Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz is embarking on a tour across Poland. In less than 48 hours, he will cover over 1600 kilometers, visiting Zakopane, Katowice, Rawicz, Gdańsk, Gdynia, Elbląg, Białystok, and Warsaw along the way. In Zakopane, Kosiniak-Kamysz's chief of staff will also be presented. A press conference will be held at 7:00 AM, followed by breakfast with entrepreneurs at 10:30 AM in Katowice, and a conference at 11:15 AM. At 2:00 PM in Rawicz, a Christmas meeting with farmers will take place, preceded by a conference. The final event is a meeting with volunteers working on the election campaign in Gdańsk at 8:30 PM.

At 10:30 AM in Warsaw, the National Convention will be held to select the Civic Platform's (PO) presidential candidate – it will be either Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska or Jacek Jaśkowiak. At 11:30 AM, the PO National Council will convene to adopt the calendar for internal elections.

At 11:00 AM in Warsaw, the National Convention of SLD will take place. At 2:00 PM, a joint press conference will be held by SLD chairman Włodzimierz Czarzasty and Wiosna leader Robert Biedroń. Also today in Warsaw, Wiosna's national convention will be held – Krzysztof Gawkowski's speech is scheduled for 10:00 AM, and Robert Biedroń's at 1:00 PM.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will visit the Museum of Cursed Soldiers and PRL Political Prisoners in Warsaw. The head of the Polish government will participate in the ceremonial unveiling of a plaque commemorating Anna Walentynowicz at 12:15 PM, and at 12:45 PM – in the conference "Women in the Fight for Independence."

At 5:00 PM in Warsaw, an author's meeting with Donald Tusk will be held. "Day by day, we accompany his first steps in his new role, learn about the behind-the-scenes of European politics, and follow the most dramatic events of recent years: the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, the refugee crisis, the death of the Mayor of Gdańsk, Paweł Adamowicz, and the never-ending negotiations regarding Brexit. The book also features multi-dimensional and surprising portraits of the most important figures in world politics, from Barack Obama and Angela Merkel to Donald Trump and Boris Johnson," announces the publisher.

