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09/15/2019

08:48

Sunday's Political Schedule: Three Conventions with J. Kaczyński, Two Meetings with M. Morawiecki, Kidawa-Błońska in Lubuskie, Lewicobus Continues its Route, Presidential Couple in Spała

At 10:00 AM in Wrocław, an electoral convention with the participation of PiS chairman Jarosław Kaczyński will take place. Further conventions with the ruling party leader will be held at 1:00 PM in Legnica and at 4:30 PM in Szczawno-Zdrój. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will participate in the XXXVII Pilgrimage of Working People to Jasna Góra at 10:30 AM. In turn, a meeting with Prime Minister Morawiecki will take place at 5:30 PM in Busko-Zdrój, and at 7:00 PM in Staszów.

Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska will be in the Lubuskie Voivodeship. The Civic Coalition's candidate for prime minister will visit the hospital in Gorzów Wielkopolski at 12:15 PM, and a press briefing will be held at 1:15 PM in the parking lot in front of the radiotherapy department. Kidawa-Błońska will participate in the municipal harvest festival in Gościm at 2:30 PM, and at 4:00 PM she will meet with the Volunteer Fire Brigade (OSP) in Kłodawa.

The leaders of The Left will continue their campaign route with the Lewicobus. Three press conferences are planned for today. At 9:30 AM in Bydgoszcz (topic: transport exclusion), at 12:00 PM in Toruń (topic: secularism of the state, state expenditure on Father Rydzyk, the third bridge for Toruń), and at 4:30 PM in Płock (topic: Orlen from an ecological and health perspective, housing and aid for young people).

President Andrzej Duda, along with his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda, will participate in the Presidential Harvest Festival in Spała. At 11:05 AM, the Presidential Couple will present diplomas to the wreath-making groups. Afterwards, at 11:30 AM, the Presidential Couple will participate in Holy Mass, and at 12:45 PM, they will walk with the harvest procession to the site of the Harvest Ceremonial. At 2:00 PM, the Presidential Couple will participate in the Harvest Ceremonial. In turn, at 3:45 PM, the Presidential Couple will begin a tour of the Regions' Town.


10:56

Kaczyński:

We Promised to Uphold Polish Dignity and Counter the Defamation of Poles, Both Domestically and Internationally. We Not Only Fulfilled This but Achieved Successes.

- We said we would take care of Polish dignity, that we would oppose the defamation of Poles. Both internally and on an international scale. And not only did we do this, we implemented appropriate policies, but we also achieved successes. September 1st of this year was an excellent example of these successes. But there were others, such as the Polish-Israeli declaration - stated Jarosław Kaczyński at the PiS convention in Wrocław.


11:09

Nowacka to PiS on Adjourning the Sejm Session: You're Skilled at Breaking Political Customs

“The story about a short campaign seems unbelievable, because you knew what you were doing when you ran such a short campaign. The question is, which of the promises you're so readily proclaiming in your peculiar program today will you want to scrap very quickly after the election. It doesn't look good. It doesn't look like decent behavior, nor like honest political play. It's fun to break political customs. You're skilled at it. The last 4 years show why” - Barbara Nowacka from the Civic Coalition said on TVN24's "Kawa na ławę" program. 


11:10

Kaczyński:

We Must Be a Country of Truly Free People. In Various Fields, Including Freedom of Speech.

- Poland has always been a country of freedom. And today, when freedom is experiencing a crisis in Western Europe, and partly in the USA, when various kinds of restrictions related to so-called political correctness are being introduced, Poland must be free from this. We must be a country of truly free people. In various fields, including freedom of speech. Already today, we have certain symptoms that are not the result of the government's actions, but the result of the actions of various institutions, such as the recent suspension of Prof. Nalaskowski in Toruń, which aim to restrict freedom, will be rejected. With full determination - stated Jarosław Kaczyński at the PiS convention in Wrocław.


