and we want to protect ourselves against a situation where high school graduates would be deprived of taking their exams” - said Deputy Marshal Beata Mazurek at a press conference in the Sejm.
14:54
; Emilewicz confirms, but a method for enforcing current law is to be developed:
There is a Council of Ministers' resolution." The government abandons the introduction of the "entrepreneur's test
- Yes, there is yesterday's Council of Ministers' resolution. At the same time, we are to develop principles at the Social Dialogue Council for enforcing currently binding law, because we are also aware that the creativity of the Polish entrepreneur sometimes makes self-employment tempting - Jadwiga Emilewicz said in an interview with Radio Wrocław. As the Minister of Entrepreneurship emphasized, the Council of Ministers accepted her proposal, and the "entrepreneur's test" will not be introduced.
14:58
The Law and Justice (PiS) party employed a method previously seen when adopting amendments, such as to the Institute of National Remembrance Act. Following the first reading, a motion was submitted to proceed immediately to the second reading, without referring the bill to a committee, and then to proceed immediately to the third reading, which is the vote. The law will now go to the Senate. A Senate committee meeting on this matter will take place at 5:00 PM, after which the bill will move to the plenary hall – an additional session will commence at 7:00 PM.
15:27
“The primary goal that guided us and continues to guide us is for high school graduates to be able to take their final exams. We can be on different sides of this protest, we can argue with each other, but most of us, once upon a time, when the chestnuts bloomed, took our final exams and remember what a stressful time it was. We could not and cannot afford to have any uncertainty for high school graduates regarding the possibility of taking their final exams,” Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said at a press conference.
15:35
„I accept with satisfaction ZNP's declaration to suspend the strike. I would appeal for it to be suspended as soon as possible, which I have already requested, but it is good that this declaration has been made. We are very open. We invite [parties] to the round table. If any debates are to take place in a different format, we want to invite [parties] to a common format. Experts from both sides will certainly talk, because this dialogue is necessary” – said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference.
16:03
Gasiuk-Pihowicz:
Amendment to the Supreme Court Act Symbolizes PiS Politicians Admitting Guilt
- The amendment to the Supreme Court Act is a symbol of PiS politicians admitting their guilt. It's an admission that they acted wrongly, that they enacted legislation for the National Council of the Judiciary and the Supreme Court that was unconstitutional and inconsistent with EU law. Today's law, rushed through and passed by the Polish Sejm under the cover of night, is an attempt to cover up traces, but also an attempt to protect themselves from potential adverse consequences of the ECJ's ruling. PiS is trying to discontinue proceedings that were the basis for preliminary questions to the ECJ, and in doing so, PiS is shouting that it is guilty. Otherwise, they would have patiently waited for the ECJ's ruling - stated Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz at a briefing in the Sejm.
16:23
Tusk's Recording with His Grandchild is an Instagram Hit:
I'm Not a Grandma.
View this post on Instagram.
18:22
19:29
Yesterday, the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee was supposed to – as we wrote about on 300POLITYCE – endorse the candidacy of Tomasz Szatkowski for the position of Ambassador of the Republic of Poland. Ultimately, this did not happen because – as we hear from politicians on the committee – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the cancellation of the candidate's hearing in the morning.
This is another failed attempt. In February, the same committee, by a vote of 7:6, negatively endorsed Szatkowski's candidacy. Szatkowski was a candidate for the position of Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to NATO; now, the current Deputy Minister of National Defence is once again applying for the post of Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to NATO. Furthermore, Szatkowski is to represent Poland at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague.
Photo: Ministry of National Defence
19:48
Szydło:
A High Chance of Reaching an Agreement with All Trade Union Centers
- I think there is a very high chance of signing this agreement with all trade union centers. I am pleased and above all, I am very grateful for today's decision by ZNP, because it is important primarily for graduating students, but I believe it is also a good moment to calm down the dispute, to move on to discussions, and we invite you to this dialogue - stated Beata Szydło in an interview with Grzegorz Kajdanowicz on TVN24's "Fakty po faktach".
19:48
„Today’s decision is a response to students’ needs. We are not downplaying their problem. We are not playing with emotions. We do not want to spoil the law, and under no circumstances do we want to agree to a child being graded based on an arithmetic average or for someone who does not know the student to have the possibility of grading them. A grade is not merely the sum of marks divided by their number” – said Sławomir Broniarz, head of ZNP, in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on Polsat News’s “Wydarzenia i opinie” (Events and Opinions).
