At 13:00, a session of the Sejm will commence, where MPs will consider the Senate's amendments to three acts forming part of the so-called Anti-Crisis Shield. Earlier, at 8:30, the Sejm's Public Finance Committee will convene to discuss the Senate's amendments.

Also today, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is expected to announce the introduction of new restrictions. - Speaking daily with entrepreneurs, trade unions, employers, and today with local government officials, regional governors, and mayors, we strive daily to adapt and implement new solutions, and we intend to implement such solutions, additional restrictions, and sanitary and epidemiological rigors, tomorrow as well - the head of the Polish government stated yesterday in the Senate.

We convened as quickly as possible, aware that we had lost two weeks. The Senate's anti-crisis package, containing similar proposals that we adopted on March 13th and immediately sent to the Sejm, was not considered by the Sejm at all. Senators recognized that urgent deliberation was necessary for the anti-crisis shield to come into effect as soon as possible. Given many critical voices regarding its current form, despite working under time pressure, we decided to introduce several significant amendments. Among other things, these will guarantee the statutory right to testing for medical personnel, pharmacists, everyone whose work requires contact with many people, and ordinary citizens who simply want to check if they are asymptomatic carriers of the virus. We proposed creating a 20 billion euro fund from our allocated European resources to save healthcare from collapse. We raised the age of children eligible for benefits due to school closures from 8 to 12 years. To save jobs, among other things, we introduced more effective forms of support for entrepreneurs. We propose that in companies experiencing losses, the state will cover 75% of salary costs. This will protect employees from subsistence wages and the risk of mass layoffs – stated Tomasz Grodzki in a recording published on social media. The Sejm's laws included several controversial provisions that provoked widespread opposition. Consequently, we removed the amendments concerning the Electoral Code and the National Development Council. The Senate took the position that laws intended to improve the lives of our compatriots cannot simultaneously be used to pursue immediate political objectives. In this way, we transformed the imperfect, if not to say riddled, shield prepared by the government into a better and more robust barrier that will be more effective in curbing the negative social and economic consequences of the pandemic – emphasized the Marshal of the Senate.

We appeal to the Sejm to adopt the Senate's amendments as soon as possible so that the President can sign the laws this March. Later, we will continue our efforts and submit further legislative initiatives that will bring even greater relief to citizens in these difficult times of the epidemic – stated Tomasz Grodzki in a recording published on social media.

The Senate, in its mission to enact good law, always has stood and will stand guard over the health, economic, and social security of Polish women and men. In the time of a pandemic, this is threatened. Therefore, the entire financial, intellectual, organizational, and legislative potential of the state should be unequivocally focused on combating this terrible challenge that has affected our country and the entire world. This is not the time for conducting an election campaign. This is not the time for organizing elections. The experience of other countries clearly shows that involving over 300,000 people in election commissions and millions of voters amidst necessary isolation will lead to a new epidemic outbreak with unimaginable consequences. Let's hold elections in calmer times, when our health security will be guaranteed, and going to the polling station will not be gambling with health and life. I appeal for this as the Marshal of the Senate, but also, and even primarily, as a doctor. Let's not hold these elections. Together, we will win the fight against the pandemic – stated Tomasz Grodzki in a recording published on social media.

- It must be remembered that almost 30 of these amendments were authored by Minister Emilewicz, who, in this rapidly drafted legislation that we are all waiting for, identified several things to improve and asked us to also make those changes in the Senate. However, there are several extremely important amendments that will indeed show whether they will be taken seriously by the Sejm or whether they will be disregarded. We have done very solid, good work. We finished at 4 in the morning, and then I was signing documents so that everything would be ready in the Sejm by 8:30. You are indeed right, this is a test for the Sejm - stated Tomasz Grodzki in an interview with Monika Olejnik on TVN24's "Jeden na jeden".

- I agree with Minister Szumowski that this epidemic has not yet reached its peak, and from a medical, epidemiological perspective, regardless of what is written in the Electoral Code documents, these elections simply cannot take place on May 10th. Yesterday, a letter from 540 medical and scientific authorities was published, appealing to the Prime Minister not to gamble with the health and lives of citizens, both election commission members and millions of voters – stated Tomasz Grodzki in an interview with Monika Olejnik on TVN24's "Jeden na jeden".

– We are already exceeding 200 infections daily. I believe Minister Szumowski, as a professor and cardiologist, is under immense pressure, but he will eventually find the strength to announce at the Council of Ministers: Listen, from the perspective of Poland's health and epidemiological security, and that of individual citizens, we cannot hold these elections on May 10th, and then a decision will be made. In my opinion, it should be made as soon as possible because it will allow us to focus on what we should be focusing on, which is fighting the epidemic – stated Tomasz Grodzki in an interview with Monika Olejnik on TVN24's "Jeden na jeden".

This statement [by Ryszard Terlecki on commissioners], I believe, will be remembered by him for a long time, because it represents an approach that is absolutely unacceptable in a democratic country. We have the experience of France, where after the first round of elections, there was an explosion of the epidemic. We have the experience of Bavaria, where in the local elections on March 13th, it turned out that the increase in the number of cases was much faster compared to the rest of Germany. How long can we wait, how long can we keep checking, before we say: oh, let's go to the elections, we are sure that we are not playing with the lives and health of citizens - stated Tomasz Grodzki in an interview with Monika Olejnik on "Jeden na jeden" on TVN24.

