Live Feed

06/18/2019

07:55

Tuesday's Political Agenda: Government Session, Cichocki and Jasser Before the VAT Committee, Committee on Westerplatte Special Act, Schetyna's Conference

The government session will begin at 10:00 AM. Ministers will address the anti-usury bill and the bill on the compensation system for energy-intensive sectors and sub-sectors.

Also starting at 10:00 AM, the parliamentary committee of inquiry into VAT fraud will first hear testimony from former Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister Jacek Cichocki, and then from former Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adam Jasser.

At 1:00 PM, the parliamentary infrastructure committee will hold its first reading of the PiS-proposed bill on investments related to the construction of the Westerplatte and World War 1939 Museum – a branch of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk.

At 1:45 PM, a press conference will be held in Kruszyn with the participation of the Civic Platform leader Grzegorz Schetyna, MP Arkadiusz Myrcha, Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Piotr Całbecki, and the Mayor of Włocławek Marek Wojtkowski.


08:08

Horała on the VAT Gap: Tusk's Responsibility at This Moment, One Can Say He Wasn't Interested in This Matter At All

- We are working on it [the report from the parliamentary committee of inquiry into VAT]. It is known that the initial stage of work on the report involves describing the documents, what each witness testified. When we talk about Donald Tusk's responsibility, we also enter into legal issues here. For example, in Poland, the Prime Minister is not the official superior of the ministers; he only presides over the Council of Ministers' deliberations. So it is better to talk about a human and substantive assessment, and the legal assessment is a matter of final analysis - stated Marcin Horała in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

- [Someone] should bear responsibility [for the VAT gap]. I am not prejudging at this moment whether before the State Tribunal or before an ordinary court. Whether Donald Tusk [should], I will refrain for now. In my opinion, undoubtedly Minister Rostowski. We have already filed such notifications to the prosecutor's office. Undoubtedly Minister Szczurek, several from the group of Deputy Ministers of Finance, those responsible for VAT or tax control, and a few other people. Tusk's responsibility at this moment, one can say that he was not interested in this matter at all, and the question is, to what extent can we expect the Prime Minister to be interested in such a matter where billions are lost from the budget - he added.


08:30

Horała Asked When the Final Report Draft of the VAT Committee Will Appear: Realistically, Towards the End of August, Around August 20th-25th

- That's a tough question [about the draft final report of the VAT investigative committee], because I have to write it. I think, realistically, we will present it publicly towards the end of August, around August 20th-25th. Then there will be some time for submitting amendments, and I think in the first week of September, the committee will conclude its work and adopt the report - stated Marcin Horała in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".


08:41

Karczewski on Additional Senate Session: We Will Definitely Work on Electricity Price Law, Teacher's Charter Will Also Be Amended
The agenda includes laws that have been agreed upon with ministries and the Prime Minister's Chancellery. I don't know the exact details, I haven't familiarized myself with them in great detail – stated Stanisław Karczewski in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on "Salon polityczny Trójki" (Trójka Political Salon), when asked about the additional Senate session next week, which we wrote about on 300POLITYKA. The electricity price law will definitely be on the agenda; I spoke with Minister Tchórzewski. We will certainly work on this law – emphasized the Marshal of the Senate. – There will also be changes to the Teacher's Charter. I know that committees are already working on this law. Senators are also preparing for this bill – he added.

08:57

Sasin on Tusk's VAT Commission Testimony: A Performance by an Actor Who Forgot His Role. We Learned the Prime Minister of the Polish State Knew Nothing and Understood Nothing.

Nobody, it seems, wielded propaganda as effectively as Donald Tusk. Even the tapes from the Sowa and Friends restaurant revealed how Donald Tusk's friends referred to his words about gasoline prices, where Tusk said one thing publicly and something else entirely in the company of his colleagues. It was an astonishing spectacle, yesterday's testimony. A spectacle that, from Donald Tusk's side, was a performance by an actor who perhaps forgot his role, because we learned that the Prime Minister of the Polish state, for many years deciding how Poland is managed, knew nothing, understood nothing” – said Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin in an interview with Piotr Goćek on „Sygnały dnia” on Polish Radio Program I.