11:12

Śmiszek on the Sejm Session Interruption: Perhaps PiS Doesn't Believe It Will Win a Parliamentary Majority

"This is an unprecedented situation that raises questions. Polish women and men have the right to ask why the MPs, some of them will no longer have their mandate, the question is 'what for'. Perhaps PiS doesn't believe it will win a parliamentary majority and secure 210-215 seats. They will use this time until the new parliament is convened to poach MPs from other parliamentary clubs to join PiS" - said Krzysztof Śmiszek from Wiosna on "Kawa na ławę" on TVN24. 


11:16

Kaczyński:

We Must Defend the Polish Family from Poverty and Ideological Offensive
Polish freedom and Polish development, Polish success are also closely linked to our tradition. And also to certain natural requirements that relate to Poland enduring, to what has so far seemed obvious, but which is today questioned. That is, the ordinary succession of generations. And this leads us to the question of the Polish family. This family is today, as part of a certain socio-technical operation, conducted throughout the country, being questioned. Both the elements concerning the family itself are being questioned; it is claimed that it is an institution of oppression, particularly towards women and children, and even the natural and obvious division between the two sexes, i.e., between women and men, from a biological perspective, recognizable even at the cellular level, is being questioned. We cannot allow this specific type of ideology to take hold in Poland, although it is trying. We must defend the Polish family from poverty, deprivation, the impossibility of obtaining equal opportunities, including for children, but we must also defend it from this dangerous ideological offensive. An offensive that is also being waged by our political opponents. Some directly, others on the principle of 'sometimes this way, sometimes that way,' sometimes I'm for it, sometimes I'm against it, and a third group have disguised themselves in sheep's clothing, although not long ago their teeth were chattering during various meetings and they marched under that rainbow banner. Well, we will not allow it - stated Jarosław Kaczyński at the PiS convention in Wrocław. - We will not allow ourselves to be deceived. We will not allow the Polish nation to be deceived. Let everyone clearly say what they want. We want tradition, the preservation of what has created, what is the foundation of this Polish edifice, but also of the entire construction or edifice of this civilization, which has proven to be the most benevolent to humankind of all world civilizations. And at the same time, it has proven to be a civilization that has created development, modernity, modern technology, modern medicine, extended life, which has led to the world being completely different today than it was a few hundred years ago or even 100 years ago. This civilization must be defended, and it was also based on the family, on the mechanism of transmitting not only life but also culture, civilizational norms, which also led to the education of children and young generations. This civilization was based, and must continue to be based, on the family - the PiS leader continued.

11:16

Mucha:

The constitutional provision dictates the term ends the day before the first session of the new Sejm; no mention of a state of emergency or preconditions.

The constitutional provision is constructed in such a way that the term ends on the day preceding the first session of the Sejm of the new term. There is no mention of any state of threat, there are no preconditions, no specifications. We have had this standard since the adoption of the 1997 constitution, that this kind of situation is absolutely acceptable, legally possible” – said presidential minister Paweł Mucha on TVN24's "Kawa na ławę". 


11:22

Dworczyk:

If PiS truly had malicious intentions, we wouldn't be causing a stir and announcing changes now; we'd simply convene a Sejm session peacefully after the elections.

What happened [the interruption of the Sejm session] was based on existing regulations in Poland. If it's causing such controversy, perhaps in the future it's worth considering changing such regulations. You all know very well what this shortened session will look like at the next sitting, as the agenda for the next session includes items that didn't fit within the allotted time. We've dealt with shortening and extending sessions multiple times during this term. If PiS truly had malicious intentions, we wouldn't be causing a stir and announcing changes now; we'd simply convene a Sejm session peacefully after the elections” - Minister Michał Dworczyk stated on TVN24’s “Kawa na ławę” program.


11:26

Kaczyński:

We Are Tolerant and Will Remain Tolerant. But I Repeat Once More: Tolerance - Yes, Affirmation - No

- Freedom also means tolerance. And we want to remain a tolerant state, a tolerant nation. And we are. These demonstrations, which today are an element of this social engineering, are sometimes shielded by significant police forces. Even though during these demonstrations, events take place that truly cannot be accepted, that offend Catholics, and therefore the majority of Poles, events that are sometimes vulgar and obscene in character. We are tolerant and will remain tolerant. But I repeat once more: tolerance - yes, affirmation - no - stated Jarosław Kaczyński at the PiS convention in Wrocław.