- If elections, a wonderful act of democracy, the essence of democracy, are to be linked with endangering the health or life of my loved ones or myself, then of course I will choose health, not elections. I will not urge a boycott, because that is not the point, it is an individual decision for everyone, but elections should be held when our health security is fully ensured, as in normal times, not in times of plague - stated Tomasz Grodzki in an interview with Monika Olejnik on "Jeden na jeden" on TVN24.

- I am in contact with Minister Szumowski, and fate or the voters have placed us in positions of responsibility. I believe he is performing his duties with full responsibility. I had many reservations before the epidemic broke out, but it must be admitted that during this epidemic, he works hard. However, as a doctor and a colleague, I will urge him not to consider political considerations and to be guided solely by the patient's well-being in the decision-making process, as the Hippocratic Oath obligates all of us doctors to do - stated Tomasz Grodzki in an interview with Monika Olejnik on TVN24's "One on One".

– The Prime Minister Morawiecki and Minister Szumowski will speak about the details. Generally speaking, all listeners can guess that we unfortunately have to tighten certain public space regulations, but I don’t want to step into the role of the Prime Minister or the Minister of Health at this moment – Jarosław Gowin said in an interview with Beata Lubecka on the program “Gość Rada ZET”.

– Will there be special police checks? – the journalist pressed.

– It seems that this is necessary – the Deputy Prime Minister replied.

- If the pace of epidemic spread continues as in recent days, then obviously for all of us, the May 10 elections will not be possible. If the pace starts to significantly decrease, then we can consider a date. Regardless of which variant we decide on, we must simultaneously build scenarios B and C. In my opinion, and I maintain this position, the optimal solution is to postpone the elections by a year - said Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Beata Lubecka on the program "Gość Radia ZET".

What concerns the words of Marshal Terlecki, I can say that I do not understand them. A strong state also means strong self-government. If we want to hold these elections at this or another date, government institutions must cooperate with local government institutions – said Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Beata Lubecka on the program “Gość Rada ZET”.

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- There are such proposals to introduce universal postal voting, but in my opinion, by the deadline of May 10th, it is simply organizationally unfeasible. Such solutions can be introduced on the condition that we postpone the election date - said Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Beata Lubecka on the program "Gość Radia ZET".

We can take yet another path, namely a one-time constitutional amendment. In my assessment, this would be the optimal solution – said Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Beata Lubecka on the program “Gość Radio ZET”.

„Currently, there are no grounds or plans to postpone them [elections]. There are no indications to introduce any of the emergency states. This would involve restricting civil liberties and would entail various limitations on the daily lives of Poles, therefore, at this moment, it is not a situation that would require extraordinary actions” – said the head of the PiS Executive Committee, Krzysztof Sobolewski, on Polish Radio 24.

"The most honorable move would be for Marshal Kidawa-Błońska to withdraw her candidacy, not to pretend to suspend her campaign and then an hour later hold a chat with Poles on a social media portal as part of her campaign. Hypocrisy as usual from PO representatives" - said the head of PiS's Executive Committee, Krzysztof Sobolewski, on Polskie Radio 24.

“This is the difference between the PO-PSL government and our government, which was a precursor to actions related to the fight against coronavirus. Based on the actions taken by Prime Minister Morawiecki’s government, other countries took the same actions, modelling themselves on our government’s actions and they continue to do so, only there they took them with a significant time delay, which is now leading to tragic consequences,” said the head of the PiS Executive Committee, Krzysztof Sobolewski, on Polish Radio 24.

“We will analyze the amendments that appeared in the Senate. Today is a Sejm session. We hope to consider them during this session. They were adopted overnight. We are analyzing them. Let us consider that each of these amendments generates specific financial effects. To speak about this responsibly, we need to spend a few hours analyzing them” - said government spokesperson Minister Piotr Müller in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on Radio Trójka.

„It's more about the issues related to the limits on the number of people present in shops, as entities conducting business activities adapt to this differently. There are good examples of these solutions, but there are also companies that do not implement them despite GIS recommendations” - said the government spokesman, Minister Piotr Müller, in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on Radio Trójka.

This is a reference to a tweet by Jacek Sutryk, the Mayor of Wrocław.

The tweet, linked via the provided URL, likely contains Sutryk's response to Jarosław Gowin, a prominent Polish politician and then-leader of the Agreement party (part of the coalition government at the time).

Without the actual content of the tweet, it's impossible to provide a more specific translation or analysis. However, the title itself suggests a moment of agreement or acknowledgement between the two politicians, with Sutryk finding Gowin's statement to be a "good point" and expressing gratitude.

I hope the Sejm will seriously consider Senate amendments, as they contain no politics. It's just about replacing a leaky shield with a proper anti-crisis dam. There are amendments concerning, for example, raising the age, where parents caring for children up to 12 years old because school is closed will receive care benefits. There are amendments for entrepreneurs. There are amendments concerning the safety and protection of medical personnel and everyone who, due to their profession, comes into contact with crowds of strangers” - said Senate Marshal Tomasz Grodzki at a press conference.