09:03

Sasin:

Poles Can Today Say They Live in a State That Cares for and Supports Its Citizens

"I hope that over the last 4 years we have satisfied the absolute top priorities of citizens. Needs that stemmed directly from the inability to live with dignity. 500+, which today reaches Polish families, the thirteenth pension, support for various other social groups have led to Poles being able to say today that they live in a state that cares for its citizens and supports its citizens. We will focus on improving the quality of healthcare. Such are the societal expectations" - said Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin in an interview with Piotr Gocek on "Sygnały dnia" on Polish Radio's Program I.


09:04

Sasin:

The Katowice Convention Will Not Be a Platform for Announcing the Next Election Program; It Will Be a Forum for Discussion and Proposal Generation
"This program convention in Katowice at the beginning of July will not be a place where we will announce a ready-made program for the next elections, for the next term. It will be a place for discussion, where various kinds of proposals will be generated, which we will then discuss during meetings with citizens," said Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin in an interview with Piotr Gociek on "Sygnały dnia" on Polish Radio Program I.

09:05

Karczewski:

Convention on July 5-7 in Katowice. It will be a brainstorming session

- This will not be a convention [in July] where we will propose. It will be a brainstorming session. We have invited our advisors. I'm talking about the July [congress], on July 5, 6, 7 in Katowice, where we will have a meeting, just like 4 years ago, we also had such a huge convention, a conference where we discussed many different problems in various panels - stated Stanisław Karczewski in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on "Trójka's Political Salon".


09:19

Sasin:

If PiS Rules, the 13th Pension Will Be Paid Next Year and Every Year Thereafter

If PiS rules, the 13th pension will be paid next year and every subsequent year. We decided to introduce this benefit this year with the intention of changing it into a statutory benefit from next year, but this will genuinely depend on whether we can continue to hold power. We do not want to undertake an obligation when we do not know if we will be governing in the next term,” said Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin in an interview with Piotr Gocek on “Sygnały dnia” on Polskie Radio Program I.


09:57

Müller:

No legislative work on the death penalty at the government level

- There is no legislative work on the death penalty at the government level. There is also no [discussion]. No legislative work is being conducted, nothing is on the government's legislative work agenda regarding the introduction of the death penalty, nor is such a discussion taking place within internal bodies. Let's also remember that we are bound by European law, the European Convention on Human Rights, and EU regulations, and there is no possibility to introduce such a penalty - stated Piotr Müller in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.


09:58

Kosiniak-Kamysz on Truth Party: 'I'm Not Afraid.' PSL Councilors Didn't Defect to PiS, a Modern Party Member Did.
'I'm not afraid [of the Truth party]. Many have already said that PSL councilors would be switching to PiS's side in the local government elections. A Modern party councilor switched, not any PSL councilor. We haven't betrayed our ideals. When we were forming the European Coalition, everyone was also saying: 'Well, this will be a revolution, PSL is collapsing.' And I've been hearing this for 20 years. We are changing, we are a different party now. We refer to our roots, but we are also gaining votes in small towns and increasingly in large cities' – said the leader of PSL, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.

10:04

Müller on the July Convention: It will be dozens of panels, more of a melting pot of program ideas. Based on this intellectual ferment, we will develop the program

- This is a meeting [the July convention] where there will be several dozen different panels. There will also be sessions to summarize the last 4 years we have been governing as the PiS government. However, it is rather a melting pot of program ideas. We want to show, just as we had a convention in Katowice in 2015, how broadly we view various state matters and how our experts, or even experts who are not favorable to the PiS government, express their views on these matters. Based on this, based on this intellectual ferment, we will then develop the program - stated Piotr Müller in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.


