At 10:00, the second session of the 9th term Sejm will commence. Lawmakers will begin by working on an urgent government draft amendment to the 2019 budget-related act. Parliamentarians will also address changes to the chamber's regulations, allowing for the election of PKW (National Electoral Commission) members. This is a consequence of the amendment to the Electoral Code from the previous term. The voting block will start at 18:00.

Additionally, at 13:15, lawmakers will consider a draft bill concerning the extension of the suspension of the retail sales tax. Also today, parliamentary teams will convene in the Sejm – including those for Humanitarian Aid and International Humanitarian Law at 16:00. Earlier, teams focused on vaccinations and "Break Up With Plastic" will gather.

At 9:30, Lewica will hold a press conference in the Sejm titled "Defense of the Teacher's Charter." At 9:40, the Marshal of the Senate, Tomasz Grodzki, will meet with the Italian Ambassador, and at noon with the head of WOŚP (Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity), Jerzy Owsiak. At 9:45, another Lewica press conference will take place, titled "Just Energy Transition Fund."

At 10:50, President Andrzej Duda will host the President of Estonia at the Presidential Palace, and at 14:30, he will appoint new members to the Social Dialogue Council. At 17:50, the Mayor of Poznań and candidate in the Civic Platform primary elections, Jacek Jaśkowiak, will organize his press conference in Szczecin.

In Brussels, the European Council session will begin today. For the first time, the summit will be chaired by Charles Michel, who was elected President of the European Council by EU leaders in July. EU leaders will address a range of issues, including climate change and the long-term EU budget.

At 11:00, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will meet with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at 12:00 with the President of the European Parliament, and at 13:40 with Commissioner Janusz Wojciech. At 14:15, a coordination meeting of the Visegrad Group will take place. The European Council's working session is scheduled for 15:30, followed by dinner at 19:30.

- As we've said many times before, we will make this decision [regarding the presidential candidate] in December. Honestly, we're not rushing, because the Left is in quite a comfortable position at the moment. All the right-wing and centre-right parties are placing their pawns on the chessboard, and we'll make our decision when the pawns are out. From what I see, some of these pawns are even starting to bicker amongst themselves. Because, from what I've heard, there are no longer just two contenders officially running in the Civic Coalition, but I've also heard politicians from Nowoczesna going on media outlets saying they will have their own candidate - stated Adrian Zandberg in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

- We are working on the premises of Europeanizing the Polish tax system. When we talk about Europeanization, we mean a real increase in the progressiveness of this system, because today, as you know very well, Poland is one of those countries... I am thinking about lowering the rate that the vast majority of Poles pay today - stated Adrian Zandberg in a conversation with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

- It's a big enigma. We've had attempts in history by people from outside politics who wanted to make their mark in politics. I only know Szymon Hołownia as a journalist, I value him highly, but it's difficult for me to assess him as the host of one of the entertainment programs. He seems like a very pleasant person - stated Borys Budka in an interview with Beata Michniewicz in "Trójka's Political Salon".

- Marshal Kidawa-Błońska, unlike Szymon Hołownia, is known for her political activity, she is a person who has held the most important state positions and is known for her ability to unite and build consensus. She is a very competent and substantive person. I am convinced that she is the best candidate to win against President Duda - added the head of the Civic Platform-Koalicja Obywatelska club.

- Szymon Hołownia can certainly, as we say, stir things up on the political scene. We will see what his result will be - he noted.

- Yes, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska is the person who, in my assessment, is the only one from the opposition who has a chance to win against President Duda, and I say this hoping that this is precisely what will happen next May – stated Borys Budka in a conversation with Beata Michniewicz on the programme 'Salon polityczny Trójki' (Political Salon of Trójka).

- It would be an insult to Polish women and men if the Constitution had to be changed because of one person, a colleague of Mr. Morawiecki, Kaczyński, and Ziobro, who voted for him and supported him. There is no possibility of us participating in changing the Constitution for one individual, as it would be unlawful. Laws are not written for specific cases; laws should be general and abstract - stated Borys Budka in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on "Trójka Political Salon".

"This is not an optimistic picture, because these large-scale malfunctions have been happening in Warsaw quite frequently recently, but I think it's also worth returning to the issue of heating privatization in Warsaw. The referendum did not take place. The monopolist was privatized, meaning a company that would always have profits. Now it's easy to say that a private company failed. This is a typical approach to shifting responsibility" - said government spokesperson, Minister Piotr Müller, on Polskie Radio Jedynka.