- Marshal Terlecki is preoccupied with elections. It's no coincidence that another PiS official is not addressing the substance of these good Senate solutions, not talking about helping Poles, but is instead intimidating local government officials. Today, any responsible parliamentarian, any responsible local government official will not be looking at their position. They will not be contemplating whether a commissioner will replace them, because when lives and health are at stake, and personal interest is on the other side, only an irresponsible person would engage in politics. Every local government official has a duty to care for the health and lives of their residents. Today, organizing election commissions exposes those who would participate to risks to their health, and even their lives. Mr. Terlecki, as it appears, absolutely does not understand the current situation Poland finds itself in - stated Borys Budka at a briefing in front of the Sejm.

„I have addressed a demand to Marshal Witek, requesting that parliamentarians be allowed to participate in proceedings with at least the same number as in the previous Sejm session. I have also categorically demanded that there be an opportunity to ask questions. Marshal Witek wishes to exclude the possibility of asking questions in a manner absolutely contrary to the principles of parliamentarism, despite the creation of possibilities for MPs to ask questions remotely. Today, the Senate's good organization is being opposed by chaos and a mute Sejm. I hope that Marshal Witek will draw upon the good Senate examples” – said the PO chairman Borys Budka at a press conference. 

- I wouldn't want to be malicious towards the head of state, but we see it. The Speaker of the Senate, the Senate, and the MPs are dealing with the anti-crisis shield, a dam intended to prevent mass layoffs, while the President is busy setting up TikTok and calling for some electronic games. I think voters will judge this themselves. However, I would like the President to finally be responsible and decide whether he goes shopping and ignores the minister's orders and recommendations, or whether he will finally state directly that he only cares about his own interests - stated Borys Budka at a briefing in front of the Sejm.

- Every one of us has the right to full information, every one of us has the right to know how dangerous this virus is. Every one of us has the right to know how many people have been infected, how many people have died as a result. If such data is hidden, it constitutes not only an activity violating moral standards, but also an action that may border on the provisions of the Penal Code. We demand firm explanations from the Ministry of Health as to whether what doctors are saying is true, namely that the adopted rules regarding the statistics of deaths due to coronavirus are inconsistent with WHO guidelines. We demand full information from the Ministry of Health. Poles have a right to the truth - said Jan Grabiec during a press conference.

Sławomir Nitras, a prominent figure in Polish politics, has announced that a new amendment to the electoral law will be introduced today by the Law and Justice (PiS) party's parliamentary club. He stated on Twitter that the purpose of this legislative initiative is to counter the ongoing protests by local government officials.

The tweet, shared from his official account https://twitter.com/SlawomirNitras/status/1244928665995091970, suggests a significant political maneuver by PiS aimed at addressing the discontent within local government circles. The details of the proposed changes and the specific reasons behind the local government officials' protests are not elaborated upon in the announcement itself, but the context implies a potential conflict or disagreement over policy or jurisdiction.

This development is likely to spark further debate and political maneuvering in Poland, as the government seeks to assert its authority and manage dissent from various sectors of public administration.

- We want to be prepared for the growing number of infections, but at the same time, we want to limit and flatten the infection growth curve to avoid situations like those occurring in Italy or even in Spain, situations of segregating the sick, selecting those who can still be treated with a respirator or not - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM).

We are facing a very difficult choice. Either the situation will dramatically worsen in the coming months, or it will be more difficult, worse, but manageable, allowing for the introduction of appropriate rules and procedures within the healthcare system, within the principles of isolation and quarantine, which will lead to a reduction in the pandemic's spread in the long term. We must do everything to avoid this worst-case scenario. We cannot afford complacency, and therefore, as a result of our observations and analyses of best practices that are coming to us from around the world and which we are constantly subjecting to our own research and analysis, we have made further decisions regarding subsequent restrictions - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM).

If we want economic and social life to return to normality, to some semblance of normality, after these few months, if we want this rebound to be as smooth as possible, then we must introduce these additional restrictions today, and we are introducing them. Perhaps now is the most difficult moment in the epidemic's development, because we are seeing large increases and we know that these increases will be even higher. Therefore, the most important principle is the principle of distancing, social distancing in the epidemiological sense, avoiding the spread of the pandemic – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM). - That means two meters from another person, except when a mother or father is taking care of a child on a walk, or when we are taking care of a person with disabilities. We maintain distance from each other. Also on sidewalks, let's try to walk at a certain distance from each other, if someone really has to go out at all. Furthermore, individuals under the age of 18 can only be in public spaces with an adult. We are also introducing restrictions on access to parks, boulevards, various types of squares, recreational areas, and beaches, because we saw that unfortunately we did not maintain social discipline to the extent we should have, and these places were sites of numerous gatherings. Although not in very large groups, infections did occur in those places. We are also introducing a ban on the use of city bike rental services. Further restrictions also affect retail and service points. All cosmetic, service, hairdressing establishments, as well as tattoo and piercing studios, and similar services, will be closed – he continued.

