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07/24/2019

06:35

Wednesday's Political Agenda: Central Police Day Celebrations, Piontkowski's Conference

At 11:30 AM, Minister Dariusz Piontkowski will hold his press conference on the first month of the holidays.

Central celebrations for Police Day will take place in Warsaw. At 2:00 PM, President Andrzej Duda and Minister Elżbieta Witek will present state awards and promotions to police officers.

At 5:30 PM, the President will meet with scouts at the ZHP camp in Opartowo.


07:55

Czarzasty on Electoral Lists: I Will Run in the Parliamentary Elections. We Will Settle All Matters. We Begin This Discussion Tomorrow
- I will definitely [run in the parliamentary elections]. No, we haven't settled [which constituency] yet. The time will come, and we will settle all matters. We are beginning this discussion on Thursday, meaning tomorrow - stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty in an interview with Agata Adamek on TVN24's "Jeden na jeden". - We currently have two partners [in the left-wing coalition], and we are gaining new partners every day. We need to settle all of this. We made the decision to cooperate on Friday. I guarantee that within a week, we will have clarity on very many matters. Currently, some entity joins us every day, today for example, Strajk Kobiet (Women's Strike) - added the SLD chairman.

07:57

Nowacka on the Left's Demonstration in Białystok: I'm Astonished that People from Razem and Wiosna are Playing Politics: Something's Happening, We'll Jump on the Bandwagon, Say We're Doing It, Then We'll See. That SLD Has Been Doing Such Politics for Years

I don't know what will happen in Białystok. First, three gentlemen announced a Saturday march, then it turned out they hadn't checked that there's a match on Saturday, so they're moving it to a Sunday picket. I'm also reading statements, including from the march organizers, and I'm talking to the residents of Białystok, and they are simply asking for calm. I really dislike and am astonished that people from Razem and Wiosna are doing this, because that SLD has been doing such politics for years, I know: something's happening, we'll jump on the bandwagon, say we're doing it, then we'll see, we won't consult with anyone, we won't see if anyone wants or needs it, and we'll point fingers at the wrong culprits” - said Barbara Nowacka in an interview with Piotr Kraśko on TOK FM Radio's Morning Show.


08:00

Czarzasty:

I Don't See Determination in Civic Platform to Defeat PiS

- I don't know what his concept is, but based on his actions, first he abdicated as the leader of the democratic opposition, a role for which he was chosen by us. Then he said he wanted to achieve 38%. I say: I want to win against PiS, and with a broad European Coalition, this chance was real, because of the 38% of votes and 40 billion [złoty] distributed by PiS a month before the elections. I do not see determination in Civic Platform at this moment to win against PiS – stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty in an interview with Agata Adamek on TVN24's "One on One".


08:03

Spychalski:

If there are beer cans where one of the Polish soldiers who defended Westerplatte was killed, it's disgusting

- If Minister Kolarski tells me that there are beer cans at the site where one of the Polish soldiers who defended Westerplatte in 1939 was killed, it is simply disgusting. Local government officials in Gdańsk have been unable to build a proper Polish museum in Gdańsk for 30 years - said Błażej Spychalski in an interview with Wojciech Dąbrowski on Polsat News's "Graffiti".


08:08

Nowacka:

We Must Consider the Consequences for All PiS Politicians Who Have Been Waging a Campaign of Contempt Towards Gays and Lesbians for Months

We see photos [from the counter-demonstration in Białystok] showing PiS politicians participating in counter-demonstrations. There are suggestions, and it needs to be investigated how true they are, that prominent PiS activists took part in these counter-demonstrations or even directed them. President Truskolaski clearly states he will file reports. We must consider what consequences all PiS politicians should face, who for many months have been waging a campaign of contempt towards gays and lesbians, a campaign of hatred whose fruits are being reaped not by political parties today, but by individual children who are spat upon, insulted, reviled, and who are beginning to be threatened with physical violence, because there is implicit permission from those in power, and this is evident from the statements of all politicians, starting from Jarosław Kaczyński and many others” - said Barbara Nowacka in an interview with Piotr Kraśko on Radio TOK FM's Poranek.


08:09

Spychalski on the 80th Anniversary of the Outbreak of WWII: Dozens of Heads of State Have Confirmed Their Attendance. For Example, Steinmeier. The Chancellor Also Conveyed She Will Be Present.

- Dozens of heads of state have already confirmed their attendance. For example, President Steinmeier. The Chancellor has also conveyed that she will be present. This information is continuously arriving in real-time, including from Eastern Partnership countries - said Błażej Spychalski in an interview with Wojciech Dąbrowski on Polsat News's "Graffiti".