“We have two very important discussions ahead of us - the multiannual financial framework, i.e., the EU budget, and climate policy, i.e., measures related to the energy transformation. We are in favour of pursuing climate policy goals, but at the same time, we argue that Poland has a completely different energy sourcing structure than many other EU countries. We cannot introduce the same speed of implementation for changes to a country that has a different energy structure,” government spokesperson, Minister Piotr Müller, said on Radio Jedynka.

https://twitter.com/AndrGrzegrzolka/status/1205038937359749120

„We are before the announcement of the presidential election date, so we must appoint the members of the State Electoral Commission. These are deadlines that compel us to appoint the PKW composition even before the presidential election announcement” – said the Marshal of the Sejm, Elżbieta Witek, at a press conference.

“No Plan B has emerged. There were two or three very similar motions regarding [intelligence reports on Marian Banaś]. By decision of the Sejm, with the approval of the Convention of Senior Members, this has been referred to the committee on special services. This committee will certainly convene before the 19th [of December]. As far as I recall, the committee session will be on the 18th and Minister Kamiński will appear there,” said Sejm Marshal Elżbieta Witek at a press conference.

“I understand Rafał Trzaskowski, who signed the motion [regarding Kidawa-Błońska's candidacy]. Rafał spoke with me about this and indicated that he must be consistent in this regard, but he also declared that on December 14th, if I win these elections, I will have his full support. Hania Zdanowska and other local government officials [as well]” – said the Mayor of Poznań, Jacek Jaśkowiak, in an interview with Karolina Lewicka on Poranek Radia TOK FM.

„[The primaries] were a chance for Civic Platform to discuss where we are and where we're heading. We also have elections for the party leader ahead of us. At these meetings, I also emphasized that I often hear politicians who have been in the party for 18 years recalling how they used to generate enthusiasm, win over 100,000 votes, and now they get a dozen or so, and they think that if they change the party leader, they'll get 120,000 votes again. I explain that it's not about that; it's about starting to generate enthusiasm for the future” - said the Mayor of Poznań, Jacek Jaśkowiak, in an interview with Karolina Lewicka on TOK FM Radio's Morning show.

“Regarding the implementation of changes that could allow for changes in the NIK (Supreme Audit Office) presidency, the opposition parties have announced that they will not support any changes in this regard. Consequently, it is difficult to discuss the further implementation of anything in this area. Opposition parties have declared that they will not support any constitutional changes that could enable changes to the position of NIK president. Therefore, it is hard to talk about any changes, because the opposition does not agree to them” – said government spokesman, Minister Piotr Müller, in an interview with journalists in the Sejm.

"The CBA report - as far as I know - will be available when charges are pressed. It is natural that until the prosecutor's office proceedings conclude, some documents, as in any proceedings, will not be public," said government spokesman, Minister Piotr Müller, in a conversation with journalists in the Sejm.

“In recent weeks, we have seen frantic government actions to finance pre-election promises, despite a very poor budget situation. To achieve this goal, the Law and Justice (PiS) government is resorting to methods that are inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the Public Finance Act. The latest example of this was the draft amendment to the act on the solidarity fund for disabled people” – said Dariusz Rosati from Civic Coalition at a press conference – “The Civic Coalition proposes amending the Public Finance Act in such a way that such practices will not be possible in the future. We want to protect public finances”.

“What PiS is doing with public finances, how they are circumventing the stabilizing expenditure rule, is recidivism. It’s not just about the solidarity fund. PiS does more things like this, which is why we are beginning work to strengthen the expenditure rule” – added Izabela Leszczyna from Civic Coalition.

https://twitter.com/Jakub_Stefaniak/status/1205090217352404994

https://twitter.com/PolskiSenat/status/1205091661799469056

- Poland has made enormous efforts in recent years to reduce CO2 emissions and to also work on programs like Clean Air, and we will, of course, continue these efforts. However, it must be noted that the cost of energy transformation in Poland is much higher than in many countries that have been much luckier than us in recent decades and have based their energy systems on completely different energy sources, such as France, which developed nuclear energy and thanks to this has a very low-emission energy system today. We, of course, must take into account all social and economic costs for Poland and we will emphasize all these dependencies, and at the same time, with full force, we also highlight the aspect of consumption, which causes some countries that boast about having lower per capita emissions not to show that they import a great many goods from outside the EU, thereby leading to very high per capita consumption in their own countries. We emphasize this aspect, this argument, the argument of a just energy transformation, as well as the fact that the pace of achieving neutrality must be differentiated depending on the stage of economic development of individual countries - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki before the EU summit.