11:26

Zgorzelski to PiS on Adjourning the Sejm Session: If These Intentions Were Truly Pure and Genuine, You Would Have At Least Tried to Include Justification with the Motion

There is one thing that completely exposes the impure intentions behind this decision. It would be absolutely no problem for us to spend one more day in this Sejm. It truly isn’t a problem, and the campaign would not suffer because all MPs, not just ours, would be present in this Sejm. The chances would be equal. If these intentions were truly pure and genuine, you would have at least tried to include justification with the motion” – said Piotr Zgorzelski from PSL on TVN24’s “Kawa na ławę”. 


11:31

Kaczyński:

Many Poles have been led to believe Poland looks different than it does. They've been told a dictatorship is growing. If it's a dictatorship, why are there elections?

- I wanted to ask you to work, work, and work again until the very end, until the last day of the campaign, October 11th, until midnight. Fight, fight, and fight again. Every vote counts. Many Poles are confused. Many Poles have been led to believe that Poland looks different today than it actually does. They have been told that nothing more and nothing less than a dictatorship is growing in Poland. If it is a dictatorship, then where are the elections? - stated Jarosław Kaczyński at the PiS convention in Wrocław.

- But they have been convinced that black is white. I'm not talking about those who have completely different views. They have the right to them. We acknowledge this right, but we won't convince them. However, there are many confused people. We need to reach them, convince them, show them that PiS, the United Right, does not threaten Polish freedom and Polish democracy in any way. Instead, it offers an unprecedented opportunity that has not been utilized so far, because if governments similar to ours had been leading the country since the early 90s, or at least since the mid-90s, then this 71% average, which I mentioned a moment ago, would certainly be at least 90% today, maybe even 100%. Certain opportunities were missed. We cannot turn back time. The future lies before us. Only PiS can create this future, a good future for Poland, and one could say a breakthrough future. Let's fight for this until the end, so that it is so. We must win. We will win - added the PiS leader.


13:50

Kaczyński on Proposal to Abolish Immunity for Judges and Prosecutors: 'I Fear a Constitutional Majority is Beyond Reach, But We Will Seek Allies. Perhaps There Will Be a Referendum, Perhaps We Will Ask Poles.'
- In the last day, in the final hours, a campaign is underway against one of the proposals in our program, which was recently made available online. It concerns the abolition of parliamentary, judicial, and prosecutorial immunity. This is a moderate proposal with various limitations. Parliamentary immunity, the so-called material immunity, concerning what a Member of Parliament does as an MP, how they speak from the podium, or how they vote, or how they submit a bill, etc., etc., must obviously remain. This cannot in any way be the subject of criminal proceedings, and it has happened that it was, because Polish courts, many years ago, broke this principle, and this is also connected with various safeguards and restrictions regarding the immunity of judges and prosecutors. And of course, to change this, the Constitution must be amended, because the provisions that speak about it are in the Constitution. We will not violate the Constitution, there is no doubt about that. But we will strive for the largest possible majority. I fear a constitutional majority is beyond our capabilities, but then we will seek allies - stated PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński in Legnica. - Perhaps in this matter there will be a referendum, perhaps we will ask Poles. It will not be binding, because there is no such legal possibility, but we want to move in this direction. Because a judge must be protected to a certain extent, that is obvious, but should they be protected when they steal in a supermarket? But that's a minor issue. Should they be protected if they are connected with local mafias or with what is essentially a local criminal network? And issue rulings related to it. No, ladies and gentlemen, they should not be protected. The same applies to a prosecutor and the same to an MP. We want to maintain safeguards. It will not be as simple as that, where anyone can gain influence or make some positive contacts with the local prosecution and, for example, put a bothersome MP or senator on trial; it will not be like that. But we believe that in the name of equality, and also based on the experience of the last 30 years, this change must be made, and we will push for it. And this is not against democracy, freedom, or the rule of law, but it is for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law - the PiS leader continued.

