The upcoming week in politics is dominated by parliamentary sessions – first the Senate, and then the Sejm, with the possible consideration of the so-called "judge disciplinary law" project submitted by PiS. The lower house will resume its debates on Thursday. The Senate, in turn, will address, among other things, the financing of the 13th pension and an increase in excise duty on...

Donald Tusk will embark on a tour across Poland at the beginning of the week for book signings related to the premiere of his book “Szczerze” (Honestly). The EPP President will visit Poznań, Wrocław, and Gdańsk in the coming days. President Andrzej Duda's plans for the week include attending the commemorations of the 49th anniversary of the December '70 events in Szczecin.

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Family Council Meeting. On Monday at 11:00 AM, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will participate in a Family Council meeting. The Prime Minister's statement to the media is scheduled for 12:30 PM.

Conferences by Lewica and Inicjatywa Polska. On Monday at 9:00 AM, at a press conference in the Sejm, Inicjatywa Polska will comment on Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska's candidacy for President of Poland. Later, at 10:30 AM in the Senate, a conference titled “Act on the Pension Benefits of Officers. Assessment of Effects, Opportunities for Change” will take place. Andrzej Rozenek, Adam Bodnar, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, and Michał Kamiński will speak at the conference. A press conference will follow at 2:15 PM.

PAD's Schedule. On Monday, President Andrzej Duda will participate in ceremonies commemorating the 75th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Kingdom of Belgium, and in Hamm, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. On Tuesday, PAD will attend the commemorations of the 49th anniversary of the December '70 events in Szczecin, and afterwards, back in Warsaw, he will meet with soldiers.

Senate Committee on Sales Tax and Budgetary Amendment. On Monday at 12:00 PM, the Senate's Budget and Public Finance Committee will review two bills passed by the Sejm a few days prior. These include an amendment to the Retail Sales Tax Act – concerning the re-suspension of its application – and an amendment to this year's budgetary act. The proposers are keen on timely enactment, with the former intended to take effect on January 1st, and the latter on the day following its announcement, but still within this year.

Author Events with Tusk. On Monday at 6:00 PM in Poznań, an author event will be held with the former President of the European Council and current EPP President, Donald Tusk. Further meetings with the former Polish Prime Minister will take place on Tuesday at 6:00 PM in Wrocław and on Wednesday in Gdańsk at 5:00 PM.

Senate on 13th Pension Financing and Excise Tax Increase. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the second session of the upper house of this term will convene. Senators will primarily consider bills related to the Solidarity Fund – in practice, concerning the financing of the 13th pension – as well as an increase in excise duty on stimulants. During the session, senators will also be elected to the National Council of the Judiciary.

Sejm Committee on Resolutions Regarding Tokarczuk. On Wednesday at 1:30 PM, the Sejm Committee on Culture and Media will hold the first readings of two draft resolutions expressing recognition for Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk – one will be presented by Tomasz Zimoch, the other by Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus.

Sejm on the Judge Disciplinary Law. The so-called judge disciplinary law project submitted by PiS is not yet on the agenda, but it is highly probable that it will be voted on at an expedited pace during the Thursday and Friday Sejm sessions.

Constitutional Tribunal Judge Election. On Friday morning, the Sejm is expected to elect Rafał Wojciechowski as a judge of the Constitutional Tribunal, replacing Małgorzata Pyziak-Szafnicka, whose term expires on January 5th.

Sejm Committee on Services' Actions Towards Banaś. On Friday at 1:00 PM, the Sejm Committee on Special Services will consider and issue an opinion on the PO-KO club's motion to present to the Sejm “information from the Minister-Coordinator of Special Services – Mariusz Kamiński on irregularities in the actions of special services towards Mr. Marian Banaś (currently President of the Supreme Audit Office) from 2015 to the present.”

Photo: Sejm

The meeting between the President and Jan Śpiewak concluded a few minutes ago, as announced on Twitter by presidential minister Błażej Spychalski shortly after 8 PM.

As 300POLITYKA learns from sources within the Palace, the President met with Jan Śpiewak just before his departure to Luxembourg, where on Monday, at the invitation of the King of the Belgians and Grand Duke of Luxembourg, he will participate in ceremonies commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, a victory for Allied forces.

According to information obtained by 300POLITYKI, the President invited Jan Śpiewak following a criminal verdict handed down on Friday, December 13th, in the second instance concerning Article 212, a lawsuit filed by Kraków lawyer Bogumiła Górnikowska (privately the daughter of former minister Zbigniew Ćwiąkalski). The case pertains to her involvement as the curator of a deceased person in the restitution process of a tenement house in Warsaw's Ochota district.

According to 300POLITYKI's interlocutors from the head of state's circle, Andrzej Duda reportedly asked Śpiewak for his opinion on the situation of tenants being evicted onto the streets as a consequence of restitution decisions, and was particularly interested in the progress of proceedings in which Śpiewak is a party due to his involvement with Warsaw's restitution affairs.

As we hear – Andrzej Duda personally followed this matter closely and decided to invite Śpiewak to the Presidential Palace after reading his Facebook post, in which he wrote:

"I lost. The court has made me a criminal. For defending the weaker, for defending justice. For revealing that Minister Ćwiąkalski's daughter participated in the illegal restitution of a tenement house in Ochota as the curator of a 120-year-old" – Jan Śpiewak wrote on Facebook, adding that he is the only person twice convicted by a final and binding judgment in connection with the restitution scandal.