- I have my favorite in the form of Marshal Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska - said Tomasz Grodzki in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program 'Gość Wydarzeń' on Polsat News.

- I know the Marshal very well, and I'll tell you frankly. You underestimate the strength of women, and especially the strength of the Marshal - added Grodzki.

– As MPs from PiS, Solidarna Polska, and Zjednoczona Prawica, we have submitted a bill amending the law on the system of common courts, as well as the Supreme Court and other laws. This is a response to the actions undertaken by a part of the judicial community, which itself labeled itself the "extraordinary caste." As it turns out, it's not just a name, but also a feeling of being an extraordinary caste that we are dealing with – informed Jan Kanthak at a briefing in the Sejm.

- Restraining emotions, especially towards a colleague from the same party, is a trait that a future president of Poland should possess, and as we can see from the current president, he doesn't always manage to restrain these emotions. I wouldn't write such a letter - said Tomasz Grodzki in a conversation with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program 'Gość Wydarzeń' on Polsat News.

- We don't know for sure who will run yet. To my knowledge, other candidates might still emerge - said Tomasz Grodzki in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.

I have appointed a working group in the Senate to draft a new KRS Act, in line with the guidelines of the Court of Justice. It will be ready in the first days of January, at the same time as the Supreme Court issues its ruling in all cases it has been obliged to by the CJEU – said Tomasz Grodzki in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program „Gość Wydarzeń” on Polsat News.

- We must talk and explain that protecting the environment is a common cause, but also that there cannot be Europe A and Europe B, a Europe of the rich, a Europe of the poor. And that poorer countries, less wealthy countries, less wealthy societies bear the costs of transformation - said Ryszard Czarnecki in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.

- It is clearly stated that a Just Transition Fund will be created, which is intended to support regions of the state that will have to undergo this change. The first regions that are in line for this money are Polish regions and Poland itself. It is only a matter of good negotiations on the part of the government – said Krzysztof Hetman in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on the programme „Wydarzenia i Opinie” (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.

"PiS, instead of reforming the judiciary and implementing the rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), is once again proposing solutions aimed solely at imposing a kind of gag on the mouths of Polish judges. This action is contrary to the constitution and the CJEU ruling. There can be no consent for PiS to try to cover up the Banaś affair and the prison service affair with an unconstitutional gag placed on Polish judges. The Civic Coalition (KO) parliamentary group will not allow such actions" - said the head of the KO parliamentary group, Borys Budka, at a press conference in the Sejm.

"The idea of a bill to persecute judges is a stab in the back for the Polish justice system, the Polish judiciary, and the rulings of the CJEU and the Supreme Court. It deepens the dependence of Polish judges on the current government. I warn against using the name of the bill that the Ministry of Justice is using. We are not dealing with a bill to discipline judges, but with a bill to persecute judges" - added Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz.

This isn't about punishing judges; it's about a sense of responsibility for the state and its citizens. A situation where judges assume powers based on a ECJ ruling to undermine the status of other judges who were appointed by a democratic National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) can lead to anarchy and immense legal chaos, which a responsible government, also accountable for the functioning of the justice system, cannot afford – stated Jan Kanthak in an interview with Monika Olejnik on TVN24's "Kropka nad i" (Point on i).

-- PM MORAWIECKI ON JUDGES URGING LAW-BREAKING - IN AN INTERVIEW WITH PAP: “I appeal to all judges to refrain from making such statements. Because such statements are nothing more than urging the breaking of the law, undermining the status of legally appointed, independent judges. What some representatives of this environment are doing is very dangerous – judges must stand guard over the rule of law, not over their own interests. How can we expect citizens to obey the law – if some judges call for its violation?”

-- IT IS THE AUTHORS OF PRELIMINARY RULINGS WHO LOST AT THE ECJ: “The Supreme Court asked the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg whether the law on the Supreme Court and the National Council of the Judiciary violates EU regulations – because it believed it did. Meanwhile, the ECJ ruling is unequivocal: no provision of Polish law has been questioned. The authors of the preliminary rulings have simply lost the case. And now they are trying to manipulate and convince people that it is otherwise.”

