In accordance with the resolution adopted by the National Council of Civic Platform in mid-December, the submission of a candidate for the party's leadership election, along with the statutory required list of support for the candidate, is to be made in writing to the National Election Commissioner of Civic Platform no later than January 3rd.

In practice, this means that today marks the deadline for candidates to register for the election of the leader of the largest opposition party. So far, Borys Budka, Bogdan Zdrojewski, Joanna Mucha, and Bartosz Arłukowicz have declared their intention to compete for leadership within Civic Platform. The first round of elections will take place on January 25th, and a potential second round on February 8th.

Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz will visit the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship. A press conference will be held at 4:00 PM, and after the conference, the PSL leader will participate in a New Year's meeting with the residents of the Fabianki commune.

- That's a question for Grzegorz Schetyna [whether he will run]. Today is the deadline for submitting candidacies for the chairmanship in the Civic Platform, and I think that by today, decisions must be made by everyone who is thinking about running. So, by the end of the day, we will know the list of those who want to run for the position of Civic Platform chairman. I think there will be at least a few people. As it seems, probably 4-5 people will be running - stated Sławomir Neumann in an interview with Wojciech Dąbrowski on Polsat News' "Graffiti".

- It's hard to advise someone who has done so much for the Civic Platform in such a situation. For 4 years, he pulled the Platform out of the depths. Let me remind you, 4 years ago, we had 11-12% support, a very strong Nowoczesna with 27%, competition in the Sejm. Alongside that extra-parliamentary opposition, the very strong KOD and the Platform, which was sometimes written off, many wrote it off as non-existent, and Grzegorz Schetyna pulled the Platform out over these 4 years. And that must be assessed honestly today. However, there is also this big movement calling for change, perhaps even more within the electorate than within the Platform itself. I believe the Platform needs change. That's for sure. We need change. Only, I wish and would like to do everything to ensure that it doesn't end with a personnel change. We, as the Platform, need to redefine the Platform for these 20s that have begun, our place on the political scene, that centrist, Christian-democratic part, to show our ideology and what the Platform should look like, why we exist, and what we want to offer Poles. We need this change, and we must find it. And it will be the role of the new leader and the new party board to work this out over the coming months and years, so that we can face the next elections with such a new message, also with a new definition of our relations with our partners. Because, after all, within the Civic Coalition, we have partners in the form of the Green Party, the Polish Initiative, we have local government officials with whom we have worked. This is a certain legacy that we must organize well and define well – stated Sławomir Neumann in an interview with Wojciech Dąbrowski on Polsat News's "Graffiti".

- I think it's a difficult decision [for Grzegorz Schetyna, whether to run for the leadership of the Platform]. He has to consider everything. As I said, he has done a great thing for the Platform, and that must be acknowledged. At the same time, he must be aware that there is this movement that says a leader of change is needed – continued the PO politician.

- Civic Platform is a party where there must be a certain mix of young, energetic people, those in their 20s and 30s, the more measured ones in their 40s and 50s, and those with extensive experience, in their 60s and 70s, like Jerzy Buzek, for example. This is the strength of Civic Platform, its power, that we have this wide range of people, and we must leverage all these assets to be an alternative in the upcoming elections, starting with the May ones, and then further on, that will allow us to win elections - stated Sławomir Neumann in an interview with Wojciech Dąbrowski on Polsat News' "Graffiti".

- Everyone has someone they can lose to. Bronisław Komorowski, President Duda's predecessor, learned this the hard way. Knowing the President personally, I am convinced he will not make the mistake of his predecessor and will not underestimate any potential rival - stated Adam Bielan in an interview with Marcin Wikło on TVP1's "Kwadrans polityczny" (Political Quarter Hour).

- Andrzej Duda is constantly subjected to much stronger attacks than Bronisław Komorowski. Komorowski was under a protective dome during his presidency. After he went out to meet the people, a few months before the election, he was so out of touch with reality that he needed an ear prompter to whisper to him how to talk to passersby on the street. Fortunately, President Duda doesn't have this problem; he is constantly in contact with Poles. He is the first president to have visited all districts. As he promised during his election campaign, he has been to every district in Poland and has excellent contact with people. Therefore, in terms of running an election campaign and sensing social sentiments, he is a much stronger candidate, a better politician than his predecessor. However, we cannot underestimate any potential rival. I would like the President, if he runs, which I am convinced he will, to secure re-election in the first round. But we must be prepared for a very exciting second round. I appeal to all our voters who are reading all these polls indicating Andrzej Duda's victory: do not let yourselves be lulled. This election could truly be decided by a narrow margin in the final moments of the campaign - continued the PiS MEP.