10:17

Müller:

We Want to Hold a Conference After Every Government Session, or a Spokesperson's Briefing If Not. The Prime Minister's Conference Will Be the Rule, but Some Exceptions Will Occur Due to Other Duties

- We want to have such a conference after every Council of Ministers session, a real-time one. If not, then a press spokesperson's briefing, and here I will answer current topics. The Prime Minister's conference will be the rule, but of course, some exceptions will occur due to other duties - stated Piotr Müller in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.


11:16

Spring Coordinator in Świętokrzyskie Resigns, Seeks Cooperation with SLD

At 12:00 PM in Kielce, a press conference will be held – a joint statement by Małgorzata Marenin, the coordinator for the Spring party in the Świętokrzyskie region, and Andrzej Szejna, vice-chairman of the National Council of SLD. The topic is to be the autumn parliamentary elections, but Szejna has already revealed on Twitter that Marenin is resigning from her position as Spring coordinator, and she and her team want to cooperate with SLD.

https://twitter.com/AndrzejSzejna/status/1140859552256204800


12:01

Civic Platform to Seek Rejection of Westerplatte Special Bill in First Reading; Pomaska Claims PiS Aims to Seize Land from Gdańsk Residents and Poles

President Paweł Adamowicz, starting from 1998, annually commenced the solemn celebrations at Westerplatte at 4:45 AM. No one cared for the memory of Westerplatte as Paweł Adamowicz did, no one reflected on what happened on September 1, 1939, as he did. No one nurtured this memory as he did” - said Agnieszka Pomaska from Civic Platform at a press conference in the Sejm.

[The Infrastructure Committee meeting] is the first step towards destroying this memory, towards taking away a piece of their land from the residents of Gdańsk and Poles. Westerplatte belongs to the residents of Gdańsk, to Poles. Today, PiS's intentions are to take away this piece of land, to conduct politics there, and we have plenty of evidence for this. We will do everything to defend Westerplatte. The first dimension of this defense will be today's vote at the committee meeting. We will submit a motion to reject this shameful bill in its first reading” - she added.

This is not a special bill, but a special takeover. Whenever PiS wants to take anything away from local government, it produces a special law. In this way, any owner can be deprived of their land. We know perfectly well that it's not about developing this area, because this area is well-maintained and dignified, as befits a place of memory. The goal is to take over this area for the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. PiS has already tried to take over this area several times” - said Małgorzata Chmiel from Civic Platform.


12:57

Government Approves Draft Anti-Usury Law and Law on Compensation System for Energy-Intensive Sectors and Sub-Sectors:

The Adopted Draft Bills Perfectly Illustrate Our Governing Philosophy
The adopted draft bills perfectly illustrate our governing philosophy, our approach to the state and the security of citizens, and our economic approach. I would like to thank Minister [Emilewicz] and Minister [Ziobro] for the submitted draft bills, which we discussed positively and which concern two very important social and economic issues - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM). The first draft is a project aimed at preventing cases of usury, the abuse of the strong position of various lending and credit companies towards weaker consumers, simply citizens. Very often, these are seniors, pensioners, but not exclusively. These are people whose immediate needs are exploited to impose various types of fees and interest rates that can only be described as draconian, as even the word usury does not capture some cases. This can sometimes be several hundred percent annually, which is something completely unheard of, and after many months and quarters of work, we have reached a full consensus - PMM continued. The second adopted project is a draft law on a compensation system for energy-intensive sectors and sub-sectors. https://twitter.com/premierrp/status/1140938379950997504?s=12 https://twitter.com/PremierRP/status/1140932692495798272 https://twitter.com/PremierRP/status/1140933638831390725 https://twitter.com/PremierRP/status/1140934390601723910

13:39

Ziobro:

Recordings Reveal Full Awareness of Growing VAT Gap within That [PO] Team

- [Recordings involving, among others, Paweł Graś] show that within that team [Civic Platform] there was full awareness of the growing VAT gap and, one might say, helplessness or even arrogance towards this situation, which, on the other hand, was illustrated by the statements of Prime Minister Tusk or Prime Minister Kopacz, when they said there were and would be no funds for 500+ and other social programs, while those funds were available then, it just required taking actions that our governments are now taking, but which there was no will to initiate back then - stated Zbigniew Ziobro at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. He added:

"What kind of actions? What did Donald Tusk fail to do, but could have? First and foremost, what he did wrong was that during the Platform's rule, the Security Agency – a special department for combating economic crime – was abolished. The prosecution's hands were tied by adopting a monstrosity of a law that caused such proceedings concerning hundreds, millions of scandals, and money siphoned off to end up in district prosecutor's offices. There was no supervision, most of them ended in dismissals, and even if they did reach court, 9 out of 10 cases resulted in suspended sentences. If a perpetrator who stole millions of zlotys for their own account received a suspended sentence, they would laugh their heads off because they had set themselves and their entire family up for life and were probably buying yachts on exotic islands somewhere. That was the kind of state that Donald Tusk proposed and embodied."


13:49

Sellin:

We Blame Gdańsk Authorities for Caring About Westerplatte Only at 4:45 AM on September 1st, While Letting it Fall into Disrepair the Other 364 Days
As MPs, we decided to submit this bill to restore the rightful place to the Westerplatte battlefield, which holds symbolic significance not only in Poland but is a recognizable symbol of the beginning of World War II in Europe and the world. For 30 years, the city of Gdańsk has managed this area. Practically nothing was done there, and some of the facilities even fell into disrepair” - said Kazimierz Smoliński from PiS at a press conference in the Sejm.

One of the reasons we started working on the bill was the decision by Mayor Dulkiewicz to have employees of the Museum of the Second World War removed from the excavation sites that are taking place there. The previous mayor, the late Paweł Adamowicz, had authorized these works over two years ago. Now, without any valid reason, the mayor [Dulkiewicz] has refused further work” - he added.

Our goal for years has been to build a modern, open-air museum there, which would be established in this symbolic, important, and recognizable location” - argued Deputy Minister of Culture Jarosław Sellin in the Sejm.

I think any normal local government would be happy that the Polish state wants to invest a very significant amount of money in an area managed by the city. We estimate around 150 million Polish zlotys for the construction of this museum. We do not understand why the Gdańsk authorities are raising any objections or doubts about this plan” - he added.

Commemorations of the anniversary of World War II take place every year. I admit that this is an initiative of President Paweł Adamowicz. These commemorations are held on his initiative. Every September 1st at 4:45 AM, where state authorities also arrive. There is no collision or conflict here. We blame the Gdańsk authorities for only taking an interest in Westerplatte at 4:45 AM on September 1st, while during the remaining 364 days, they showed no interest in the place, did not invest, did not build a museum. They led the area to ruin, to neglect. This must end” - said Sellin.

14:01

PMM:

We've Grabbed the VAT Bull by the Horns. Tax Revenue to Reach Around PLN 180 Billion, Nearly PLN 60 Billion More Than in 2015
"We have indeed grabbed the VAT bull by the horns. How effectively, let the numbers speak for themselves. From PLN 123 billion in 2015, this year, after 4 years, VAT revenue will reach around PLN 180 billion, perhaps even a little more, nearly PLN 60 billion more. That's over 45%, which, alongside GDP growth, clearly shows the effectiveness of our actions. I am very pleased that the special services, the prosecutor's office under Minister Ziobro, the services of the Ministry of Finance, and our implemented solutions [are contributing to reducing the VAT gap]" - said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. 

14:18

Anna Schmidt-Rodziewicz Appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Chancellery and Plenipotentiary for International Dialogue

The PiS MP has become a Secretary of State in the Prime Minister's Chancellery and the Prime Minister's Plenipotentiary for International Dialogue, replacing Anna Maria Anders in this role. Anders will become the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Rome.