-- PM MORAWIECKI ON WOJCIECH SURMACZ'S QUESTION ABOUT THE IWULSKI CASE - THE FACT OF RULING IN PZPR'S INTEREST AND APPLYING THE MARTIAL LAW DECREE IS DAMNING: “We must consider this very seriously. The ECJ ruling has been issued, it is binding on everyone, and it must be adhered to. If Supreme Court judges so strongly wish to question the appointments of other judges, perhaps they should first consider whether their colleagues who faithfully served the communist state for years should not be stripped of their retirement status. Today, they receive high pensions for this. If there is any effect of the ECJ ruling, it is primarily that it is necessary to check which judges do not and did not previously provide guarantees of independence. Of course, each case must be considered individually – this also follows from the ECJ ruling – but the fact of being appointed by a communist authority, the fact of ruling in the interest of the PZPR, the application of the martial law decree, should be a mitigating circumstance when considering such matters. This also applies to those who are already retired.”

-- WE ARE NOT BACKING DOWN FROM THE REFORM - THE PRIME MINISTER TELLS PAP FURTHER: “I would very much wish for this to be possible, but seeing this immense resistance, I have serious doubts whether there is a real will for change in this influential segment of the environment. I have heard many times how it admitted that reforms are necessary – only when asked for specifics, either there were none, or they aimed at an even greater lack of accountability of judges. Independence cannot be confused with irresponsibility. Law and Justice, as the first political camp in Poland's history, is carrying out this very difficult reform. It is meeting with great resistance – but we will not back down from it, because the way courts have operated for 30 years of the Third Polish Republic is unacceptable in a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Not to mention that it is a drag on economic development, as every honest entrepreneur who has gone through court procedures knows.”
https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/news%2C556866%2Cpremier-dla-pap-apeluje-do-sedziow-aby-zaprzestali-wyglaszac-oswiadczenia-o

-- 300POLITYKA LIVEBLOG:
GRODZKI ON NEW CANDIDATES FOR CIVIC PLATFORM LEADER
KANTHAK ON THE JUDGES ACT
GASIUK ON THE PERSECUTION OF JUDGES
PMM ON ENERGY TRANSFORMATION
https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/12/12/

*****

POLSAT EVENTS

-- THE FIGHT FOR THE GREEN DEAL AND BIG MONEY BEGINS IN EARNEST - announcement.

-- EU LEADERS HAVE RESUMED TALKS ON REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, INTERRUPTED IN JUNE BY THE VETO OF POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, AND ESTONIA.

-- THESE FIGURES ARE TRULY SHOCKING - 20% OF TEENAGERS BETWEEN 14 AND 16 YEARS OLD HAVE CONTACT WITH PORNOGRAPHY AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK

-- THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CHANGE THIS, WHICH IS WHY IT INTENDS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT BY THE YOUR CAUSE ASSOCIATION.
*****

FAKTY TVN

-- THE OLD ESTABLISHMENT IS HOLDING ON TIGHT - THE PRESIDENT THUNDERS - announcement: He speaks of the courts because they are enemy number 1. According to Duda, we live in a post-communist justice system.

-- MOST JUDGES DO NOT REMEMBER COMMUNISM AS WELL AS A PROSECUTOR OF MARTIAL LAW, WHOM THE PRESIDENT RECENTLY MADE A JUDGE - Justyna Pochanke continues.

-- THE WORD “ESTABLISHMENT” HAS NOT BEEN IN THE POLITICAL MAINSTREAM FOR A LONG TIME - Krzysztof Skórzyński: It has returned in its sharpest form, and thanks to the president.

-- IN THE SAME SPEECH, PAD DIRECTLY CALLED FOR SUPPORT FOR THE TOUGHEST LINE AGAINST JUDGES - Skórzyński.

-- ON POST-COMMUNIST HABITS IN THE JUDICIAL COMMUNITY AND POST-COMMUNIST JUDGES, JUST ONE WEEK AFTER, IN DEEP CONSPIRACY, WITHOUT CAMERAS, WITHOUT MEDIA, SECRETLY APPOINTED A POLITICIAN AS A JUDGE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL TRIBUNAL WHOSE RICH PRL PAST IS WIDELY KNOWN - Skórzyński.

-- AMONG THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED THEIR CAREERS DURING THE PRL ARE TWO KEY FIGURES FOR THE JUDICIAL PARTY REVOLUTION: PIOTROWICZ AND PRZYŁĘBSKA - Skórzyński.

-- THESE BIOGRAPHIES DO NOT BOTHER PIS AND THE PRESIDENT - Skórzyński.

-- THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT MENTIONED THE SWEARING-IN OF PIOTROWICZ FOR A WEEK - Skórzyński.

-- THE POLITICAL WAR WITH JUDGES IS ALREADY AFFECTING ORDINARY CITIZENS. IN A DIVORCE CASE, THE QUESTION ARISES WHETHER THE JUDICIAL PANEL IS PROPERLY CONSTITUTED - announcement.