- We are introducing a limit on the number of people in stores. A maximum of three people per checkout. This is because the size of the store, and therefore the probability of contact with each other, is directly proportional to the size of the stores or the floor space of the store, or inversely proportional, looking from the perspective of the probability of people getting close to each other. So, if there are 5 checkouts, 15 people can be in the store at the same time. In post offices, due to greater confinement and smaller space, this limit is restricted to a maximum of 2 people per counter, with the possibility of being in the post office queue - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.

- At bazaars and marketplaces, where Polish farmers sell their agricultural produce, where this usually takes place in the open air, we are also introducing a similar restriction. 3 people per stall or stand to reduce the density at marketplaces. Additionally, we are introducing a requirement for people to wear gloves before entering stores, which will further protect against the spread of the epidemic - he continued.

- On weekends, all DIY stores will also be closed. However, grocery stores, pharmacies, and drugstores will remain open, as has been the case so far, due to the necessity of purchasing personal hygiene products or, of course, food items - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.

- Grocery stores, drugstores, and also pharmacies, between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM, are open only to seniors, above 65 years of age - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. The head of the Polish government added that seniors can be in stores at other times as well.

- Additional requirements will apply in workplaces. Yesterday I spoke with city mayors, with regional marshals. I know that hundreds of thousands of people work in office buildings. On one hand, hundreds of thousands, millions of people are afraid for their health, on the other hand, by maintaining appropriate sanitary and hygienic conditions, again, this distance of at least 1.5 meters, it is possible to work in office buildings, but work must be organized in such a way that people are equipped with personal hygiene and personal protection measures, and in particular, this distance and disinfection products must be provided in every shop, every office building, every workplace, not just at the entrance, preferably near where people pass, they can spontaneously use a dispenser and disinfect their hands, because this is very important in order to reduce the possibility of this disease spreading from person to person - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.

- We are also restricting the operation of hotels and accommodation facilities. We have decided to close hotels and accommodation facilities. The exceptions will be places where people are in quarantine, places used for isolation, as well as places that are already used today for employees, e.g., construction companies, where they stay semi-permanently, e.g., from Monday to Friday, or when they are performing their work - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM).

If we reduce contact between people, we have a chance to slow this growth and protect human life. But not by half. That's not enough, it won't result in a decrease in the number of sick. We must reduce it by 3/4, by 80 percent. Only then do we have a chance to influence the halting and slowing down of the growth in the number of infections - said Łukasz Szumowski during a press conference.

Let's stay home. Let's avoid contact with other people. This is the fundamental recommendation of the WHO. Of all the experts who are talking today about the mistakes made by Spain, France, Germany, Great Britain, or Italy. We approach the coronavirus with humility. We know that the scope of the pandemic is spreading. For now, we are succeeding in slowing down these increases somewhat, controlling or to a lesser extent leading to the spread of the coronavirus than in Italy or Spain. But we cannot assume that this will continue. We must adhere to the strict measures we are introducing here - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM).

We all want this disease, this misfortune that has afflicted the world, Europe, and Poland, to end as quickly as possible. We want to return, perhaps already in April, more to economic life, but whether we will be able to return to this quasi-normality, this economic semi-normality, under certain sanitary restrictions, depends on whether we strictly adhere to the rules we are imposing today in the next 2-3 weeks. We are imposing them for the next two weeks, with the possibility of further extension if there are insufficient results presented by experts, specialists, and epidemiologists from the perspective of the increase in specific cases in Poland and fatalities – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM).

- These are places where we must obtain food or essential means for functioning, or they are factories or power plants, where, as we know, work cannot be stopped. There, we must implement sanitary rigors. We will also monitor and enforce these requirements and ask the National Labour Inspectorate to control whether these requirements are being respected - said Łukasz Szumowski during a press conference.

- Remember, ladies and gentlemen, that the penalty, which is currently described as being from 5 to 30 thousand PLN, is disproportionate to the risk of someone falling ill or infecting another person who is at high risk of death. Therefore, let's be reasonable once more and spend these next two weeks in maximum isolation, and we'll have a chance to save others' lives - said Łukasz Szumowski during a press conference.

- These restrictions on movement naturally do not apply to families with small children, but this does not mean we have the right to go running or engage in sports. Let's treat this permission, both from epidemic regulations and now from this document, as a necessary measure for mental health hygiene. It's not about maintaining our fitness. It's not about running several kilometers around the house. It's about being able to simply go out with a dog, or to go out for a short breath of fresh air and return home as quickly as possible. Of course, the strict provisions here are difficult to define. Much here depends on the common sense of Poles. Therefore, my sincere plea: Let's not use this for jogging, let's not use this for improving our physical fitness over these two weeks. We can truly manage without such physical exercise. Let's treat it this way: if we absolutely must go out, then let's step out, get some air, and return home - stated Łukasz Szumowski at a press conference in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM).

