The Senate will resume its session at 9:00. Today, senators will address, among other things, changes to the public transport act and the National Revenue Administration Act. A voting block will conclude the session. Marshal Tomasz Grodzki will meet with ambassadors: from France (at 9:30) and Armenia (at 14:00).

From 10:00, the Joint Commission of the Government and Local Self-Government will convene, and at 13:30, the parliamentary culture committee will discuss draft resolutions concerning the Nobel Prize in Literature awarded to Olga Tokarczuk.

At 16:00, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will participate in a Christmas Eve meeting with soldiers from Special Forces units in Krakow. At 19:30, the Presidential Couple will receive the Bethlehem Peace Light from scouts.

At 18:00, protests are announced across Poland in connection with the bill submitted by PiS to discipline judges. - Citizens! PiS is declaring open war on the independent judiciary! It plans repressions against judges and prosecutors, including dismissal from the profession! It openly mandates the cessation of applying European law! This is the end of the separation of powers and a step towards Poland's exit from the European Union! We call on everyone to protest! On December 18th, let's take to the streets across Poland – in solidarity with the judges! Today Judges – Tomorrow You! - write the organizers.

- We had no idea, meaning we weren't actually forewarned that it would happen in this form. As far as I know, at the Council of Ministers meeting, Prime Minister Morawiecki mentioned that there was such a will among some MPs of the PiS parliamentary club, but it was very general information. I found out a few hours earlier from colleagues in Solidarna Polska that they would announce such an initiative. But indeed, formally, with us as Jarosław Gowin's Porozumienie, and I've said this many times, neither the shape nor the date of the announcement of this act was consulted - stated Kamil Bortniczuk in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

- Indeed, concerning the details of this act, we have our proposals, ones that will slightly soften it. Yes, we will submit these amendments. Of course, first and foremost, we will submit them, guided by intra-coalition loyalty to our partners from the United Right. We would prefer not to discuss matters with our partners through the media. However, I repeat: we agree on the direction. We are in favor of counteracting the anarchization of the state - stated Kamil Bortniczuk in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

"I receive this statement and this declaration with regret. I think it is both inaccurate, unthought-out, and also very political, and if we look at the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, we directly have the requirement of apoliticality there. Meanwhile, comparisons with the 1980s are unjustified to the extent that, in my opinion, firstly, we have free elections in Poland, and this is a fundamental principle that the First President of the Supreme Court should know, and this is the difference, because this statement lacks that assertion. But I think it offends the memory of the victims of martial law and offends all those who were involved in the democratic opposition in the 1980s. Because I understand when someone speaks strongly in defense of their privileges, however, these kinds of unjustified analogies, in my opinion, harm public debate. This is not a substantive statement that contains such content. And in my opinion, this is also proof that certain changes in the judiciary, when it comes to emphasizing to judges that they should be apolitical, are needed" - said presidential minister Paweł Mucha in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.

“Some judges, because the vast majority of judges are apolitical, the vast majority of judges do not engage in politics, and I have immense respect for judges who today do not engage in politics. However, those judges who do engage in politics, especially those in the highest positions, by drawing comparisons to the 1980s, are behaving inappropriately, and that is the mildest word I can use in this matter” – said presidential minister Paweł Mucha in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet. 

“We need to see its final content after parliamentary work. The President is favorably inclined towards the justice system in Poland functioning as it should,” said presidential minister Paweł Mucha in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet. 

- 12%, roughly, it should not exceed PLN 9 on an individual's bill. However, despite this, we still want to introduce a statutory compensation mechanism. Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Sasin, who is currently responsible for energy in this area, and Prime Minister Morawiecki also mentioned this at a press conference. Therefore, we are awaiting decisions, but we are also awaiting decisions in other areas because, in fact, at the moment, it is one company that has energy price increases. The remaining companies have 14 days to rationalize their expectations regarding price increases. I think they might be at a similar level. That's how I understand it; yesterday's URE decisions, and then we will decide on the mechanism, but we want to introduce this mechanism - stated Piotr Müller in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.

- We are considering how to implement it, whether directly to the operator or as a refund to citizens. Therefore, there are no decisions on this yet - added the government spokesperson.