14:39

Schetyna:

Another Day Discussing What Matters Most for Local Poland – Healthcare, Roads, Schools, and Rural Development
We said and warned that we would talk with local government officials and residents of local Poland. In municipalities and places like Kruszyn, Włocławek commune. I am glad we are here. The Mayor, the Marshal, and MP Myrcha are with us, but there are also local government representatives. We want to talk about the program, about what is most important for provincial and local Poland. What is needed by the residents. We will ask about it, talk about healthcare, what is needed in terms of investments, health centers, clinics, which should be at every level, not only provincial but also at the commune level. What about local roads, investments in local roads and infrastructure, what about schools at this commune level and how they are coping with double age cohorts, which is a result of the reform introduced by Minister Zalewska. Finally, we are talking about the National Rural Development Programme, about agricultural subsidies from the EU. How necessary are effective negotiations in the EU budget, how the EU budget, which will be adopted by the European Parliament at the end of the year, is important for Poland, for our entire country, but it must be dedicated specifically to regional, provincial, local, and commune Poland. We are talking about this and that is what we want to emphasize – stated Grzegorz Schetyna at a briefing in Kruszyn. We will ask what else, what exactly we need to focus on, what else to include in the regional action program, how to be even more effective in the election campaign, in the elections, and also after the elections – emphasized the Civic Platform leader. https://twitter.com/ArkadiuszMyrcha/status/1140958776117387264

14:55

Schetyna:

We're Scheduled with WKK for Late June to Summarize Talks

- We are talking, we are scheduled with President Kosiniak-Kamysz for the end of June to summarize these discussions. That's how we agreed, that we are working in parallel, preparing a scenario for our activities, a programmatic convention which we will hold in mid-July, where we will present the foundation of the program. We are building a coalition. I am a supporter of a broad coalition, programmatically coherent, well-organized, effective, even better, working more intensively than in the European elections. I am an optimist. That's why I believe it takes time. Step by step towards bringing positions closer, a programmatic basis, and good, the best lists, but I believe and convince everyone of this: local government officials are needed, which is why I am happy to be here, in the Włocławek commune, and to be able to talk about it, as many people as possible who know what local Poland needs, will be on the lists, will convince residents, and will also engage and build activity and mobilization, because this is very necessary. In every election, there is a need for presence at the ballot boxes, such engagement from which all good things stem. Activity, mobilization, good emotions. This is what Polish politics, Polish reality needs. I am convinced that it will be so - stated Grzegorz Schetyna at a briefing in Kruszyna.


15:41

Spring Coordinator in Świętokrzyskie and Dozens of Activists Begin Cooperation with SLD

- This is the last time I am appearing in the role of Spring's coordinator in Świętokrzyskie. As of today, I am resigning from coordinating the structures, and yesterday we made the decision to form an association that will bring together former Spring activists in Świętokrzyskie - said Małgorzata Marenin during a press conference in Kielce.

- Today, we are beginning to cooperate locally with the local structures of SLD, but we are also speaking with sympathy with the Feminist Initiative. We believe that we currently need the broadest possible coalition in order to not hand the country over to PiS - added Marenin.

According to our information, Marenin herself left Spring and expressed a desire to cooperate with SLD. Our interlocutors categorically deny that the alliance attempted to break up Robert Biedroń's party, but - as is heard unofficially - further departures from Spring are not ruled out.


17:29

Dulkiewicz on Westerplatte Act: 'We Cannot Ram Through Legislation at the Last Minute with a Parliamentary Bill That We Have Grounds to Believe May Be Unconstitutional'

- Next Tuesday, in a week's time, I have a meeting scheduled with Minister Sellin, and we will discuss the future of Westerplatte. I am ready for this discussion, but on the condition that representatives of veterans, people whose loved ones shed blood on Westerplatte, will participate. Secondly, museum professionals, circles associated with architects, and art historians, because Westerplatte is a symbol of Polishness. An important symbol for every Pole and for every Pole, and an immensely important symbol for the people of Gdańsk. We cannot ram through legislation at the last minute with a parliamentary bill, citing the fact that it is the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, legislation that we have grounds to believe may be unconstitutional - said Aleksandra Dulkiewicz during a press briefing after the first reading of the special bill concerning Westerplatte.