- We support, for example, increasing the flexibility of using instruments related to job protection by large companies, large corporations, because, as I have been informed, the Senate has proposed further increasing the flexibility of this instrument. Therefore, we naturally support all reasonable proposals, and this one certainly belongs to them. Consequently, I thank you for all constructive proposals, and I also thank you for the opportunity to participate in part of yesterday's debate - said Mateusz Morawiecki during a press conference. 

Due to the coronavirus's impact on the global economy, and particularly the European economy, of which we are a part, we sadly expect unemployment to rise, as a significant portion of Polish exports, specifically 80%, a very large part of our exports, are exported to Western Europe, to the EU. Due to the fact that Western Europe is experiencing an even deeper economic paralysis and shutdown today, this export is also being frozen. Some plants are already halting production, and supply lines are being interrupted. Therefore, all of this means that the crisis the entire world is suddenly facing is an unprecedented crisis. It is a crisis on the supply side, as well as the demand side, whereas previous crises mainly concerned the demand side and problems in financial markets. This crisis goes deeper, it is a multi-layered crisis affecting consumption, investment, supply, demand, production lines, deliveries, various supply chains, and therefore it is very dangerous. That is why it is extremely important that we react to it quickly, as we are trying to do, but with humility, but we know that these great forces of pressure surrounding us can cause great devastation. We see what is happening in Italy and Spain. We want to avoid that, which is why today we are putting everything on the line to gain control over the spread of the coronavirus, and consequently, to be able to decide on how to restart the Polish economy in a few weeks, to put it colloquially. However, today all negative scenarios, which just two weeks ago were sometimes described by analysts as unlikely, are coming true. Today, the same scenarios from a week or two ago are described as highly probable. Therefore, with absolute certainty, GDP growth will not be as we previously planned. It will be lower. Whether it will be below 0 is not ruled out, but it is also not ruled out that if a slightly more positive scenario materializes, we will have better economic results than what the blackest scenarios are suggesting to us today – stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM).

- The question [of how long the epidemic will last] depends on one very specific matter. On how the world manages to limit the spread of the coronavirus, or, as we would all wish, how quickly a vaccine or a cure is invented. There is certainly no definitive cure yet, and there is no vaccine. According to experts, a vaccine will be available at the earliest 12 months after the appearance of the coronavirus, meaning perhaps at the beginning of next year, but we do not know this; this data is highly uncertain - said Mateusz Morawiecki during a press conference.

- Many of our recommendations are accepted, we exchange best practices. This is not the time today to compete over who has better solutions. We see what is happening in Western Europe. We try to help. Today, for example, a mission of our military rescuers from the Military Institute is heading to Italy, both to offer aid and to learn from them, to observe their experiences, because our Italian partners, our friends, have experienced a terrible fate - said Mateusz Morawiecki during a press conference.

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„A moment ago, my electoral representative submitted to the National Electoral Commission (PKW) a document with questions, which we have in connection with the persistent conviction of those currently governing Poland that the presidential elections should take place unchanged on May 10th. This is wading into madness, which is undoubtedly maintaining the election date as binding, and it generates a lot of formal questions and doubts. We have turned to the PKW with questions concerning members of district election commissions. We are asking the PKW how the process of nominating candidates for district election commissions would look? The PKW has ruled that it can be done via email, but the obligation for the candidate to deliver a signed declaration of consent to the district election commission has not disappeared” - said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference. 

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"If this madness, which is the continuation of the [electoral] process, is not stopped quickly, we will have another five, ten, another 20 unresolved problems every week, because these are important formal issues for which we have no solution," Szymon Hołownia said at a press conference. 

“After the restrictions introduced by the government, such as the number of people allowed in a shop, Andrzej Duda’s statement that if one can go to the shop, then one can also go to the elections, seems even more absurd. We see, Mr. President, how one can go to the shop today and how one will be able to go to the elections. If you don’t see this, then, forgive me, your worldview is completely detached from reality” – said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference.  

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The Sejm has considered the Senate's amendments to the package of laws comprising the anti-crisis shield. During the voting block – the aforementioned amendments were blocked to avoid voting on each one individually – MPs rejected the Senate's amendments, including those removing changes to the Electoral Code and the Act on the Social Dialogue Council from the amendment. The bills will now be sent to the President.

– PiS has shown its true face once again. No cooperation, no substantive discussion. This is a mockery of those who expect help. It's not about us, the politicians; we are here to submit our proposals, to strive for the best possible solutions. But today, the ruling party has positioned itself on one side, rejecting any principle of solidarity. On the side of those who deceive and lie. For many days, they have been claiming that an extraordinary shield will be created through cooperation. It was a simple deception. There was no cooperation or willingness to accept good solutions from the opposition – said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz after the votes in the Sejm.

– They have proven to be hypocritical in their actions and, on top of that, they have introduced an election stunt for President Duda and effectively eliminated social dialogue in Poland. Who is this shield meant to serve? Is it meant to exist only on paper? – the presidential candidate added.

„Today we witnessed immense cowardice from Prime Minister Morawiecki. He didn't speak once during today's proceedings. He didn't once take to the podium to explain why his government didn't want PLN 20 billion for healthcare. Why his government didn't want tests for every doctor, nurse, or paramedic who is fighting this terrible disease today?” - stated the chairman of Civic Platform, Borys Budka, at a press conference in the Sejm.