- 'We say: 100 days from the government's inauguration. That's February. The commitments concerning the package of medical tests are already being prepared by the Ministry of Health. Regarding the 100 bypasses plan, the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) and the Ministry of Infrastructure are already working on selecting these 100 bypasses, and we also want to conduct some consultation mechanism in this regard, plus, of course, subsidies for farmers is a much more difficult topic. Fortunately, our EU Commissioner for Agriculture is already taking action, but this is indeed a longer-term perspective' - stated Piotr Müller in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.

- We in the United Right camp are talking. Yesterday, there was also such a discussion on this topic. I know that Prime Minister Gowin has some proposals for changes, amendments [to the draft bill on disciplining judges]. Minister Ziobro is also open to these potential corrections. We will discuss this - stated Piotr Müller in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.

- I do not exclude that there will be some corrections, however, they will not be fundamental when it comes to issues such as filling vacancies in courts - added the government spokesman.

- Allegedly yes [there will be amendments to the bill disciplining judges]. The Ministry is preparing something. Yes [it's a parliamentary bill], but some proposal. I would be for stricter measures, but since it's to be softened, we'll see. I don't know [if it will be softened] - stated Ryszard Terlecki in a conversation with TVN24.

"This is such an act that I cannot imagine what could be improved in it, because it is fundamentally bad. If such an act is passed by the Sejm at all and reaches the Senate, then the Senate will decide. We will decide" - said the Deputy Marshal of the Senate, Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka from Lewica, in a conversation with journalists in parliament.

"I cannot imagine anything else [than rejection in the Senate]. This act is contrary to the constitution, to European law. This act is contrary to all opinions that have been issued, to the opinions of the Venice Commission. It is unacceptable. Such an act passed by the Sejm means a slow Polexit" - she added.

In the judiciary, chaos prevails. The government, the ruling party, and PiS MPs are deepening this situation. They don't want to resolve or heal the judiciary in any way. They want to seize it, extremely politicize it, lead to silencing judges, and also to breaking the rules that apply both in Poland and the EU. This is clearly stated by the opinion of the BAS (Scientific Council of the Supreme Court), which is devastating for this project, stating that it in no way promises compliance with the rule of law principles applicable in the EU and, in our opinion, should not even be considered. But it will likely be considered tomorrow. As parliamentarians, we will speak on this matter, speak firmly, and submit a motion to reject this bill in the first reading. We will do everything to block it, to submit amendments that will ensure this law does not infringe upon the impartiality and independence of the courts – stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at a briefing in the Sejm.

- On the initiative of Marshal Zgorzelski, who will be organizing it together with us, but he will be acting as a representative, a person in the Sejm's presidium, it is our parliamentary club Koalicja Polska that is extending the invitation and organizing a round table to develop legislation that will heal the situation in the justice system. Such legislation is simply necessary, offering a chance for legal certainty, shortening proceedings, and reducing court costs, but first and foremost – and this is a task for all of us – to stabilize and ensure the certainty of verdicts that are handed down - stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at a briefing in the Sejm. - We are inviting experienced individuals from the legal community to this initiative. Judges, former Constitutional Tribunal presidents, those who have served as Ombudsman or First President of the Supreme Court. However, we also strongly want to draw upon the knowledge and experience of law faculties at Polish universities. We want to invite professional associations, namely the bar and the advocates' unions. We are also inviting other political parties and parliamentary clubs. We want this meeting, and such an invitation will be extended to the Prime Minister and the Marshal of the Sejm, to be the occasion for legislation that will heal and cleanse the situation in the justice system, which is simply a necessity and our commitment - added the PSL leader.

“Since December 2015, we have stood with Poles everywhere protests were held in defense of our freedom. We were in front of the Constitutional Tribunal, in front of Polish courts, in front of the Supreme Court, because for Poles, for all of us, freedom and the achievements of the last 30 years were and are most important. We will not allow this freedom to be taken away by politicians who, in the manner of authoritarian countries, are trying to strip institutions of their independence, seize them, and subordinate them to the rule of the one true party. Today, too, listening to the voice of the citizens, which calls for us to rally under the slogan "Today judges, tomorrow you," we will be everywhere Poles demand their freedom” – stated Borys Budka, the chairman of the Civic Coalition parliamentary club, at a press conference in the Sejm.

“A time comes in the life of every society when one must speak out and show one’s opposition. Therefore, I appeal to everyone to meet today in front of the courts, to show that we do not remain indifferent. I wanted to thank all the individuals who had the courage to stand before the courts and bear true witness” – added Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Civic Coalition’s presidential candidate and Deputy Marshal of the Sejm.