- What greatly concerns me about Marshal Grodzki's actions is the attempt to violate the Constitution by conducting foreign policy. According to the Constitution, the government is responsible for foreign policy in cooperation with the president. The Marshal of the Senate does not have such powers. Therefore, if Marshal Grodzki continues his tour of various world capitals and particularly attempts to attack the Polish government during this tour, he will be directly violating the Polish Constitution. I hope Marshal Grodzki does not go that far - stated Adam Bielan in an interview with Marcin Wikło on TVP1's "Political Quarter Hour".

- Marshal Grodzki became Marshal with the narrowest majority of votes in Polish history. Never before has the Marshal been a person who obtained only 51 seats. This majority in the Senate is extremely shaky, because the opposition constantly has to seek the support of independent senators, constantly tempting them with various positions, while accusing us of alleged political corruption, and openly, in front of cameras, offering independent senators positions such as committee chairmen or representatives in other bodies, so I think Marshal Grodzki's position in the upper house is not strong. We will see if these accusations that have been made are confirmed and what the Civic Platform's reaction will be - stated Adam Bielan in an interview with Marcin Wikło on TVP1's "Political Quarter Hour".

- I strongly protest against such words from Minister Szczerski. And with all due respect to the minister, we still live in a democratic country, and Minister Szczerski will not dictate to a third person in the state what to do - stated Tomasz Grodzki in a conversation with journalists in the Senate.

- As one of the first, I expressed my outrage at the words of the President of Russia, and drawing a parallel here to the visit of the Marshal of the Senate in Brussels is like comparing apples and oranges to President Putin's words. I emphasized in my statement and address that a divided nation is an easier target for those who truly wish Poland ill - added the Marshal of the Senate.

- The elections within Civic Platform also present an opportunity to showcase our presidential candidate. Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska is a person who will actively participate in the internal campaign, as the presidential election is our most important goal in the coming half-year - stated Borys Budka at a briefing in the Sejm.

- I have a concrete plan that I will present everywhere I meet our colleagues. Today, I am starting a series of meetings in every region of Poland. Today, Bydgoszcz, tomorrow Łódź, Częstochowa, and next week other regions. As I promised, I will be in every region to discuss this new plan for Poland - stated Borys Budka during a briefing in the Sejm.

- Poles need the truth, which is why we will create a tool to debunk the reality and propaganda of the ruling party every single day. The Platform [Civic Platform] needs professionalism, which is why I will establish a social research center that will be based on expert analyses of the real needs of Poles. And finally, Poles must have a good choice, which is why I will create a website that will compare what we did well during the famous 8 years and the Platform's ideas with what the ruling politicians are doing. At this point, I can promise you what you know me for on a daily basis: hard, everyday work in the field. Because each of us, members of the Platform, has one voice. The voice of a Member of Parliament, a Senator, is just as important as the voice of someone who works hard every day in their district, region, or municipality. I also promise hard work in the presidential election campaign, because there is no more important goal for the Platform and the opposition this year than winning this election. I am counting on your support and I will see you in your region - stated Borys Budka at a briefing in the Sejm.

20% of respondents believe that Borys Budka would be the best leader of Civic Platform, according to a Kantar poll commissioned by Fakty TVN. 12% of respondents indicated Bogdan Zdrojewski, 11% pointed to Joanna Mucha, and 10% each chose Bartosz Arłukowicz and Grzegorz Schetyna. 37% of those surveyed selected the option "I don't know/difficult to say."

- The end of a term is also the beginning of a new one. I wanted to thank you all for these 4 years of hard work. As I leave the Civic Platform, I am closing this chapter, and I am leaving the Platform in a much better state than it was in 2015 and 2016. It's time for new challenges, new people, a new beginning, a new chapter. I want to say that the best candidate to lead the most important project for us, the Civic Platform project for the next term 2020-2024, will be Tomasz Siemoniak - stated Grzegorz Schetyna at a press conference.