19:49
Broniarz:
My Future Depends Solely on ZNP Members, and I Will Respect Every Decision
„I respect the decision of every teacher. My future depends solely on the members of the Polish Teachers' Union (ZNP), and I will respect every decision made by the members. No one has betrayed anyone. Today's decision by the Main Board, adopted unanimously, not as a result of emotions or a momentary impulse, but after a thorough analysis of the situation we are in as a country, was the only rational decision. We could not allow a situation where parliament leads to a catastrophe related to the classification of children” – said the head of ZNP, Sławomir Broniarz, in a conversation with Bogdan Rymanowski in „Wydarzenia i opinie” on Polsat News.
19:51
Szydło:
Now is the time to talk about the future, and it's a good moment for both sides to seek compromise
- Now is the time to talk about the future, and it's a good moment for both sides to seek compromise. On our side, there is great openness. We want this openness to appear on the part of social partners as well - stated Beata Szydło in an interview with Grzegorz Kajdanowicz on "Fakty po faktach" on TVN24.
19:53
Broniarz:
We Would Like President Duda to Hold Honorary Patronage Over the Round Table
„We would like President Andrzej Duda to hold honorary patronage over the round table, following the example of his predecessor, the late Lech Kaczyński, who organized this round table in 2008 on entirely different principles, with full professionalism and commitment” – said Sławomir Broniarz, the head of ZNP, in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on "Wydarzenia i opinie" on Polsat News.
19:57
- Today's decision by the Polish Teachers' Union (ZNP) confirms that teachers were able to act responsibly. Let's also remember the teachers who stayed with their students during the gimnazjum exams and those finishing primary school. We know this group, which also had a difficult time, faced various kinds of pressure from within the profession. We must sincerely thank them and emphasize that they remained with their students throughout, even though many of them likely agreed with the demands of their striking colleagues. However, now we need to calm the situation, de-escalate, bridge the divisions within the teaching community, and I will repeat – seek compromise. There are no winners here, because that wasn't the point and still isn't. Here, we can take satisfaction that the graduating students can calmly prepare for their exams over the next few days and that they will be able to take these exams peacefully – stated Beata Szydło in an interview with Grzegorz Kajdanowicz on TVN24's "Fakty po faktach".
20:10
20:19
PMM:
We Appeal to All Opposition, to All Parliamentarians, to Vote for the 500+ Bill
- Debating different programs is, of course, the salt of democracy, but in this case, in the case of this civilizational project, the 500+ for every child, we appeal to the entire opposition, to all parliamentarians, to vote for this project, because it is a project that will change life in Poland in three dimensions – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in the Sejm.
20:25
Kukiz:
Broniarz Should Announce His Resignation Today
“Sławomir Broniarz should primarily announce his resignation today, as he has not met the teachers' expectations, but rather has led them into this situation. There is a mood of immense dejection” - Paweł Kukiz said in an interview with Monika Olejnik on "Kropka nad i" on TVN24.
21:13
-- LIVEBLOG 300POLITYKI:
PMM: I am very pleased that the 500+ program is gaining increasing acceptance on the opposition side as well. After all, one does not have to criticize everything.
Kukiz: Broniarz should announce today that he is resigning.
PMM: We appeal to the entire opposition, to all parliamentarians, to vote for the draft concerning 500+.
Szydło on suspending the strike: There are no winners here, because that's not the point.
Broniarz: We would like President Duda to hold honorary patronage over the round table.
Szydło: Now we need to talk about the future, and it's a good moment for both sides to seek compromise.
Broniarz: My future depends solely on the members of ZNP, and I will respect any decision.
Broniarz on the ZNP decision: We do not downplay the students' problem. We are not playing with emotions. We do not want to spoil the law.
Szydło: There is a very good chance that this agreement will be signed with all trade union centers.
PAD: I thank ZNP for the decision to suspend the strike. I ask all teachers to ensure a peaceful passing of the matura exams for the youth.
PAD: The demand presented by ZNP was simply unrealistic.
“I am not a grandmother.” Tusk's recording with his grandson is a hit on Instagram.
Gasiuk-Pihowicz: The amendment to the Supreme Court Act is a symbol of PiS politicians admitting guilt.
PMM asked about the express mode of work on the educational law amendment: You could say that Lewandowski scored a beautiful goal, or there could have been more goals in the match, but the most important thing is that Lewandowski was effective.
https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/04/25/
*****
WYDARZENIA POLSATU
-- GOOD NEWS FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS – ZNP IS SUSPENDING THE STRIKE FROM SATURDAY – announcement.
-- THE ROW OVER GOVERNMENT CHANGES IN EDUCATIONAL LAW WAS HANGING IN THE AIR SINCE MORNING – Agnieszka Milczarz.
-- A FEW HOURS LATER, PiS POLITICIANS AND THE PRESIDENT THANKED THE TRADE UNIONISTS FOR SUSPENDING THE STRIKE – Milczarz continues.