„This is no reform of the judiciary. We have very bad experiences with legal acts that have come out of the Sejm. The only amendment acceptable to us is to reject this bad law in the first reading” - stated the leader of the Civic Coalition parliamentary club, Borys Budka, at a press conference in the Sejm.

- We want to change a few things. Indeed, first and foremost, we will propose introducing a preamble to the bill, which will define the axiological foundations for its introduction. This is important in the context of the ongoing discussion. Furthermore, our observations are largely consistent with the opinion of the Supreme Court Advisory Board. Our amendments will aim to eliminate any doubt that this bill will be in compliance with the Constitution and the EU Treaty - stated Kamil Bortniczuk in a conversation with journalists in the Sejm.

Protests are underway in Poland under the slogan "Dziś sędziowie - jutro wy!" (Today Judges – Tomorrow You!).

The protests, which began after the controversial judicial reforms were passed, are a clear expression of public discontent with the government's actions. The slogan "Dziś sędziowie - jutro wy!" highlights the perceived threat to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, suggesting that if judges can be targeted today, ordinary citizens could be next.

Several prominent opposition politicians have shared their support and observations of the protests on Twitter:

• Mateusz Chłystun: https://twitter.com/MateuszChlystun/status/1207348719840112641


• Borys Budka: https://twitter.com/bbudka/status/1207350117721919490


• Barbara Nowacka: https://twitter.com/barbaraanowacka/status/1207351599477219328


• Michał Szczerba: https://twitter.com/MichalSzczerba/status/1207349566800060418


• Lewica (The Left): https://twitter.com/__Lewica/status/1207350084955971589

These tweets likely contain images, videos, or commentary from the ongoing demonstrations, further illustrating the public's deep concerns regarding the state of democratic institutions in Poland.

- Two days ago, I was at the monument of miners murdered in the Wujek mine, and many people approached me there, saying: this project must happen, this law must pass, do not back down. And we will not back down - said Michał Wójcik in an interview with Dorota Gawryluk on the program 'Gość Wydarzeń' on Polsat News.

- Of course, I assume there will be amendments. And why? Well, because this is material of a kind that was prepared by members of parliament, so one should expect that the government will also respond in some way. The goal is to have the project refined - said Michał Wójcik in an interview with Dorota Gawryluk on the program "Gość Wydarzeń" (Guest of Events) on Polsat News.

- It's about the goal, that's key for us. Madam editor, a judge is a humble servant of the law. That's what we used to learn at university, I learned it too. Today I am accused of not being a lawyer, as one of the professors said. And my mother asks me what I was doing during my studies then. But that's what I was taught at university, at the law faculty. A humble servant of the law, it's not like a judge is above everything - said Michał Wójcik in an interview with Dorota Gawryluk on the program 'Gość Wydarzeń' on Polsat News.

- Supporters came out so that judicial changes wouldn't happen, so it stays as it was. We have a dispute in a living democracy. Judges should refrain from political activity; participation in demonstrations organized by parties is not in accordance with the Constitution. Judges, like for instance former Marshal Dolniak, have the right to be elected, but then they should refrain from ruling. For example, I would not want to be judged by Judge Tuleja – said Andrzej Dera in 'Kropka nad I' (The Dot Over the 'i').

- The Supreme Administrative Court ruled that judges have no right to decide who is a judge. This is the prerogative of the president, and no one is allowed to question a judge's status, nor is anyone doing so, for example, in relation to judges appointed by the Council of State - said Andrzej Dera on Kropka nad I.

- Hysteria has begun, as parliament hasn't even started working on the bill. - Andrzej Dera said on 'Kropka nad I'. - Article 178, paragraph 3 states that a judge cannot engage in public activity - Dera added.

- The President knows the bill because it is published online and anyone can familiarize themselves with it. Regarding the ideas and directions, yes. It must be clear what a judge can and cannot do, in connection with the prohibition of public activity resulting from the Constitution. These are known and accepted matters, changes must be made to the judiciary - said Andrzej Dera on Kropka nad I. - We approach every bill with a degree of detachment, because bills undergo changes during parliamentary work. Moreover, the Ministry of Justice announced proposed changes today. We will calmly await the conclusion of the work - Dera said.