- Today, I announce my support for him in this election campaign, this internal process. I deeply believe that he will win the election for the head of the Civic Platform, that he will be the best possible leader, and that he will lead the Civic Platform to electoral victory in the presidential elections and the subsequent parliamentary elections - continued the Platform's chairman.

- This is the time to open up to new people and new environments. We have done this in the Civic Coalition. This is a very, very important project, and we will do everything together, by supporting Siemoniak as the Civic Platform's chairman, to ensure that this KO project thrives, that it strengthens, that it becomes more powerful, that it is an effective antidote to the bad governance of PiS - added Schetyna, emphasizing his desire to support Siemoniak in this campaign.

- These are difficult times, and what is happening in Poland and around the world is visible to the naked eye. I have decided to run [for the leadership of the Civic Platform] because I have been with the Civic Platform from the very beginning, since January 2001, for exactly 19 years, and in politics even earlier, since the underground NZS [Independent Students' Union]. I learned in NZS, and most importantly in the Civic Platform, responsibility, and that the Platform exists to serve Poles, and the state. I had the honor, first as Deputy Minister with Grzegorz Schetyna, then as Minister of National Defense in the governments of Donald Tusk and Ewa Kopacz, to serve Poland. I believe that if one is in politics, it is precisely to serve others. That is why I am deciding to run, because I believe that my experience, determination, energy, but also my state service experience argue in favor of my candidacy - stated Tomasz Siemoniak at a press conference.

- Besides Grzegorz's support, many people, especially those standing behind me, insisted and pleaded with me to run. I particularly thank Arkadiusz Myrcha, representing the young MPs, who will be the head of my campaign team, and Joanna Kluzik, who urged me to run with great determination - stated Tomasz Siemoniak at a press conference.

- Civic Platform needs new energy, new strength. I would like Civic Platform to descend to the district and regional level. Thanks to a better election result, we have more money. If I win, I want to direct significantly more funds than before to the districts as part of the project 'Civic Platform Office or Civic Platform MP in Every District.' If we don't convince people in the district-level Poland, we won't win elections - stated Tomasz Siemoniak at a press conference.

- We all feel, we all know that we need change in the Civic Platform, because in my opinion, in the formula in which the Civic Platform has functioned so far, we simply will not win elections. That is why I am running today for the leadership of the Civic Platform with the election slogan 'A New Beginning'. The Civic Platform needs a new beginning. Just as Poland needs a new beginning, and with this slogan, I intend to meet with activists and members of the Civic Platform throughout Poland and convince them that we are capable of winning these upcoming elections - stated Joanna Mucha at a briefing in the Sejm.

Olga Semeniuk has been appointed the new Deputy Minister of Development. This appointment was announced on the official Twitter account of the Ministry of Development.

The Ministry of Development is a government body responsible for economic policy, development strategy, and fostering innovation within Poland. As Deputy Minister, Semeniuk will likely play a key role in shaping and implementing these crucial aspects of the Polish economy.

Her responsibilities are expected to encompass a range of activities, including the supervision of specific departments within the ministry, contributing to the formulation of legislative proposals, and representing the ministry in various national and international forums. The specific portfolio she will manage is yet to be detailed, but it is anticipated to align with the ministry's overarching goals of economic growth and modernization.

This appointment comes at a time when Poland continues to focus on strengthening its economic position within the European Union and globally. The Ministry of Development is instrumental in achieving these objectives through strategic planning and the implementation of supportive policies for businesses and industries.

Further details regarding Olga Semeniuk's role and specific areas of focus are expected to be released by the Ministry of Development in the coming days.

- The Senate should deal with what it was established for. The Senate is not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Speaker [Grodzki] has various troubles that he should explain to the public, as well as to senators, and I don't think it's a good time for his travels. I don't know what he wants to do abroad. Complaining to European politicians about accusations from former patients seems unserious to me - stated Ryszard Terlecki in a conversation with journalists in the Sejm.

Ryszard Terlecki, the PiS leader in the Sejm, commented on the situation surrounding Senator Tomasz Grodzki, the Marshal of the Senate. Terlecki, using his Twitter account, stated that Grodzki is postponing a Senate session and traveling to Europe to complain about patients who are accusing him of taking bribes.