-- FRAGMENTS OF THE DEBATE ON THE DRAFT LAW CONCERNING MATURA EXAMS.
-- DESPITE THE SUSPENSION OF THE STRIKE, PiS HAS NOT WITHDRAWN THE LAW FROM THE SEJM – Milczarz.
-- PRIME MINISTER MORAWIECKI UNEXPECTEDLY COMPARED THE PASSAGE OF CHANGES IN EDUCATIONAL LAW TO A GAME BY THE CAPTAIN OF THE POLISH NATIONAL TEAM – Milczarz continues.
-- TONIGHT, THE SEJM IS TO DEBATE THE THIRD MOTION BY PLATFORMA TO REMOVE ANNA ZALEWSKA – Milczarz.
-- THE PROTEST IS SUSPENDED, BUT SCHOOL PROBLEMS REMAIN – NOT ALL TEACHERS SUPPORT THE ZNP DECISION – announcement.
-- PROTESTING TEACHERS SAY THEY ARE NOT LAYING DOWN THEIR ARMS AND CONSIDER THE THREE-WEEK STRIKE ITSELF A SUCCESS – Piotr Michalak.
-- THERE ARE ZNP MEMBERS WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR BOSS'S DECISION – Michalak continues.
-- THE PRESIDENT OF ZNP PRESENTS A NEW LIST OF DEMANDS – Michalak.
-- THE SEJM WAS ALSO HEATED DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT'S DRAFT EXPANDING THE 500+ PROGRAM TO EVERY CHILD – no material.
*****
FAKTY TVN
-- TEACHERS ARE SUSPENDING THE STRIKE FROM SATURDAY – announcement.
-- WHEN ANNOUNCING THIS MOST DIFFICULT DECISION SINCE THE START OF THE STRIKE, THE HEAD OF ZNP WAS AWARE THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE WERE THEM, ITS EXECUTORS AND HARDEST CRITICS – Arleta Zalewska.
-- THE MATERIAL FEATURES REACTIONS OF TEACHERS AFTER THE ZNP DECISION.
-- AMONG THE TEACHERS WHO WILL RETURN TO THEIR SCHOOLS ON MONDAY AFTER ALMOST THREE WEEKS, RELIEF MIXES WITH THE DESIRE FOR FURTHER, JUSTIFIED, IN THEIR OPINION, STRUGGLE – Zalewska.
-- THE DECISION WAS MADE UNANIMOUSLY BY THE UNION'S AUTHORITIES – Zalewska continues.
-- TEACHERS ARE RETURNING TO WORK; THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN CLASSIFICATION BOARD MEETINGS, ISSUE GRADES, AND FINALLY CONDUCT THE MATURA EXAMS – Zalewska.
-- THE PROTEST ACTION, HOWEVER, CONTINUES – Zalewska continues.
-- ONE THING REMAINS UNCHANGED: THE UNION WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN TOMORROW'S ROUND TABLE; IT HAS NEW PROPOSALS – Zalewska.
-- MATURA EXPRESS IN PARLIAMENT – announcement.
-- THE MAJORITY OF PiS DEPUTIES DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THE SPEECHES OF THE ZNP HEAD LIVE; MOST OF THEM WERE SITTING IN THE SEJM HALL AT THE TIME AND ADOPTING THE LAW THAT WAS MEANT TO EXERT POWERFUL PRESSURE ON TEACHERS – Krzysztof Skórzyński: Time is of fundamental importance here, because ZNP announced the suspension of the strike before PiS adopted this resolution.
-- THE LAW, WHICH PiS ADOPTED AT A SPEED UNPRECEDENTED EVEN IN THIS SEJM TERM, ALLOWS FOR A SITUATION WHERE, IF THERE IS NO ONE TO ISSUE GRADES TO MATURA STUDENTS BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE STRIKING, THE SCHOOL DIRECTOR OR A TEACHER APPOINTED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COULD DO SO – Skórzyński continues.
-- EXCEPT THAT THE TEACHERS SUSPENDED THEIR STRIKE AND WILL ISSUE THE GRADES THEMSELVES – Skórzyński.
-- DESPITE THE DECISION TO SUSPEND THE STRIKE, PiS ADOPTED THE REGULATIONS – Skórzyński continues.
-- THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO ADOPT THE LAW AT A SPRINTING PACE ANYWAY SHOWS WHAT THE ALMOST 3-WEEK-LONG TALKS WITH TEACHERS HAVE ENDED IN – Skórzyński: They ended in a complete loss of trust between the government and the striking teachers.