19:16

PMM:

In the interest of the safety of festival participants in Kostrzyn nad Odrą, I have ordered trains to be prepared to transport participants to the location. It will also be secured by services subordinate to the Ministry of Interior and Administration

https://twitter.com/morawieckim/status/1141031763428425728?s=12


19:44

Kamiński:

We Wish Kaczyński Good Health. I Don't Wish Him to Rule Poland for a Long Time

- Jarosław Kaczyński will be the leader as long as he wants to be the leader. To the extent his health allows. Like any person, on the occasion of his birthday today, we naturally wish him the best of health. I do not wish him to rule Poland for a long time - said Michał Kamiński in an interview with Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska on the TVN24 program “Fakty po faktach” (Facts After Facts).


19:49

Kamiński:

Tusk Didn't Raise a Successor. And it's a bit like the opposition, Civic Platform, when Tusk was gone, were like children whose parents left, and now they have to start living like adults
There's something to it that Donald Tusk didn't exactly raise a successor. And it's a bit like the opposition, Civic Platform, when Tusk was absent, were a bit like children whose parents had left, and now they have to start living like adults – Michał Kamiński said in an interview with Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska on the program 'Fakty po faktach' on TVN24.

19:55

Stanisławek on Tusk's Interrogation: 'Frankly, I Don't Really Like This Kind of Truth-Seeking. That's What Prosecutors Are For.'

- Frankly, I don't really like this kind of truth-seeking - said Andrzej Stanisławek in a conversation with Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska on the TVN24 program "Fakty po faktach" (Facts After Facts).

- I don't like these kinds of things at all. That's what prosecutors are for. Parliamentary committees somehow don't fully convince me - Stanisławek added when pressed by the journalist.


20:05

Budka on Tusk's Interrogation: It Was a Knockout. The Commission Was Appointed Solely for Political Purposes

- Everything is ahead of us. Donald Tusk is a seasoned politician. The question for Donald Tusk is what he will want to do after his term ends. However, in my opinion, it was a knockout for this [VAT] investigative commission. We need to show that this commission was appointed solely for political purposes. When it comes to, for example, interrogating Prime Minister Morawiecki, then a former advisor to Prime Minister Tusk from the Economic Council, PiS MPs strangely do not want to - stated Borys Budka in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on the program "Wydarzenia i opinie" (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.


20:09

Bugaj:

This Committee Has a Witch-Hunt Character. But Is There Anything to Show? There's a Bit to Show
- This committee has a witch-hunt character. But is there anything to show? There's a bit to show. Mr. Szczurek quite accurately stated that the strict enforcement of taxes impacts the behavior of the entire business community, and they were afraid that this business would get scared, that they would be in the spotlight, as those who are not favorable to business - said Ryszard Bugaj on Kropka nad I.

20:09

Paruch:

All Civic Platform Politicians Appearing Before the Investigative Committee Adopt the Same Strategic Stance: They Don't Remember, They Don't Know, It's Irrelevant, and Outside Their Competencies
- All Civic Platform politicians appearing before the investigative committee adopt the same strategic stance: they don't remember, they don't know, it's irrelevant, and outside their competencies. It sounds absurd when my minister of finance says it's not his area of competence. And the prime minister also says it's not his area, so it turns out that officials were dealing with matters involving billions. This is the defense line that has been adopted. We see a state that functioned superficially - said Waldemar Paruch.