On December 17th, Wojciech Mucha's debut novel, "City of Knives," published by Wydawnictwo CIEŃ KSZTAŁTU, will hit bookstores. This is not just a thriller about violent clashes between fans of two Krakow teams – Cracovia and Wisła. It's a story about what shaped people entering adulthood in the first decade after the systemic transformation. Step into the Poland many would prefer to forget. We present four excerpts from Wojciech Mucha's book, on a very special day for him. Krakow, the 1990s. A time when the images seen in television commercials and replayed on VHS tapes contrasted with the grayness of everyday life and the concrete blocks of mass housing estates. **** „The blocks. From their roofs, from which the towers of St. Mary's Basilica, the peaks of the Tatra Mountains, and the chimneys of the Łęg combined heat and power plant are visible, down to the basements fortified like nuclear shelters. Basements, where residents, as if preparing for a catastrophe, keep items that „might come in handy”: jars, furniture, cutlery, old carpets, basins, chamber pots, leaky tires, incomplete electronics, nails, nuts, remnants of grease, varnishes, paints, and glues. The elderly, the poor, and the provident – all fill the basements with jars of preserves, their dates scribbled with a trembling hand on paper tape that causes goosebumps: July 1992, June 1995, and so on, up to September 1997. Some are still hoarding sugar and flour. It’s impossible to explain to those traumatized by war and communist shortages that it’s unnecessary, that there will be no more scarcity. When an old man who remembered Sachsenhausen passed away and his apartment was being cleared out, it turned out he had kept petrified packages of sugar in a linen chest, likely since the Cuban Missile Crisis.” **** „Fathers. There was always some kind of problem with them. Either they drank and did nothing else, or they drank and worked themselves to the bone, or they were dead, or they were alive and unknown, which is worse than being dead and known. If he worked from dawn till dusk, you could somewhat gloss over it, pretending he was enterprising. But what’s enterprising about toiling like an ox? Working one and a half shifts at – let’s say – a lathe or in a sign-making shop? Driving around the city all night on the back of a dilapidated Żuk truck, removing and installing traffic signs – detours, repairs, closures, route changes, and warnings, hauling heavy poles and standing on a ladder in frost or heat? „That’s still better than unemployment,” someone would say. Browarnik's father, as long as he worked at the Steelworks, drank in the sad grove in front of the plant gate. That’s where, after each shift, before heading home on one of the buses and trams departing from there, dozens to hundreds of workers would gather. At first, they only drank in the bushes, which they called the „Willow Bar,” where there were so many bottle caps trodden into the grass that they formed a metal carpet. Then, in 1994, a bar called Dwie Kostki opened near the plant. It was more expensive there, but you didn't catch the wolf or get rained on. And Browarnik senior drank. He drank, sadly looking at the plant and in the other direction, as trams and buses filled with workers drove back and forth along the wide Solidarności Avenue. He looked into his pockets, his wallet, and at his colleagues' faces: gray and hard as cast iron. And nothing made sense to him. Every day he chewed on this reality, then boarded bus 138 under the plant and rode, dulled by those two or three Pils beers, around the entire Krakow, past identical blocks, next to people just like him, silently and staring blankly out the window at the longed-for freedom. He’d come home, sleep soundly for a few hours, eat dinner, remain silent, sometimes smile at his wife and sons, as befits a family evening. And then he’d sleep again, but restlessly. And he’d get up at 4:30 AM, remain silent over his cheap coffee, reek in the club locker room, go out, and board the last night Jelcz bus on line 611, whose engine howled – buuuu, buuuuu, wuuuuu – like an elephant supposedly howls over the corpse of another. And he’d drive back to the plant. Before dawn, he didn’t drink beer, because it made him sluggish at work. But when he finished at 2 PM, he’d again drink those two or three Pils beers, silently in solidarity with the others. Sometimes they talked, and he’d listen to them complain, moan, brag about a woman or children. About planning a trip to their allotment in Dobczyce or the long-delayed balcony renovation. Or about remembering the rolling mill Zgniatacz, when Andrzej Szeczuwaniec turned on the red light and gave the signal for the last strike. And about how, after that, the sheet metal, pipe, wire, and small rolling mills went with Zgniatacz. And how recently it was, just in April 1988. And how it achieved nothing, but they were all young. „Well, let’s drink to youth, we can still afford it,” they’d say. And then – although they convinced themselves that the new Poland would be for everyone – it wasn’t for them. Indeed, they’d pat him on the back and shake his hand so hard that calluses formed on their greasy hands, they’d pinned medals on him, presented him with diplomas, and went off to do business.” **** „Krakow's drug scene was divided according to the map of fan influence. The chief – as commander of the Cracovia hooligan group – had sway over all housing estates where Cracovia's atmosphere dominated. On the other side was Dzikus, the leader of the Wisła gang. The city was almost cut in half. Districts, schools, universities, dormitories, public housing, swimming pools, discos, cafes, and suburban swimming spots – everything had to bear the stamp and seal of one of the gangs. It happened, of course, that in a district controlled by Wisła, an island of apartment blocks inhabited by particularly tough Cracovia supporters defended itself against Biała Gwiazda [Wisła's nickname] like a village from the comic book Asterix against the Romans. And vice versa – in a part of the city ruled by Cracovia, a dozen or so people could strongly hold the banner with the White Star. This resulted in increasingly frequent bloodshed, and a weekend trip to a match often resembled a military expedition, with fans armed with knives, clubs, and batons taking over buses and trams, looking at every stop to see if a horde of opponents was emerging from around the corner. Those with less courage would go to the match incognito, often hiding their club scarf in their sleeve or – in extreme cases – in their underwear. Those suspected of being football fans were searched by opponents and deprived not only of their scarves but also of their teeth. The colors obtained in this way were displayed during the football derby on the fence separating the stands from the pitch, and then burned. Several hundred scarves and shirts usually meant even more black eyes, knocked-out teeth, and broken noses, and even stab wounds, but no one pondered this. Fights took place in housing estates, schools, pubs, and wherever football hooligans could cross paths. Golden had experience in street fights. He appeared at Cracovia sometime in the early nineties when the Pasy [Cracovia's nickname] team stood no chance against a much stronger football team, Wisła. Back then, Krakowians eager for success flocked to Wisła, and students arriving in the city also headed there first. Success and league position generated a fanbase and ensured Wisła had a decent group of hooligans. Piotr was introduced to the stadium at Kałuży by older colleagues from Śródmieście and Grobla. He got his first taste (and his first beating) while still in high school and from then on became fascinated by the world of hooliganism. It was no secret that – due to numerical superiority – Pasy had difficulty confronting Wisła, and therefore the Cracovia hooligan group, the first in Poland, resorted to using sharp weapons in rivalries between hooligan teams.”