08:15

Czarzasty:

Tomorrow We Start Discussing Top Candidates

- Tomorrow we start discussing the top candidates. We launched the entire project in 16 voivodeships on Monday, and right now we are talking with all our entities with whom we will cooperate, so calmly - stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty in an interview with Agata Adamek on TVN24's "One on One".

When asked if Robert Biedroń would run in the parliamentary elections, the leader of the SLD replied: - We will give you a definitive answer on this within the next week and a half as well.


08:35

Kidawa-Błońska:

The Opposition May Be Divided on Election Approaches, but Our Goals Are Similar
The fact that the left is uniting is very good. Such fragmented groupings should not exist. We, on the other hand, are in a coalition, in the Civic Coalition. There is Nowoczesna, there is Barbara Nowacka's Initiative. There are local government officials, there are representatives of non-governmental organizations, leaders of individual communities. The opposition may be divided on election approaches, but our goals are similar – said Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska in a conversation with Paweł Lisicki on "Political Salon" on Radio Trójka.

08:39

Kidawa-Błońska:

Voters Very Often Make Their Election Decisions at the Last Minute, and We Want to Capitalize on That
- We must do everything to win these elections, and I often hear that we don't believe these elections can be won. I believe they can be won. It certainly requires work from us, and there's still some time until the elections. Voters very often make their election decisions at the last minute, and we want to capitalize on that - said Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska in an interview with Paweł Lisicki on Polskie Radio Program III's "Salon polityczny".

09:45

Müller:

Piontkowski's Stance is Not the Government's Position. The Minister Claimed He Was Misunderstood. The Prime Minister Foresees No Government Reshuffle at Present.

"The Prime Minister does not foresee any government reshuffles at the moment. Therefore, I believe there will be no changes in this area [the Ministry of Education]. Moreover, our position regarding what happened in Białystok is clear. The actions taken in response to the minister's statement are not directly proportional to what the minister said," government spokesperson Minister Piotr Müller stated on TVP1's "Political Quarter Hour".

"Minister Piontkowski's stance is not the government's stance. The Minister stated that he was misunderstood. That is how I understand his statement from yesterday," he added.


12:44

Civic Coalition Reminds of Drug Availability Issues in Pharmacies. Szłapka: Lists Compiled by Our Politicians Show How Severely Poles' Health Security is Threatened

[Lists prepared by Civic Coalition politicians in pharmacies] show what a huge problem this is across Poland. From the individual dramas of people who are turned away at pharmacy counters and cannot get the medicine they need, we see the scale of how seriously Poles' health security is threatened. We don't just want to present a report on the scale of the threat today. We want to show the perspectives of the people who deal with this issue, i.e., pharmacists. We want to present concrete solutions that will lead to the healing of this situation” – said Adam Szłapka from Civic Coalition at a press conference in front of the Ministry of Health.


13:06

Szumowski:

I Appeal to Our Political Adversaries for Moderation, Responsibility, and Messages Consistent with Reality. The Slogan 'There Are No Medicines' is Untrue
Our political opponents are claiming that in individual pharmacies in Poland, there are no specific products from specific concerns, large pharmaceutical companies. And of course, it may be the case that a particular pharmacy does not have a specific product from a specific concern. However, I remind you, and we have this information from all the sources available to us, that substitutes are available in pharmacies. Speaking from my own experience as a practitioner, I have often substituted medicines for cheaper equivalents for patients, both in hospitals and in my practice – stated Łukasz Szumowski at a press conference. We also know that following these reports of medicine shortages, there has been a significant increase in sales of certain drugs, such as those for thyroid conditions, by over 50%. Therefore, I appeal to our political adversaries for moderation and responsibility, and for messages that are consistent with reality. This is because the slogan 'there are no medicines' is untrue. There are substitutes, even if a particular company's specific product is unavailable, and they work just as well – the Minister of Health continued, emphasizing that the problem of medicine availability is a pan-European issue.

13:08

Szumowski:

"Our Predecessors Generally Got Rid of Most Factories and Pharmaceutical Companies in Poland"

- Regarding industry, I would just like to say that it was our predecessors who generally got rid of most factories in Poland and pharmaceutical companies. They were sold off, hence less control, less state control capability - stated Łukasz Szumowski at a press conference.


14:55

PiS Defends Against Accusations of Drug Shortages in Pharmacies. Buda: PO Led to Impunity for Drug Exports. Today's Situation is a Result of Platforma's Policies in Previous Years.

Grzegorz Schetyna sent his deputies to Polish pharmacies. They show up there and frighten Poles by claiming there is a very serious problem regarding drug availability in pharmacies. We would like to address this and remind everyone a bit about what the situation was like in this matter not so long ago” - said PiS deputy spokesperson Radosław Fogiel at a press conference.