20:16

Bugaj:

The Idea of Suing Professors Shows Authoritarian Tendencies. Paruch: President Jarosław Kaczyński Rationalizes Many Political Decisions and Acted Swiftly
- The idea of suing professors indicates that there are authoritarian, absurd ideas, and we have quite a few of them - said Ryszard Bugaj in 'Kropka nad I' (Point Over I). - The idea was flawed. The reaction of the president and the prime minister was swift. It was a bad idea, there's no doubt about that. There is President Jarosław Kaczyński, who rationalizes many political decisions and acted swiftly - replied Waldemar Paruch.

20:25

Bugaj:

I'm somewhat of a conservative. I didn't really like Mr. Trzaskowski's handling of the LGBT document
- I'm somewhat of a conservative. I didn't really like Mr. Trzaskowski's handling of the LGBT document. I didn't like that, but it doesn't mean they want to introduce things that were later talked about - said Ryszard Bugaj on Kropka nad I.

20:40

POLITICAL HEADLINES: Polsat: PO Leader Takes to the Road; Wiadomości: Tusk Admits Funds for 500+ Were Available but He Didn't Want to Allocate Them
-- LIVEBLOG 300POLITYKI: Bugaj admits the VAT committee has something to present. Kamiński on Tusk failing to groom a successor. PMM: In the interest of the safety of festival-goers in Kostrzyn nad Odrą, I have ordered the preparation of trains to transport participants to the venue. It will also be secured by services subordinate to the Ministry of Interior and Administration. Dulkiewicz on the Westerplatte bill: We cannot hastily adopt legislation at the last minute with a parliamentary bill that we have grounds to believe may be unconstitutional. Coordinator of Wiosna in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship and dozens of activists begin cooperation with SLD. Schetyna: We are scheduled to meet with WKK at the end of June to summarize our talks. Anna Schmidt-Rodziewicz appointed Minister in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and Plenipotentiary for International Dialogue. PMM: We have grabbed the VAT bull by the horns. https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/06/18/ ***** Polsat Events -- AS HE PROMISED, HE SET OFF ACROSS POLAND - THE LEADER OF THE CIVIC PLATFORM WAS IN KRUSZYNY NEAR WŁOCŁAWEK TODAY - preview. -- THIS IS HOW THE OPPOSITION PLANS TO APPROACH THE AUTUMN ELECTIONS - Dorota Gawryluk. -- THROUGH THIS OFFENSIVE, CIVIC PLATFORM POLITICIANS WANT TO MOBILIZE THEIR SUPPORTERS AND CONVINCE THE UNDECIDED - Grzegorz Kępka. -- CIVIC PLATFORM AIMS FOR AN EVEN BROADER COALITION THAN IN THE LAST ELECTION - Kępka continues. -- THE RULING LAW AND JUSTICE PARTY (PIS) INTENDS TO PRESENT ITS PROGRAM IN AUGUST, LIKELY WITHOUT THE NEW 'FIVE' BUT WITH A NEW 500+ BENEFIT FOR THE DISABLED - Kępka. -- THE OPPOSITION DOUBTS THIS COMMITMENT [THAT THE 13TH PENSION WILL ALSO BE PAID NEXT YEAR] BECAUSE PIS COULD ALREADY PASS A LAW ON THE 13TH PENSION NOW - Kępka continues. -- PIS ALSO DOES NOT RULE OUT A COALITION, RECENTLY SPEAKING WARMLY ABOUT THE PEASANT PARTY (PSL) - Kępka. -- HOWEVER, THE MOST IMPRESSIVE WORDS WERE [FROM RYSZARD TERLECKI] ABOUT KUKIZ'15 - Kępka continues. -- KUKIZ'S POLITICIANS ASSURE THEY ARE HOLDING TALKS ABOUT JOINTLY RUNNING, AMONG OTHERS, WITH THE PEASANT PARTY - Kępka. ***** TVN Fakty -- FOR MONTHS WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THEFT - in the preview: For months, we have heard theses about theft and closing the VAT gap by PiS. So we ask, is the VAT gap still present today and how large is it? -- ONE CAN IMAGINE WHAT A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN TUSK AND MORAWIECKI BEFORE THE COMMITTEE WOULD LOOK LIKE - Krzysztof Skórzyński. -- LET'S LOOK AT THE FULL MINISTRY OF FINANCE DATA, WHICH POLITICIANS USE SELECTIVELY. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE GAP IS DECREASING PERCENTAGE-WISE AS REVENUES INCREASE AND THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN TIGHTENED, BUT WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS - Skórzyński. -- PIS RELUCTANTLY STATES THAT DURING THE PO-PSL GOVERNMENT, THERE WERE OBJECTIONS TO PROJECTS THAT LIMITED TAX EVASION, AND SOME REGULATIONS, ACCORDING TO PIS, WERE INTRODUCED DECIDEDLY TOO LATE - Skórzyński. -- INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FOR 2 YEARS. TODAY, THEY DID NOT FIND TIME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT PROGRESS - Skórzyński. -- IUSTITIA WANTS DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS: The Judges' Association "Iustitia" wants disciplinary proceedings against Judge Piotr Schab. As it happens, he is the Disciplinary Ombudsman for Judges of Common Courts. Other appointees of Zbigniew Ziobro, who were to assess other judges, are also experiencing problems. -- I didn't know the airport in Smolensk was inactive - says Jacek Sasin in "Kropka nad i" [Dot over i], who until 2010 was the deputy head of the Chancellery of President Lech Kaczyński. A chancellery employee said something different in court. This is important because the court has non-finalized the conviction of former Prime Minister's Chancellery head Tomasz Arabski, who also knew about the inactive airport. -- SASIN IN KROPKA NAD I HAD TO FACE HIS WORDS BEING CONFRONTED WITH THE WORDS OF A FORMER CHANCELLERY EMPLOYEE - Arleta Zalewska. -- GRAFFITI ABOUT JEWS AND DESTRUCTION OF MONUMENTS: The perpetrators are being sought, their motives unknown, but the inscription left at the scene speaks volumes: "Jews Out". Someone drove a bulldozer and destroyed a stonemasonry workshop in Wąwolnica in the Lublin region. The owner had been helping to preserve the memory of Holocaust victims. ***** TVP Wiadomości -- END OF UNFAIR LENDING COMPANIES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS PREPARED NEW REGULATIONS TO HALT THE DEBT SPIRAL THAT UNAWARE CUSTOMERS OF PAYDAY LOANS OFTEN FALL INTO - preview. -- MORE THAN HALF OF POLISH RESPONDENTS SUPPORT THE PURSUIT OF WAR REPARATIONS - poll for wpolityce.pl. -- JACEK CICHOCKI BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON VAT FRAUD - preview. -- DURING THE PO-PSL GOVERNMENT, TAX MAFIAS STOLE AN ASTRONOMICAL SUM OF 250 BILLION PLN - Jakub Krzyżak. -- THE INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE INTENDS TO COMPLETE THE INTERROGATION OF TUSK AT A LATER DATE. YESTERDAY, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER DOWNPLAYED THE THEFT OF 250 BILLION PLN - preview. -- TUSK, ELECTED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF GERMANY, CHAIRMAN OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, FORMER PRIME MINISTER AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WITNESSES FOR THE INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE - Konrad Wąż. -- TUSK ADMITTED THAT HE KNEW ABOUT THE MULTI-BILLION-ZŁOTY FRAUD - Wąż. -- TUSK ADMITTED THAT THE FUNDS FOR 500+ WERE AVAILABLE IN THE BUDGET, BUT HE DID NOT WANT TO GIVE THEM TO POLES, WHICH WAS ONLY DONE BY THE PIS GOVERNMENT - Wąż. -- DOES THE OPPOSITION NOT WANT A STRONG POLISH ARMY? - headline. -- 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF PRESIDENT LECH KACZYŃSKI.