I worry about Mr. Duda's company. I cannot forget how in September 2017, at the Belvedere, in the company of Mr. Kaczyński, they bartered the division of power amongst themselves, with Ziobro also involved, as to which judges would go to which chamber. Firstly, it was about removing Supreme Court judges and then creating a group of their own acquaintances - said Andrzej Rzepliński in an interview with Monika Olejnik on TVN24's "Kropka nad i". - That was suspicious company. What right did a man who is accountable for nothing, I am talking about Jarosław Kaczyński, have to decide who will be a judge in Poland. What right? This is company. When Duda speaks of company, his company worries me - he added.

- Using the language of Marshal Piłsudski, they have messed everything up. Those who are ruling now. So, with such a messed-up bill project, if they were to pass it, and I think there is unfortunately a quite high probability they will push it through, that they will do a fiddle-de-dee, Gowin will relent on something, and they will start distributing garments about how open he is to freedom, to independence, to the separation of powers - said Andrzej Rzepliński in an interview with Monika Olejnik on TVN24's "Kropka nad i".

- Poland is too large, too populous. It protects well as a transit territory. This is the direction we are heading in, we are leading ourselves there, that Poland will become a sanitary territory between the West and the East - said Andrzej Rzepliński in an interview with Monika Olejnik on TVN24's "Kropka nad i".