„We were dealing with a parliamentary steamroller. There was a complete lack of reflection. There was no other way. The Senate of the Republic of Poland, in accordance with its regulations, introduced amendments to the laws. If we had tried to block this bill in the Senate today, the government could have introduced even greater restrictions regarding the elections, but most importantly, the government would have blamed the opposition for the law not coming into effect” - said the leader of Civic Platform, Borys Budka, at a press conference in the Sejm.

- I call on everyone to cooperate. I especially call on everyone in the opposition to cooperate. At least some colleagues have not taken up this legislative initiative from the Senate. There is a chance that we can sign onto one bill here in the Sejm. We will propose such a bill this week - said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz after the votes in the Sejm.

- Our anti-crisis bill has been submitted; we will introduce an amendment to it, and it can be considered during this Sejm session - added the leader of the PSL.

"Good regulations, which the Senate passed this morning, were rejected. Among other things, real support for Polish workers was rejected, regardless of whether they work for a large, medium, or small company. Benefits for people caring for children over 8 years old were rejected. These people will continue to remain without any benefits while schools are still closed. Real aid for small businesses in the form of 40 thousand in immediate assistance was rejected. Finally, equal treatment for entrepreneurs and employees was struck down, people were robbed of hope, millions of people who believed in the anti-crisis shield were deceived, and instead, they received a leaky, cardboard sheet" – said the chairman of Civic Platform, Borys Budka, at a press conference in the Sejm.

“The Prime Minister bears full responsibility for the shape of this leaky shield. The PiS government bears full responsibility for the shape of these regulations. Today, it is Prime Minister Morawiecki who will be responsible for every lost job, for every company that closes. He did not take advantage of the offer of help from our side. He has closed himself off in his own bubble” – said Borys Budka, the leader of Civic Platform, at a press conference in the Sejm.

A bill concerning the special rules for conducting postal voting in the presidential elections proclaimed in 2020 has been submitted to the Sejm by PiS. It can be assumed that it will be considered at the session on Friday. The representative of the initiators is Krzysztof Sobolewski. The proposal already has a print number and has been sent for first reading.

“We have adopted over 30 opposition amendments that were submitted during the work in the Senate, but as the opposition itself said, many amendments were not fully thought through. They were certainly not well calculated. We have also agreed that during further work on further solutions, because this is certainly not the final word, we will continue to cooperate on several threads, such as those related to supporting local governments, which today, in the face of the coronavirus, are also suffering damage to their budgets. We adopted those amendments that were well-considered, but those that were a 'wish concert' we were unable to adopt” – said Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski in “Gość Wydarzeń” on Polsat News.

"It's not the case that all [solutions from the crisis shield] met the expectations of both employers and employees, but I assure you that at every stage of the working process on these laws, we consulted them very broadly" - said Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.

"We have already today begun working on another regulatory package related to, among other things, the security of listed companies, whose very low stock market valuations today may lead various entities from outside Europe to be interested in buying our very attractive assets, our very good enterprises. We will also consider further support, both in terms of social insurance exemptions and certain tax reliefs. The package for local governments has already been preliminarily calculated with the Ministry of Finance. At the end of this week, most likely on Friday, another package of solutions will be submitted to parliament," said Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on "Guest of Events" on Polsat News.

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- We still have time until Friday for every parliamentary club to examine this draft [by PiS regarding postal voting]. So, the vote is scheduled for Friday, and today is Tuesday. There is time to submit amendments and for public opinion to weigh in. Today is Tuesday, and the next Sejm session is currently scheduled for Friday. The draft is public, and therefore, it should now be the subject of discussion, including discussions within parliamentary clubs – stated Piotr Müller in an interview with Grzegorz Kajdanowicz on TVN24's "Fakty po faktach," when asked why the PiS draft had not been consulted with the opposition, among others.

- The draft has been consulted over the last dozen or so hours. At least, that's the timeframe I'm aware of from Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin. Our allies from the United Right have been told that an absolute condition for supporting such far-reaching changes to the Electoral Code is to achieve consensus across the entire political scene in Poland – said Kamil Bortniczuk on the TVN24 program "Fakty po faktach".

- This is our condition. If there is general agreement, our agreement will also be there. If there is no general agreement, we will not vote – he continued.

- Everyone will be able to vote by mail, meaning safely. We are, of course, at the forefront of the fight against the coronavirus; we are, and it's evident from all of us. We are tired, truly working very intensely as the entire government. However, we still have the election calendar, which states that these elections should take place on May 10th, unless a state of natural disaster is introduced. We, as Porozumienie, are trying to reach out to the opposition on this matter, and if you believe that elections could take place on May 10th, but specifically in a postal voting system that doesn't expose voters or election commission members to infection, then those arguments concerning local governments can also be put aside in this situation. Propose also changes that will be important from your perspective, and let's work on that. If not, then of course not, then this draft will not pass, because neither we will support it, nor, above all, will the deadlines align. If the Senate debates for 30 days, the deadlines will not align; then this act could come into effect on May 5th or 6th, which is too late to organize postal voting – he added.