"Senator Grodzki is postponing the Senate session and is flying to Europe to complain about patients who accuse him of taking bribes," wrote Terlecki on Twitter.

He added that "free courts" are standing firmly behind Grodzki. This is a clear reference to the ongoing debate about the independence of the judiciary in Poland, a topic that has been a major point of contention between the ruling Law and Justice party and its critics, both domestically and internationally.

The accusations against Senator Grodzki, a prominent surgeon before entering politics, involve alleged bribery in exchange for medical treatment during his time as head of a hospital in Szczecin. These allegations have been widely reported in the Polish media and have led to calls for an investigation.

Terlecki's statement suggests that the PiS leadership views these accusations as politically motivated and aims to portray the Polish judiciary as being biased in favor of opposition figures like Grodzki.

Next week, during its first session of the year on January 8-9, the Sejm is set to address a bill proposed by PiS amending the Act on Subscription Fees. This amendment aims to provide compensation for public media, meaning Telewizja Polska and Polskie Radio are slated to receive up to PLN 1.95 billion in funding in 2020 through government securities.

The first reading will most likely take place on January 8th, as a meeting of the Sejm's Committee on Culture and Media has been scheduled for 5:00 PM that day. The committee is expected to review the amendment bill, provided the first reading is concluded and the proposal is referred to the aforementioned committee. It can be assumed that the bill will be passed during one of the January sessions, as the Bureau of Research (BAS) issued an urgent opinion on it in December.

Zapewniam, że w sprawie ostatnich wydarzeń w Iraku działamy spokojnie i z rozwagą, mając na względzie w pierwszej kolejności bezpieczeństwo i interes Polski oraz naszych Obywateli. https://t.co/pD09nIkraO

— Andrzej Duda (@AndrzejDuda) January 3, 2020

Wydarzenia na Bliskim Wschodzie wymagają pilnego zwołania przez Prezydenta posiedzenia RBN, by omówić sytuację i wypracować wspólne, ponadpartyjne stanowisko. Musimy otrzymać informacje dyplomatyczne i wywiadowcze w tej sprawie. To interes bezpieczeństwa Polski.

— M. Kidawa-Błońska (@M_K_Blonska) January 3, 2020

- I wasn't surprised by Grzegorz Schetyna's decision. I expected this decision, that Grzegorz Schetyna wouldn't run. I think Schetyna is a politician who rationally assesses reality, and today the Civic Platform is at a point, after these few elections we've been through, where there's truly an expectation among party members, as well as our voters, for such a change - said Bartosz Arłukowicz in an interview with Piotr Marciniak on TVN24's "Fakty po faktach".

- Certainly, the Civic Platform faces a very difficult choice today, but I believe, I am an optimist, that the Civic Platform will make the right decision. We are facing a decision of a kind of continuation or change. The Civic Platform must make such a decision today. I am a proponent of offensive politics. I am a politician of change. [Siemoniak] is a kind of continuation, as he is a very close associate of Grzegorz Schetyna - said Bartosz Arłukowicz in an interview with Piotr Marciniak on TVN24's "Fakty po faktach".

- I like Schetyna. Schetyna sometimes, forgive me for the word, infuriates me to the maximum. But I generally like him, because he is a politician who knows where he is going. I like him for his rationality, for his sober assessment of the situation, for his political analysis. I am different from Schetyna in that I am socially sensitive. I love the street, I love working with people. And I love winning elections – said Bartosz Arłukowicz in a conversation with Piotr Marciniak on TVN24's "Fakty po faktach".

- Poles deserve swift, efficiently functioning courts. This is our goal. Civic Platform, the opposition, including Mr. Speaker [Grodzki], are trying to throw sand in our gears and put a spoke in our wheel. But I can assure you that the disciplinary act and further changes will lead to a significant acceleration of Polish courts - said Zbigniew Ziobro in an interview with Danuta Holecka on the TVP Info program “Gość Wiadomości”.

Fortunately, the good change has been happening in Poland for over four years. While it would naturally be nice if the opposition became substantive and constructive, and capable of cooperating above party lines on matters strategic for the state.