The official presentation took place this morning in Zakopane.

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- As is widely known, Mr. Jan Śpiewak took up the fight against the restitution mafia. He fought bravely for the dignity of persons wronged by bandits and fraudsters. I try not to publicly comment on court decisions, but this particular case requires an exception to that rule. The verdict of the Warsaw District Court, upholding the lower court's decision which found Jan Śpiewak guilty of defaming attorney Bogumiła Górnikowska-Ćwiąkalska and ordering him to pay a fine of 5,000 PLN and an additional 10,000 PLN, is completely incomprehensible. It is worth mentioning just one aspect of this case: the attorney was allegedly supposed to be the guardian of a 118-year-old person... No comments - wrote Mateusz Morawiecki on Facebook.

- Themis, the symbol of impartiality, has a blindfold on. Friends and enemies should be judged by the same measure. Anyone who fights for justice as bravely as Jan Śpiewak deserves respect, praise, and a medal. Finding him guilty and sentencing him is in stark contradiction with the social sense of justice and the conviction of who acted in the public interest, for the common good, and who acted for the dubious interests of a narrow group. The verdict was delivered on the 38th anniversary of martial law. It's worth remembering this verdict. My heart and mind are with Jan Śpiewak - the head of the Polish government emphasized.

- The presidential elections are approaching. Important elections that – we deeply believe – will be the beginning of political change in Poland. Because we all see how Andrzej Duda has weakened the president's position. Because we miss a serious approach to this office. And finally, most importantly, because we have two excellent candidates. Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska and Jacek Jaśkowiak – stated Grzegorz Schetyna at the Civic Platform convention.

- The elections held two months ago delivered an ambiguous verdict from the voters. PiS won in the Sejm, although, as we recall, the opposition garnered nearly a million more votes. On the other hand, we won the Senate. We have a majority there which would be more solid were it not for the fact that in several constituencies, against agreements, additional opposition candidates or those masquerading as opposition were put forward - stated Grzegorz Schetyna at the Civic Platform convention.

- We have an opposition presidium in the Senate, and in the Senate committees, honest, tough talks are already taking place with representatives of the PiS government. Honest and tough, because they are conducted in the interest of the state. Legislation is already being prepared to restore order in the judiciary, and to compensate local governments for funds taken by the current authorities, and we will fight hard for this - said Grzegorz Schetyna during the Civic Platform convention. 

- Today I want to thank those who founded the Civic Platform. Donald Tusk, Andrzej Olechowski, and Maciej Płażyński. This is thanks to you, to all of us, who together, in good times and bad, have proven that something matters to us - stated Grzegorz Schetyna at the Civic Platform convention.

- The consequences of dozens of scandals are now reaching this greedy government. They are quarreling among themselves over spoils, and the truth about Macierewicz's farm, his proteges, and former Speakers of the Sejm and Senate, Karczewski and Kuchciński, is becoming increasingly clear to Poles. But that is already history – said Grzegorz Schetyna during the Civic Platform convention.

- Now is the time for the next steps. First, the presidential election. After that, we will finalize the work on the Civic Coalition's comprehensive common program, and all of this will culminate next year in a grand program congress, and then – I am convinced – there will already exist a broad camp for change, whose strength will be a common goal, and that goal is the building of Poland's future – stated Grzegorz Schetyna at the Civic Platform convention.

- The motivation for rebuilding community stems from nationalist resentments, where different social groups are constantly pitted against each other, and where power feeds on conflict. They are Bolsheviks in modern attire. When they speak of agreement, they are preparing for a fight. When they speak of peace, they think only of war - said Grzegorz Schetyna during the PO convention.

“We have a strong team in parliament. We have managed to introduce individuals who, through their hard work and determination, are active in many committees and are forming teams. Today, we have managed to create the conviction in the Polish parliament that Civic Platform (PO) and its hegemony in the opposition have ended. Today, the Left is setting a new tone for where we are and where we are heading” – said the head of the Left parliamentary club, Krzysztof Gawkowski, during the Spring convention. 