We are surprised that this topic is being raised by PO representatives, because today this situation is a result of PO's policies in this area in previous years. I would like to remind you that between 2007 and 2011, out of 18 companies supervised by the Minister of the Treasury, 14 were privatized from the industry involved in drug production, which was directly supervised by the Minister of the Treasury. This led to a situation where the producer market was significantly weakened. Actions are being taken today to build and support the domestic producer market, but these are absolutely multi-year processes. Nevertheless, a worse phenomenon that was tolerated at the time was the so-called drug mafia, modeled after the VAT mafia, which led to a situation where drugs were exported on a massive scale. These incidents were not prosecuted. Only an administrative penalty was introduced. This led to impunity for drug exports. If PO representatives speak today about this” - said Deputy Minister Waldemar Buda.


15:10

July 31st: Extra Sejm Session. 300POLITYKA's Information Confirmed

The Sejm Presidium, after consulting the Convention of Seniors, has amended the Sejm's session schedule, setting an additional Sejm session for July 31st, which is next Wednesday. As we wrote on 300POLITYKA, the agenda includes the election of the head of the Supreme Audit Office (NIK), changes to the Electoral Code, and the possible consideration of Senate amendments to the act on the so-called "500+" for disabled individuals. The session will begin at 12:00 PM.


16:23

PM to Police Officers: We Owe You This Better Time Today, and We Reach into the Future with Hope. I Deeply Believe That with Such a Formation, the Future Will Be Good.

- Dear police officers, constables. I want to thank you heartily for all your service, for your immense dedication, for everything you do every day, and sometimes for the sacrifice of your lives, which has been mentioned here today, and above all, for the fact that every day when you go out to serve, you must be aware of the risk to your own lives. I want to thank you heartily for all of this, because without your sacrificial service, your presence, your closeness to people, we would not have these security indicators, these wonderful societal convictions about safety. In the words of the oath taken 100 years ago, your predecessors said that the benefits of the Polish state and public matters would always be before their eyes. I know that you have these benefits, public matters, before your eyes, serving every person in your municipality, your village, town, city, district. This is a great work. We owe you this better time today, and we reach into the future with hope for the next decades, the next 100 years, and we know, we believe, I deeply believe, that with such a formation, it will be a good future. A better future for future generations, a better future for Poland. - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the central celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the State Police.


16:28

President Duda: 'I Deeply Believe Our Renewed Republic, Drawing on the Tradition of the Second Republic, Will Continue to Develop and Grow Stronger'
I deeply believe that this, our renewed Republic, which has lasted for 30 years and today draws its tradition from that Second Republic, which only lasted 20 years, will continue to develop, will become more beautiful, will become wealthier and stronger. Thanks also to your service. And that you will be proud of your homeland, just as the homeland and the entire nation you serve is proud of you - said President Andrzej Duda during the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the State Police.

18:08

Müller on von der Leyen's Visit: 'It's a Good Gesture, but We Focus on Policy Outcomes, Not Gestures'
'It is, of course, a good gesture, but, as we often say, we don't focus on gestures, but on the effects of policy. The fact is that the new president-elect, Ursula von der Leyen, is aware that without Poland's support, without the support of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at the European Council meeting, or without the support of Law and Justice MEPs in the European Parliament, she would not be president today. I hope that the president will remember this, but it is also a good signal to discuss these programmatic priorities tomorrow,' said Piotr Müller in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on Polish Radio's Trójka.

18:18

Müller on Poland's EU Commissioner Candidate: 'The European Commission Starts its Term on November 1st. There's No Obstacle for It to Be Someone from the Government'

- The European Commission starts its term, if I remember correctly, on November 1st. Therefore, there is no obstacle for it to be someone from the government – said Piotr Müller in a conversation with Beata Michniewicz on the air of Radio Trójka, when asked in the context of his earlier statement in which he stated that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki does not foresee any changes in the government.


19:46

Gowin on the Opposition: They Overestimate the Importance of the Issue of Homosexual Individuals. For the Vast Majority of Poles, This Problem is Not a Significant Matter

Is it not the case that you officially condemn, and yet, somewhere quietly, you rejoice about it? I say this because the opposition very often explains it like this: The ruling party, and this is a quote, just as it once incited against emigrants, now incites against gays and lesbians. It creates an enemy for itself and fights with that enemy, thereby gaining power – Bogdan Rymanowski asked Jarosław Gowin in the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" on Polsat News.

Those who attribute such intentions to us, aside from assessing the nobility or lack thereof of such insinuations, are simply decidedly overestimating the importance of the issue of homosexual individuals itself. For the vast majority of Poles, this problem is not a significant matter – the politician replied.