-- THIS IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST CHARACTERISTIC SCENES IN POLITICS IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS – Skórzyński continues: It shows how long a constitutional minister, a member of the government, had to wait to exchange a few words with Jarosław Kaczyński. Here, we see the Minister of Education, who did not utter a single word during the entire debate about the crisis in education.
-- SUCH IMAGES DO NOT INDICATE HER STRONG POSITION AFTER THE STRIKE CRISIS, QUITE THE CONTRARY – Skórzyński.
-- TODAY, THERE WILL STILL BE A DEBATE ON THE REMOVAL OF ANNA ZALEWSKA – Skórzyński continues.
-- BY DECISION OF THE MARSHAL OF THE SEJM FROM PiS, IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT NIGHT – Skórzyński.
-- THE ARMY IS TRAINING FOR A BIG PARADE.
*****
WIADOMOŚCI TVP
-- ZNP IS SUSPENDING THE NATIONWIDE STRIKE. THE SEJM WORKED FROM MORNING ON CHANGES TO THE REGULATIONS THAT WILL PREVENT TRADE UNIONISTS FROM BLOCKING MATURA EXAMS IN THE FUTURE – announcement.
-- THE SEJM WORKED ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS AT RECORD SPEED – Maksymilian Maszenda.
-- THE PO-KO CLUB SHARPLY ATTACKED THE GOVERNMENT FOR PREPARING THE LAW – Maszenda.
-- ZNP UNEXPECTEDLY ANNOUNCED ITS DECISION – Maszenda: Equally unexpected was that Broniarz listed what ZNP managed to achieve in talks with the government.
-- DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SZYDŁO THANKED FOR SUSPENDING THE STRIKE. PRESIDENT DUDA ALSO THANKED – Maszenda.
-- HOW WILL THE WORK OF EDUCATORS WITH STUDENTS, WHOM THEY WANTED TO DEPRIVE OF MATURA EXAMS MOMENTS EARLIER, LOOK NOW? ACCORDING TO EXPERTS, THE IMAGE OF TEACHERS HAS SUFFERED DURING THE STRIKE – announcement.
-- SOME TEACHERS CALL BRONARZ A TRAITOR – Rafał Wolski.
-- THE STRIKE'S DEFEAT WAS INEVITABLE. TEACHERS MUST HAVE KNOWN THIS – Wolski.
-- WORK IS UNDERWAY IN THE SEJM ON EXPANDING THE FLAGSHIP 500+ PROGRAM TO EVERY CHILD – announcement: This is already the second implemented proposal from the so-called Kaczyński's "five."
21:40
At 10:00 PM, the second reading of the draft amendment to the Act on the Supreme Court will take place. This amendment, following the introduction of self-corrections, no longer actually amends the Act on the Supreme Court. At 10:45 PM, the Sejm will consider a motion of no confidence in Marek Gróbarczyk, and at midnight – a motion of no confidence in Anna Zalewska. A block of votes will commence at 1:00 AM and last until 2:30 AM. This is according to the updated Sejm schedule. Simultaneously, tomorrow's morning votes will not take place. During the voting block, MPs will elect a new Constitutional Tribunal judge, and will most likely also adopt a draft extending the 500+ benefit to the first child.
21:55
21:59
- On behalf of the PiS parliamentary club, I would like to present an amendment. One amendment concerns Article 3. It currently relates to proceedings before the Supreme Administrative Court (NSA) under the procedure of Article 44(1a), and its purpose is to specify that the discontinuation of all these proceedings will occur by operation of law, meaning their discontinuation will happen automatically upon the entry into force of the proposed act. Simultaneously, I would like to submit a motion to proceed to the third reading without sending the amendments back to committee – stated Waldemar Buda in the Sejm, during the consideration of the amendment to the act on the Supreme Court, which, after the introduction of an automatic amendment, no longer changes the Act on the Supreme Court.
I am once again requesting the President’s decision.
- Kosiniak-Kamysz on the SAFE program with the EU Commissioner for Defence
Hot Topic
A Young Generation Politician, President's Age.
- Błaszczak on PiS's Prime Minister Candidate
Hot Topic
Hot Topic
If it's to be political theater, we don't want to participate.
- Grabiec on the lack of an official invitation
Hot Topic
I am very interested in SAFE being supplemented with funds from the NBP
- Kosiniak-Kamysz
Hot Topic
There's No Such Thing as "SAFE 0%"
- Domański
Hot Topic
Witaj na 300polityka AI!
Zadaj pytanie, które pomoże Ci lepiej zrozumieć świat polityki, kampanii wyborczych, mediów i strategii. AI odpowie na podstawie wiarygodnych źródeł i aktualnych danych.