13:59

Kidawa-Błońska:

If We Want to Ensure Poles' Safety, Healthcare is the Most Important Issue to Address in This Campaign

"A complete picture is being built. If we want to ensure Poles' safety, healthcare is the most important issue that we must address in this campaign" - said Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, candidate for Prime Minister for the Civic Coalition and Deputy Marshal of the Sejm, in Gorzów Wielkopolski.

"[4 years of PiS rule have resulted in] Waiting times for many specialists have significantly lengthened, instead of shortening, they are extended. Access to medicines is limited. Medicines are becoming more expensive, including essential, life-saving drugs, this is particularly evident in oncology" - she added.


14:03

Kidawa-Błońska:

PiS's Program Contains Very Dangerous Provisions Regarding the Practice of Journalism. Solidarity Was Not Formed, Nor Was Freedom Regained, for Someone to Introduce Such Restrictions from Above

"There are many dangerous points [in the PiS program]. It's not just about limiting the mandate of MPs and senators and handing power over to the Prosecutor General, but there are also very dangerous provisions concerning the practice of journalism and the press. The deeper one delves into the points included in this program, the greater the surprise and unease that people in our country did not fight for such a Poland or such values. Solidarity was not formed, nor was freedom regained, for someone to introduce such restrictions from above" - stated Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Civic Coalition's candidate for Prime Minister and Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, in Gorzów Wielkopolski.


14:08

Kaczyński:

Single Mothers Are Also Families; We Fully Respect and Support Them in Various Ways
We want a family based on full equality, a woman and a man. But at the same time, we want this family to grow out of such a union and raise children. Passing on to them both life and culture, civilizational norms, taking care of education, of what drives progress. From generation to generation. Our opponents, who have a habit of looking for fault, claim that by speaking of this, I am against mothers, because it is usually mothers, women who raise their children alone. No, ladies and gentlemen, these are also families. We fully respect and support them in various ways. But this does not mean that we should agree to other proposed models. A family consisting of two daddies and children, two mummies and children, etc. etc. Should we agree that everyone can choose whether they are a woman or a man, even though at the moment of birth, at the cellular level, it is already decided? I even made a mistake in Lublin, saying that almost everyone is born a woman or a man. I explained this before; I later had a meeting with professors of medicine, and they told me: you made a mistake, I am neither a doctor nor a biologist. Everyone is born as a woman or a man. This is simply visible in every cell. However, secondary characteristics may sometimes be different, as in the case of other differences, but this is rare and under no circumstances should it be made a norm. It is a certain misfortune that affects some people. They should be sympathized with and can be helped – stated PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński in Legnica.

17:26

Kaczyński:

The Polish state, and particularly Polish courts, must be fixed

- The stakes also include fixing our state, a state that should be an efficient tool in the hands of the nation, and unfortunately, the Polish state apparatus very often does not perform this function, or performs it poorly, even badly. The Polish state, and particularly Polish courts, must be fixed – stated Jarosław Kaczyński in Wałbrzych.


17:30

Kaczyński:

Is Poland's Debt Increasing? People Are Being Told It Is. It's Decreasing. Because Debt is Measured Against GDP. This Percentage is Falling.

- Our policy not only yields results, but it is conducted cautiously and rationally. Is Poland's debt increasing? People are being told it is increasing. It is decreasing. Because debt is measured against GDP, in simplified terms, against national income, against everything that is produced and valued annually. Well, this percentage is falling. It reached 55%. There was a threat, which is why the Open Pension Funds (OFE) were partially abolished, that it would exceed 60%, meaning the constitutional limit. Today, it is already below 50% and will continue to fall, because the approaching year is expected to be a year of a balanced budget - stated Jarosław Kaczyński in Wałbrzych.