19:51

Gowin on 'Gazeta Polska' Sticker: Unnecessarily Fuels Tension

- This sticker, in today's context of debates and the sharpness of those debates, unnecessarily fuels tension - said Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.


19:53

Fogiel:

What happened in Białystok should not have happened

What happened in Białystok should not have happened. On this matter, we are clear. Such things should not happen in Białystok, nor in Lębork, nor in Gdynia. There should be no acts of violence in public life anywhere. We have the right to demonstrate. We can disagree with each other. Those were not the best statements. The Minister of Education has withdrawn his words. There is no place for violence in public life. There is no place for making politics out of this” – said Deputy Spokesperson of PiS, Radosław Fogiel, in an interview with Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska on „Fakty po Faktach” on TVN24.


19:53

Fogiel:

The dispute over the family can be sharp, but there is no room for aggression and violence. Political forces are in no way responsible for this.

If someone breaks the law, then the perpetrator is responsible. We can have different views, different positions. We have a dispute in Poland regarding the role of the family, regarding the place of the family. It can be sharp, but there is no room for aggression and violence. Political forces are in no way responsible for this” – said Radosław Fogiel, Deputy Spokesperson for the Law and Justice party (PiS), in a conversation with Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska on “Fakty po Faktach” on TVN24.


19:54

Tomczyk:

Education Minister Isn't Saying Throwing Stones at People is Wrong, Just That Marches Shouldn't Be Organized

We hear the Minister of Education, who isn't saying that throwing stones at people who have different views, a different orientation, is wrong, but rather saying that perhaps such marches shouldn't be organized. Today I can say, like 'Gazeta Polska' says 'Gay-free zones,' I can say 'Eyeglass-free zones.' What kind of criterion is that? People are divided into good and bad” - said Cezary Tomczyk of Civic Platform in an interview with Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska on TVN24's "Fakty po Faktach."


19:54

Tomczyk:

PiS is a party that promotes hatred. I see it at every turn.

PiS has been defending and legitimizing what is happening for years. It often justifies it as well. Everyone remembers the young man who was kicked in Radom by Młodzież Wszechpolska. This young man was accused of participating in a brawl by Ziobro’s prosecution. This one example is enough to understand the absurdity of the situation” – said Cezary Tomczyk from Civic Platform (PO) in an interview with Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska on TVN24’s „Fakty po Faktach”.

PiS is a party that promotes hatred. I see it at every turn” – he added.


19:54

Gowin on Glapiński's Bonuses: Allegedly Awarded Them to Himself. I Must Say, This is Far from the Standards We Adhere to in the United Right Camp

- Allegedly, from what I read on the way to the studio, he awarded them to himself. I must say, this is far from the standards we adhere to in the United Right camp - said Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" on Polsat News.


19:56

Tomczyk Gives Fogiel a "Constitution" Pin: "So You Remember That When PiS Politicians Make Resolutions, They Must Be Consistent with the Constitution, and No One Can Be Discriminated Against"

Today I have a "Constitution" pin on my lapel. This is not just a slogan. It is something that people voted for in a referendum. I would like to symbolically give this to you, so that you remember that when PiS politicians make resolutions, these resolutions must be consistent with the constitution, and that no group can be discriminated against. Local government cannot pass a resolution that excludes people from social life, because others cannot be discriminated against” - said Cezary Tomczyk of Civic Platform (PO) on TVN24, presenting Radosław Fogiel with a "Constitution" pin.

I only hope that it wasn't just the pin itself, and that my colleagues have managed to familiarize themselves with the constitution in the meantime, because there have been deficits in the past. Shooting at protesting miners, attacks on journalists, arresting journalists at the National Electoral Commission headquarters, the ABW entering the editorial office of "Wprost"” - replied PiS Deputy Spokesperson Radosław Fogiel.


19:59

Gowin on Emilewicz's Candidacy for EU Commissioner: "The Main Party in Our Camp is PiS, and I am Convinced PiS Leaders Will Want to Nominate a Candidate from Their Ranks"

- I will say it openly and without mincing words. The main party in our camp is Law and Justice, and I am convinced that the leaders of PiS will want to nominate a candidate from within the ranks of that party, or from experts associated with PiS, not Porozumienie - said Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" on Polsat News.


20:06

Gowin:

One Agreement Candidate Per List, Two in Podlaskie and Opole Constituencies

- Our candidates will run in every constituency. The competition on the lists will be very fierce, as these should be 'death lists.' We are fielding everyone who matters in these elections. One person [per list]. In some constituencies, such as Podlaskie, because we have two MPs there, there will be two candidates. The same will be true in Opole - said Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program 'Events and Opinions' on Polsat News.