- Andrzej Duda promised to be the president of all Poles, and the truth about his presidency is that for 5 years, day in and day out, Andrzej Duda tried to be the orderly of one chairman. The oligarchic system that has been built, in which the party, by breaking the law and customs, is to rule the state and the economy, is crumbling. Thanks to us, the opposition, to those media that are still free, and thanks to the judges who are still mostly independent, although the latest bill intends to ultimately subordinate judges to the system, this party oligarchy is fiercely attacking, especially through state television, that which it does not control. It incites, lies, and multiplies slander. It even goes so far as to refuse to respect Supreme Court rulings supported by the Court of Justice of the European Union. I want to state clearly today: you will not intimidate judges or politicize the justice system. Your party-controlled neo-KRS does not exist. Both from the perspective of European law and the Constitution - stated Grzegorz Schetyna at the Civic Platform convention.

- We are the main opposition force, and we will remain so until the elections, and then we will take power from PiS. I am convinced that it will be sooner than in four years - said Grzegorz Schetyna during the Civic Platform convention.

- The Left and PiS want to raise taxes indefinitely. We see this every day. To slow down this engine of creativity. And our answer to this is very simple. If we want to share our common money with the poorer, with families, then someone must pay it, pay money into the budget. Neither the Left nor the Right can create a money miracle without work. It simply doesn't exist - stated Grzegorz Schetyna at the Civic Platform convention.

“The Left is uncomfortable for the other opposition parties. They fear us, and they have reason to fear us. We have clear and distinct views, and we will not be afraid to talk about issues concerning gender equality, and the separation of church and state. We will never lack the courage when it comes to voting for a State Tribunal for Marian Banaś. This is what the Left promises” - said Krzysztof Gawkowski, head of the Left club, during the Spring convention. 

- Our rivals from the left accuse us of being too far to the right. The Peasants' Party claims we are moving to the left. I tell them very clearly: get used to it. We are where we are. In the center, with centrist views and proposals shared by millions of Polish women and men – stated Grzegorz Schetyna at the Civic Platform convention.

"In this pre-campaign, I covered 7014 km. I visited all regions. I was everywhere. I spoke not only with members and sympathizers of Civic Platform, but I spoke with Poles. There were hundreds of conversations and thousands of handshakes. Regardless of whether it was a small town or a large city, regardless of whether we spoke with women or men, the problems are exactly the same everywhere, and people define them very well" - said Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Deputy Marshal of the Sejm, during the Civic Platform convention.

“People have noticed that Poland lacks a president who champions their rights, who steps in when there is a dispute and it needs to be resolved. There is no president. Sometimes they appear, sitting at the edge of the table in diplomatic talks. I would prefer our country’s president to be at the main table, leading those discussions,” stated Sejm Deputy Marshal Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska during the Civic Platform convention.

Polish officers and generals must feel that the president is their support, that he respects them. That is why I spoke during the debate. I would like a national defense pact to be created, so that we treat this matter very seriously, because it is important for Poles, for the Polish army, and for all people who care about Poland's security – said Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska during the Civic Platform convention.

- In the last 30 years, presidential elections have never been this important for Poland, for the further development of our country, democracy, and freedom. If anyone had doubts even a week ago whether PiS would continue this process of devastating the rule of law, democracy, and freedom, then the attack on judges from the day before yesterday dispels those doubts – stated Jacek Jaśkowiak at the Civic Platform convention.

- I know how to win in sports, business, and politics. I've demonstrated this not only through two strong election victories in Poznań. I also consider halting Macierewicz's madness and the Smolensk appeals during important ceremonies as political victories - said Jacek Jaśkowiak during the Civic Platform convention.

„Local government officials must know that they have a friend and someone to talk to in the Presidential Palace. I would also like all excluded individuals – due to health or poverty – to know that there is a person in the Presidential Palace who will ensure they receive intelligent assistance, helping them escape the realm of exclusion so they can fully participate in social life again” – said Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Deputy Marshal of the Sejm, during a Civic Platform convention.

- No one accuses me of being like lukewarm water from the tap. No one accuses me of lacking clarity. I don't shy away from answering difficult questions. And I can reach different groups of voters. If we want to win elections, we have to convince the young, and we can only reach them and encourage them to participate in elections if we are clear and can present our vision for the country lucidly - stated Jacek Jaśkowiak at the Civic Platform convention.