18:15

PMM:

Poles Deserve Higher Wages
In your beautiful city, a renowned spa town, very different treatment methods are also known. Here, my advisor Bartek urged me to take a beer bath. Apparently, you have something like that. It's not for me, I'm saying that right away. I won't be persuaded, but someday, after the campaign is over, I hope in a calmer time I will be able to see more of your city, these famous health resorts, in order to also experience some peace. This kind of peace is what we want to give to as many residents of Poland as possible, to all Poles. Poles deserve higher wages, and hence our proposal for a minimum wage, so that it is at the level of PLN 2600 from next year, PLN 3000 from the year after, and after a few years, by the end of 2023, the beginning of 2024 – PLN 4000. This is our economic policy – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Busko-Zdrój.

18:24

PM:

Opposition leaders say raising the minimum wage is unrealistic and absurd. I disagree.

- Opposition leaders say raising the minimum wage is unrealistic and absurd. I disagree. We must push up the salaries of Poles, because the work of Poles is priceless. That is why I thank you all for what you have done so far and I ask you to encourage friends, acquaintances, family, so that on October 13th we have the nation behind us, the majority of the nation. We know we won't convince everyone, but I believe that what we are doing is breaking through to consciousness - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Busko-Zdrój.


18:28

PMM:

True Democracy Means Everyone, Regardless of Social Standing, Should Vote
- For 15 years, our opponents, through mainstream media, have been indoctrinating people with the message: don't get involved in politics. They wanted the lowest possible turnout, ideally for people not to vote at all. No, true democracy means that all people, regardless of their position in society, should vote. And they should consider whether Poland has changed for the better. If they answer this question affirmatively, that it has changed, then they should vote for PiS - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Busko Zdrój.

20:23

Political Week Ahead: Campaign Continues, EU General Affairs Council on Rule of Law in Poland, and National Judicial Council Session
Campaign Continues. This coming week, the leaders of the Law and Justice (PiS) party will continue their tour across the country – as will the Civic Coalition's candidate for Prime Minister. On Monday, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska will be in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. At 9:30 AM in Dębno, she will visit the Regional Care and Therapy Facility, and at 11:15 AM, the Social Activity Centre in Gryfino. At 12:45 PM, she will meet with the Mayor of Szczecin, Piotr Krzystek, followed by a press briefing at 1:30 PM. Subsequently, at 2:00 PM, she will participate in the 70th anniversary of the West Pomeranian Centre for Teacher Development in Szczecin, and at 5:30 PM, she will visit the Senior Citizens' Home in Stargard. Meanwhile, the Lewicobus, with the leaders of The Left, will be in Białystok and Siedlce on Monday. The following days will include visits to Radom, Kielce, Kraków, Wrocław, and Wałbrzych. Another convention is planned for Saturday in Gdańsk. National Judicial Council Session. A session of the National Judicial Council (KRS) is scheduled for this coming week, which will address, among other matters, the case of Judge Dudzicz. "The Council's session has already been convened for Monday. I assure you that the presidium will take appropriate steps on Monday. I will also certainly initiate such a discussion," announced Maciej Mitera in an interview with TVN24. General Affairs Council on Rule of Law in Poland. On Monday, a session of the EU's General Affairs Council will take place, which will, among other things, summarize the progress on the multiannual financial framework 2021–2027. Under the "Miscellaneous" agenda item, the Commission will present ministers with the latest information on the situation regarding the rule of law in Poland. President Duda in Lublin Voivodeship. On Wednesday, President Andrzej Duda will visit the Lublin Voivodeship, where at 2:45 PM, he will participate in the 20th General Congress of Polish Historians in Lublin. At 5:00 PM, he will lay wreaths at the grave of Lieutenant Leon Taraszkiewicz "Jastrząb", in front of the monument dedicated to "soldiers of the Polish Army and the Border Protection Corps fallen in the fight against the German and Soviet invader in 1939", and in front of the monument dedicated to "Polish officers and policemen from Włodawa and its surroundings, murdered by the NKVD in Katyn, Kharkiv, Miednoje, Tver in 1940". A meeting with residents of the Włodawa poviat is scheduled for 5:15 PM. President Duda at the UN General Assembly General Debate. Over the weekend, President Andrzej Duda will begin a several-day visit to the United States – lasting until mid-next week – during which he will participate in the general debate of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Photo: Sejm