This is a proposal that will be subject to discussion at this moment. We have time for debate, let's discuss whether voting will be possible in the current situation, or in the future. Because we don't know when the epidemic will end. Let's remember that there might be a situation where voting on May 10th isn't possible. We don't know how the epidemic will develop. This bill [by PiS regarding postal voting] does not assume that the elections will 100% take place on May 10th. It only creates conditions so that in a situation where there is an epidemic, postal voting can occur - stated Piotr Müller in an interview with Grzegorz Kajdanowicz on TVN24's "Fakty po faktach".

-- 300POLITYKA LIVEBLOG: BORTNICZUK ON THE CONDITION FOR AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC SHIELD: CONSENSUS FROM THE ENTIRE POLITICAL SCENE DWORCZYK ON SZUMOWSKI'S DECISIVE OPINION WITEK ON THE NECESSITY OF QUICK PROCEDURES IN THE SENATE FOR UNIVERSAL VOTING TO BE REALIZED EMILEWICZ ON ANOTHER PACKAGE ON FRIDAY https://300polityka.pl/live/2020/03/31/ ***** POLSAT EVENTS -- THERE WILL BE NEW MANDATES AND PROHIBITIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC. -- THE 70-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO DIED IN THE TYCHY HOSPITAL IS THE 32ND FATALITY FROM THE CORONAVIRUS IN POLAND. -- THE NUMBER OF INFECTED HAS RISEN TO OVER 2200. -- THE NEWS FROM ZGIERZ IS COMFORTING; A HEALTHY BABY GIRL WAS BORN THERE, ALTHOUGH BOTH HER PARENTS ARE INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS - Bogdan Rymanowski. -- THERE ARE ALREADY THREE THOUSAND FATALITIES IN THE USA, WITH AS MUCH AS 1/3 OF THEM IN NEW YORK CITY ALONE. -- THE SEJM REJECTED THE MAJORITY OF THE SENATE'S AMENDMENTS TO THE ANTI-CRISIS SHIELD. -- PRESIDENT DUDA DOES NOT RULE OUT POSTPONING THE ELECTIONS IF THE SITUATION WORSENS. -- THE LAW AND JUSTICE PARTY (PIS) HAS SUBMITTED A NEW DRAFT LAW THAT PROVIDES FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF POSTAL VOTING FOR ALL VOTERS, NOT JUST THE ELDERLY. ***** TVN FAKTY -- NEW RESTRICTIONS. -- IN THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, EVERY POLE WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE BY MAIL. WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE LAW AND JUSTICE PARTY (PIS) SUBMITTED A DRAFT LAW ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THIS FOLLOWS SHORTLY AFTER IT VOTED FOR POSTAL VOTING ONLY FOR SENIORS OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE. -- WE SEE MADNESS, WE SEE MAD PEOPLE - Jan Grabiec. -- THIS IS ALL SIMPLY MESSED UP - Piotr Zgorzelski. -- PIS DOES NOT CHANGE ITS MIND: ELECTIONS IN A YEAR - THESE ARE THE VOICES HEARD FROM THE RANKS OF JAROSŁAW GOWIN'S AGREEMENT PARTY. HOWEVER, THE LAW AND JUSTICE PARTY DOES NOT CHANGE ITS MIND. "IF THERE ARE CONDITIONS TO SAFELY GO TO THE STORE, THEN THERE ARE CONDITIONS TO GO TO THE POLLING STATION," ASSERTS PRESIDENT ANDRZEJ DUDA, AND AS PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN, HE HAS CREATED A TIKTOK ACCOUNT. -- THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF THE DAY - RCB ALERT - Jakub Sobieniowski. -- AND THIS IS THE PRESIDENT ON THE EVE OF THIS ALERT, TALKING ABOUT ELECTIONS ON MAY 10TH - Sobieniowski. -- PAD ON TIKTOK. -- THERE IS NO NORMAL TRIP TO THE STORE, THERE IS THIS ALERT, AND THIS IS THE PRESIDENT - Sobieniowski. -- IS THIS TIK TOK? AM I ON TIKTOK? - PAD. -- IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, IN A NORMAL CAMPAIGN, THIS WOULD BE TALKED ABOUT AS A MORE OR LESS SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO REACH YOUNGER VOTERS; FOR A NORMAL CAMPAIGN, THERE IS NONE OF THAT - Sobieniowski. -- AND THIS IS THE SITUATION, EVEN IN THE SEJM - Sobieniowski on disinfecting corridors. -- THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN POLAND, HE HAS NOT MATURED FOR THE ROLE - B. Budka. -- THE HEAD OF STATE'S MESSAGE IS RUNNING PARALLEL TO THIS MESSAGE -- PMM IN THE SENATE: TODAY WE WILL ALL PAY THE PRICE AND MAKE SACRIFICES. -- THE MINISTER OF HEALTH SPEAKS IN TERMS OF LIFE AND DEATH - Sobieniowski. -- LET'S SPEND THESE WEEKS IN MAXIMUM ISOLATION - Szumowski. -- THERE IS NO TIME TO WAIT UNTIL MAY BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONS SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THEN, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRAINED EARLIER - Sobieniowski. -- AMENDMENTS WERE THROWN IN THE BIN: UNEMPLOYMENT GROWTH IS INEVITABLE, AND THE SPECTER OF RECESSION IS REAL. THIS IS NOT ABOUT FRIGHTENING, BUT ABOUT PREPARING EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE "ANTI-CRISIS SHIELD" RETURNED TO THE SEJM FROM THE SENATE WITH THE OPPOSITION'S AMENDMENTS. ALMOST ALL OF THEM WERE THROWN IN THE BIN. -- THE SENATE FINISHED ITS WORK IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THAT'S HOW LONG IT TOOK TO FINISH POLISHING THE REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY PIS - Krzysztof Skórzyński. -- THE OPPOSITION'S HOPES THAT PIS WOULD ACCEPT ONE OF THESE AMENDMENTS ALSO LASTED FOR SEVERAL HOURS - Skórzyński. -- TALKING ABOUT COOPERATION WAS PLAIN DECEPTION - WKK. -- THE PRIME MINISTER BEARS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SHAPE OF THE FLAWED SHIELD - Budka. -- ALL AMENDMENTS BY WHICH THE SENATE WANTED TO ADD CASH WERE REJECTED IN A SINGLE VOTE - Skórzyński. -- A CONCRETE LIFEBUOY - K. Bosak. -- EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES MUST READ THE PROVISIONS CAREFULLY - Skórzyński. -- THERE MAY BE ABOUT 60 BILLION ZLOTYS IN CASH - Skórzyński. -- Skórzyński on the Lewiatan report about planned layoffs. -- TIME WILL TELL WHETHER THE ADOPTION OF THE LAW WILL HALT THE REALIZATION OF THE BLEAK SCENARIOS - Skórzyński. ***** TVP WIADOMOŚCI -- 2215 PEOPLE INFECTED WITH CORONAVIRUS IN POLAND AND 32 FATALITIES. THE EPIDEMIC IS PROGRESSING, WHICH IS WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING FURTHER, DECISIVE STEPS - announcement. -- TOGETHER WE WILL STOP THE PANDEMIC - banner. -- THE ANTI-CRISIS SHIELD HAS BEEN PASSED. THE MAJORITY IN THE SEJM, WITH THE VOTES OF PIS, REJECTED THE SENATE'S AMENDMENTS. THANKS TO THIS, THE LAW SAVING JOBS WILL SOON BE ON THE PRESIDENT'S DESK - announcement. -- THE SEJM, IN EXPRESS SPEED, REJECTED THE SENATE'S AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE PROLONGED THE WORK ON THE ANTI-CRISIS SHIELD - Dominik Cierpioł. -- THERE IS A BREAKTHROUGH REGARDING THE MAY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, THE CANCELLATION OF WHICH IS DEMANDED BY OPPOSITION CANDIDATES. ACCORDING TO POLLS, THEY HAVE NO CHANCE OF WINNING THE VOTE - announcement. -- PIS HAS PROPOSED THAT POSTAL VOTING BE CARRIED OUT - Edyta Lewandowska. -- THIS IS A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE NEED TO ENSURE THE STABILITY OF THE STATE AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE AUTHORITIES DURING THE EPIDEMIC AND THE SAFETY OF CITIZENS - Lewandowska continued. -- GERMANY IN BAVARIA CONDUCTED POSTAL VOTING - Marcin Szypszak. -- IN POLAND, THE OPPOSITION IS CALLING FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TO BE POSTPONED - Szypszak. -- THERE IS NO LACK OF OPINIONS THAT THIS IS A THOUGHT-OUT STRATEGY. CURRENTLY, POLLS GIVE NONE OF THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATES A CHANCE OF WINNING THE VOTE - Szypszak. -- THE OPPOSITION IS TRYING TO GAIN TIME DURING WHICH IT WILL TORPEDO AND DELAY THE ANTI-CRISIS ACTIONS OF THE POLISH AUTHORITIES - Szypszak: They are counting on the dissatisfaction of Poles and a drop in support for President Duda. -- CIVIC PLATFORM (KO) POLITICIANS OPENLY ADMIT THAT THEY DID NOT CALCULATE THE COSTS OF THE SUBMITTED AMENDMENTS - Szypszak.

- At some point, a situation analysis will have to take place. Here, in my opinion, the crucial factor or the crucial opinion will be that of the Minister of Health. If the situation allows for normal, democratic elections to be held, then they will be held - said Michał Dworczyk in an interview with Monika Olejnik on TVN24's "Kropka nad i".

- I urge you to speak with the authors of this act [on preventing and combating infectious diseases]. In 2008, I will remind you, the parliamentary majority was formed by Civic Platform and PSL, and it is from the solutions passed at that time, which were, by the way, good solutions, that we are benefiting today. For some reasons, the legislator foresaw situations where an extraordinary state is not yet introduced, and such an act is used, which allows functioning during an epidemic - said Michał Dworczyk in an interview with Monika Olejnik on TVN24's "Kropka nad i".

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