-- WILL THE UNION BET ON CLIMATE? WILL POLAND BE AT THE TOP WITH ITS VETO AND COAL? - announcement.

-- A REAL OBSTACLE COURSE IN THE SEJM. EVERY STEP, A QUESTION ABOUT MARIAN BANAS - announcement: He must be difficult, as the deputy minister responsible for services tries to disappear at the sight of Maciej Knapik.

-- MARIAN BANAŚ IS BUILDING POLITICAL SUPPORT. HE PUBLISHED A FILM SHOWING HIM RECEIVING AN AWARD FROM THE CONFEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT POLAND - Maciej Knapik.

-- THE LEFT IS COLLECTING SIGNATURES FOR A MOTION FOR AN ECJ RULING ON THE HEAD OF NIK - Knapik.

*****

WIADOMOŚCI TVP

-- THE GOVERNMENT IS DEFENDING POLISH INTERESTS - banner.

-- ANOTHER DISPUTE OVER MONEY - in the report.

-- POLAND IS SETTING TOUGH CONDITIONS - Pawelec.

-- THE PACE OF ACHIEVING NEUTRALITY MUST BE DIFFERENTIATED - PMM.

-- THE POINT IS FOR GUARANTEES TO BE LASTING - Szymański.

-- PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS AGREED TO TIGHTEN CLIMATE POLICY - Pawelec.

-- PEK'S SLIP OF THE TONGUE ABOUT RISING ELECTRICITY PRICES.

-- AN ALLIANCE THAT STRENGTHENS THE REGION - banner about the visit of the President of Estonia.

-- ESTONIA TAKES POLAND'S PLACE IN THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL.

-- THE GOVERNMENT WANTS EFFECTIVE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM PORNOGRAPHY - in the announcements.

-- ACTION IS NEEDED BECAUSE THE DATA IS ALARMING - in the announcement.

-- PMM CONVENED A MEETING OF THE FAMILY COUNCIL - Karol Jałtuszewski.

-- AGREEMENT IS POSSIBLE ON THIS MATTER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT - Piotr Mueller.

-- PMM WILL DISCUSS THIS WITH THE FAMILY COUNCIL ON MONDAY - Jałtuszewski.

-- POLES AND JEWS CREATED A GROUP TO RESCUE JEWS - report from the Pilecki Institute.

-- THE EXTRAORDINARY CASTE WANTS IMPUNITY - banner.

-- A DIVORCE CASE OF ORDINARY PEOPLE WAS USED FOR JUDICIAL GAMES - Maciej Sawicki.

-- JUDGES USED OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS TO FIGHT THE REFORM - Sawicki.

-- EXCEEDING AUTHORITY - disciplinary spokesperson.

-- THERE IS NO LACK OF OPINIONS THAT THIS IS A DEFENSE OF PRIVILEGES REGARDLESS OF THE COST - Sawicki.

-- JUDGE TULEJA, WHO AWARDED A MURDERER PLN 250,000 FOR POOR CELL CONDITIONS, SENT PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS TO BRUSSELS - Sawicki.

-- THE OLD ESTABLISHMENT IS HOLDING ON TIGHT - PAD in the Nowomiejski district.

-- AND THE PRESIDENT WANTS THE CHAMBER FIGHTING PATHOLOGIES TO CEASE OPERATING - Sawicki.

-- I AM SURPRISED PEOPLE CALL THEM A CASTE, WHAT ELSE SHOULD THEY BE CALLED? - PAD.

-- PEDOPHILIC THREAD IN JUDGES' CONVERSATION - “HALFWAY THROUGH THIRTEEN” IN THAILAND - Sawicki.

-- AND THIS KIND OF COMPANY OF JUDGES DOES NOT BOTHER THEM - PAD.

-- OPPOSITION MPS MET WITH JUDGES, DURING THE PO GOVERNMENT MORE SCANDALS ERUPTED LIKE MILEWSKI NEXT TO TUSK AT A MATCH - Sawicki.

-- THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE ARE PARALYZING WARSAW - banner.

-- WARSAW AUTHORITIES SEEM NOT TO SEE THE PROBLEMS - Marcin Szypszak.

-- R. TRZASKOWSKI ON “CHANGING HEAT PARAMETERS”.

-- R. KROPIWNICKI ON THE OLD PIPE.

-- ANOTHER MAJOR FAILURE IN THE CAPITAL RULED FOR A DECADE BY PO -

-- MORE PRICE INCREASES FOR WASTE DISPOSAL - Szypszak.