-- LIVEBLOG 300POLITYKI: BORTNICZUK ON GOWIN'S PARTY AMENDMENTS: THEY WILL REMOVE DOUBTS DERA ON PAD'S SUPPORT FOR THE LAW RZEPLIŃSKI ON THE FAILED PROJECT https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/12/18/ ***** POLSAT NEWS -- OVER 100 POLISH CITIES AND PROTESTS IN DEFENSE OF THE COURTS, SPECIFICALLY AGAINST THE LAW PROPOSED BY PIS TO DISCIPLINE JUDGES - announcement. -- THE GOAL IS CLEAR - TO FORCE, TO CONVINCE THE RULING PARTY TO WITHDRAW THE CONTROVERSIAL BILL ON JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE FROM THE SEJM - Mira Skórka. -- RYSZARD TERLECKI ANNOUNCED THAT THE REGULATIONS CONCERNING JUDGES WILL BE AMENDED - Skórka continues. -- THE PARLIAMENTARIANS OF POROZUMIENIE ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE NOT CONSULTED ON THE BILL AND THEY ALSO WANT TO CHANGE IT - Skórka. -- AND THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL IS TOMORROW, AROUND NOON - Skórka continues. ***** FAKTY TVN -- THE OPPOSITION WARNS: TODAY JUDGES, TOMORROW YOU - announcement: In the new judicial law, PiS abolishes independence. Reprisals will appear. And democracy will not defend itself. -- JUDGES AND CROWDS OF PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THE REPRESSIVE LAW, WHICH IS MEANT TO SILENCE JUDGES - Maciej Knapik. -- AMONG THE PEOPLE, THERE ARE SPECIFIC FEARS NOT ONLY CONCERNING JUDGES OR THE JUDICIARY - Knapik: But also Poland's presence in the EU. -- OPPOSITION POLITICIANS INCITED PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MANIFESTATIONS - Knapik. -- PIS WANTS RADICAL CHANGES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME CALMS MOODS - Knapik. -- THESE JUDGES ARE FIGHTING NOT IN THEIR OWN INTEREST - Donald Tusk. -- PROSECUTORS HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED ORDERS TO REACT TO JUDGES WHO DO NOT WISH TO SUBMIT. SOME PROSECUTORS ARE PROTESTING ALONGSIDE JUDGES - Knapik. -- IMAGES FROM GDAŃSK, POZNAŃ, KRAKÓW AND WARSAW. -- A LAW FULL OF REPRISALS FROM TOMORROW IN THE SEJM. EVERYTHING IN 24 HOURS. THIS IS THE PIS PLAN - announcement: And the opinion of the Sejm lawyers is devastating. -- MORE OR LESS THAT'S ALL PIS HAS TO SAY TO THE PROTESTERS - Krzysztof Skórzyński on Terlecki's words that tomorrow the work begins. -- IN THE EVENING, A DEBATE WILL BE HELD ON THE LAW THAT STRIKES AT JUDGES. IT'S MORE THAN AN EXPRESS TRAIN. THE LAW IS TO BE ADOPTED IN 24 HOURS - Skórzyński. -- THE OPINION OF THE SEJM LAWYERS IS NOT EVEN CRITICAL, IT IS DEVASTATING - Skórzyński. -- PRESIDENT KACZYŃSKI RULES OUT THE SCENARIO OF WITHDRAWING THE LAW - Skórzyński. -- ONE OF POROZUMIENIE'S AMENDMENTS IS TO ADDRESS THE HARSHEST PROVISIONS OF THE LAW CONCERNING PUNISHMENT BY REMOVAL FROM OFFICE - Skórzyński. -- WITHDRAWAL FROM THESE REGULATIONS IS SO FAR ONLY PROPOSED BY GOWIN'S PARTY - Skórzyński. -- PRESIDENT KACZYŃSKI MUST AGREE TO THE MITIGATION OF THE LAW - Skórzyński. -- THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE PROVISIONS ON QUESTIONING THE LEGITIMACY OF JUDGES APPOINTED BY THE KRS - Skórzyński. -- PIS DOES NOT PLAN TO BACK DOWN DESPITE THE MASSIVE, UNIVERSAL CRITICISM NOT ONLY FROM SEJM LAWYERS, BUT ALSO FROM THE SENATE, LAWYERS AND LAW PROFESSORS - Skórzyński. -- THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS BILL IN YEARS OF PIS RULE - PRESIDENT GERSDORF SPEAKS PLAINLY. IF WE BREAK EU LAW, WE MAY SOON FIND OURSELVES OUTSIDE THE UNION - announcement. -- THE PRESIDENT AND PIS CONVINCE THAT POLES ARE TIRED OF JUDGES AND THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THEIR INDEPENDENCE - Jakub Sobieniowski. ***** WIADOMOŚCI TVP -- OPPOSITION TO CHANGES - ticker. -- OPPOSITION SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH JUDGES - ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sejm will likely deal with the judicial bill, after amendments by the Ministry of Justice, as early as tomorrow. Part of the opposition, invariably, shoulder to shoulder with the judicial community, harshly criticizes the entire bill and encourages demonstrations. -- THE OPPOSITION DOES NOT WANT AMENDMENTS - Maksymilian Maszenda. -- JUDGES WITH PO POLITICIANS ARE LEAVING THE READING ROOM. -- NEUMANN'S TAPES. -- PO ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO TAKE TO THE STREETS - Maszenda. -- THE DEMONSTRATIONS WERE MEANT TO BLOCK THE CHANGES BUT DID NOT ATTRACT CROWDS, WE CAN TALK ABOUT A FREQUENCY FAILURE - Maszenda. -- A GIFT FOR DRIVERS - ticker. -- Good news for drivers heading for holiday travel on the S7 express road between Warsaw, Kielce, and Krakow. The last missing section of this road in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship has just been opened. Further amenities are planned before the holidays. -- IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ABOUT LGBT - ticker. -- The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the resolutions on "LGBT-free zones" adopted by some Polish local governments. The European Parliament calls on Poland to revoke such resolutions and appeals to all Member States to recognize same-sex marriages. -- PE DEFENDS AND INDICATES EXAMPLES OF DISCRIMINATION - Karol Jałtuszewski. -- THIS IS A RESOLUTION CONTAINING A LOT OF NONSENSE AND FALSEHOODS - Joachim Brudziński. -- THESE ARE RESOLUTIONS OPPOSING IDEOLOGY, NOT PEOPLE - Przemysław Czarnek. -- THE RESOLUTION CALLS FOR THE RECOGNITION OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGES - Jałtuszewski. -- BIEDROŃ LOOKED FOR PLACES WHERE DISCRIMINATION OCCURS ONLINE - Jałtuszewski. -- DURCZOK WILL NOT GO TO PRISON. -- HOW ARE THE COURTS HANDLING SWISS FRANC BORROWERS? -- The number of lawsuits filed by Swiss franc borrowers against banks is growing. Awareness of their rights is also increasing. All thanks to a ruling by the EU Court of Justice that is favorable to borrowers. However, some judges are ignoring this ruling. -- MANY JUDGES ARE STILL IGNORING THE RULING OF THE EU COURT OF JUSTICE - Bartłomiej Graczak. -- SAD PICTURES OF STATE AGRICULTURAL FARMS. -- In one moment, they lost not only their only source of income, but above all their sense of stability and hope. They dedicated themselves entirely to work on the State Agricultural Farms. Balcerowicz's plan, a package of economic and systemic reforms, led to the collapse of the farms. People were left destitute. Some fell into extreme poverty.