„A slow 'Polexit' is beginning. What happened yesterday in Brussels, this withdrawal, this veto, it's not a veto. It's showing that we don't want to participate, that we don't care to listen to young people. For the first time in history, young people are speaking so strongly about the fact that climate issues are very important to them, that they don't have time to wait. I understand that for the Prime Minister, for me, these 30 years are a period in which we won't worry about what's happening in the world, but young people remain. They will live and have the right to live in cities, study, start families, and our Poland should function as a normal country. There should be rivers, greenery. We should be able to see the sun. Running away from responsibility, saying we are not prepared for this, is also an insult to Polish entrepreneurs and scientists” – said Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, during a Civic Platform convention.

"The new act, which aims to dismantle the judicial system in Poland entirely, destroy authorities, weaken the position of judges, and in reality, take away their freedom. This is happening before our eyes. This is the beginning of Polexit. This is the beginning of PiS wanting to lead us out of Europe. They don't say it loudly, but these actions mean we are far, far behind countries that think about a common future. We are being left alone," stated Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska during the Civic Platform convention.

I remember times when we had 10% support, when many thought it was the end for the Platform, when many considered there to be other leaders on the political scene, on the opposition side. Meanwhile, at this moment, no one doubts that Civic Platform, Civic Coalition is the main opposition force, capable with its coalition partners of restoring order, the rule of law, and decency in Poland. If it weren't for Grzegorz Schetyna, the board, and all of us, the Platform would not be where it is now. Grzegorz, thank you very much - said Tomasz Grodzki during the PO convention.  

Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska has been chosen by the national convention as the Civic Platform's (PO) candidate for President of Poland. The Deputy Marshal of the Sejm received 345 votes, while Jacek Jaśkowiak garnered 125. There were 5 invalid votes.

"Dear friends, let's begin! I want to thank you very much, Jacek, and I wish our campaign to look like our pre-campaign. I know it won't be exactly like that, but these are my dreams. We are starting a big game. I know we will win it. I defeated Kaczyński in Warsaw. I will defeat Duda. We have strength, we have energy. We know what we want. We will win this election. Poles will not have to be ashamed of their president. I will be the president of all Poles. From today, we work for victory. We invite all Polish women and men to join us in this. I invite you to victory" - said Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, candidate of the Civic Coalition for president and Deputy Marshal of the Sejm, shortly after her nomination. 

A group of MPs has submitted a bill to the Polish parliament, a bill that vividly recalls the worst solutions from a rightfully bygone era. The worst solutions, known only and exclusively to totalitarian systems, which have nothing in common with democracy, freedom, and the separation of powers. Today is a day when a clear and unambiguous declaration concerning this bill is expected from the strongest opposition party, from the National Convention of Civic Platform - said Borys Budka during the PO convention. Budka proposed a resolution to the National Convention, which serves as an appeal regarding the Sejm bill concerning the courts.

"We hereby call on the representatives of the parliamentary majority to immediately cease work on the parliamentary bill amending the act on the organization of common courts, the Supreme Court, and certain other acts. The proposals put forth by Law and Justice MPs are inconsistent with the constitution, European law, the principles of the rule of law, and in particular, the principle of the separation of powers. They constitute repression, an attempt to limit judicial independence, and ultimately an assault on the democratic order of our country. We perceive the presented proposals for changes as an attempt to forcefully exclude Poland from European communities and the circle of Western civilization. The National Convention of Civic Platform expresses its unequivocal support for all actions aimed at the proper execution of the European Court of Justice's rulings. Full respect for these rulings is the duty of all state bodies. In the interest of our homeland's prosperity, members of Civic Platform call for an immediate cessation of attempts to pressure independent judges and independent courts."

The resolution was adopted by acclamation.

The National Council of Civic Platform (PO) at today's meeting – following the convention – has ordered elections for the leader of Civic Platform to take place on January 25, 2020. In the event that no candidate obtains an absolute majority of validly cast votes, a second round of elections will be held on February 8, 2020. Candidate nominations, along with the support list required by statute, must be submitted in writing to the election commissioner no later than January 3, 2020.

“The level of deceit and hypocrisy of this group simply weakens me” – said President Andrzej Duda about the judges.

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- I dream that in a few years, we will actually need to rent the National Stadium for our united left convention, and I will reveal to you that it will be called Nowa Lewica (New Left), because that will be the name of our new formation, so that so many mayors, district mayors, city presidents, MPs, and senators come to the New Left congress that we have to rent the National Stadium. This is our goal – said Robert Biedroń during the Spring convention.