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08/10/2020

07:31

Monday's Political Agenda: Senate Committee Reviews COVID-19 Bill

At 1:00 PM, the Senate Health Committee will consider an amendment to the act on amending certain acts to ensure the functioning of healthcare in connection with the COVID-19 epidemic and after its cessation. The Senate itself will address the bill during its three-day session, which begins tomorrow.


07:39

Ziobro on the Situation in Belarus: We Must Act Thoughtfully and Not Hastily. The Most Dangerous Player from Poland's Perspective is Putin

- We must act thoughtfully and not hastily in this matter. Of course, the reaction of any normal person is unified – spontaneous sympathy for those who are protesting against the events taking place in Belarus, especially since we Poles have our own experience of fighting for freedom and democracy, and these ideas are close and natural to us. We also know what the Lukashenka regime is. However, we must also see the situation in its greater complexity, and I am speaking here as a representative of the authorities. This is at least my position; I am expressing my opinion as a coalition partner rather than someone responsible for foreign policy. The issue is that within the complex international constellation surrounding Belarus, the most dangerous player from Poland's perspective, destabilizing the situation on our immediate borders, is Putin – said Zbigniew Ziobro in an interview with Mirosław Skowron on Polish Radio 24.


07:50

Ziobro on 'Margot': 'For me, it's not a 'she', 'her', Ms. Margot. It's a man dressing up his aggressive and criminal behaviour with ideology.'

- For me, at least, it's not a 'she', 'her', Ms. Margot. It's, in my opinion, forgive me, the babble of left-liberal circles, who are implementing radical leftist revolutionary ideas, which, as some rightly observe, have their roots in Marxist ideas. It would follow from this that anyone can decide on their gender at any time. This is a man. On his ID card, he is also a man, if I recall correctly, his name is Mateusz, who is dressing up his aggressive and criminal behaviour with some ideology - said Zbigniew Ziobro on Polskie Radio 24. 


08:03

Szumowski:

Frankly, if someone sees such conspiracies, it's a signal to perhaps reflect on their mental health

- I have a bit of an impression that someone is writing a book rather in the fantasy genre, because this conspiracy would certainly involve about five hundred thousand medics, plus allegedly politicians, another group, maybe not as numerous, but several hundred people, and in all of this, I understand, the Minister of Health, like a spider effectively pulling the strings of a web. The purpose isn't entirely clear, but certainly a criminal one, and speaking seriously, this is a bit insulting, even to the memory of over 1800 people who died, and I recall that during the flu season, the flu isn't as brutal and doesn't take so many people from this world. Well, frankly, if someone sees such conspiracies, it's a signal to perhaps reflect on their mental health - stated Łukasz Szumowski in "Sygnały dnia" on PR1.


08:14

Szumowski:

Besides Outbreaks, Horizontal Transmission Has Also Increased. Not Dramatically Yet, But It Has Increased
Unfortunately, [the level of horizontal transmission] has increased, and it must be clearly stated here that besides outbreaks, which we also have and which of course contribute a huge number of positive results, this horizontal transmission has also increased. Not dramatically yet, but it has increased. If in Pomerania we had a dozen or so cases, and now we have about 50, it shows that it is also growing there. However, reduced distancing, lack of masks, a certain carelessness, and unfortunately weddings or family parties or clubs that should not be operating but are, are clear sources that are spreading the virus - stated Łukasz Szumowski in "Sygnały dnia" on PR1.

08:34

Szumowski:

The More We Disregard Sanitary Rules, the Wider the Red Will Spread on the Map, Eventually Covering the Entire Country and Leading to Significant Restrictions Nationwide
Will it spread across all of Poland? That is the fundamental question. The more we disregard sanitary rules, the greater the chance that the red on the map will spread wider and wider, until it eventually covers the entire country, and we will once again have quite significant restrictions throughout Poland – stated Łukasz Szumowski in PR1's "Sygnały dnia" (Signals of the Day).

09:11

Polish PM Calls for Extraordinary European Council Summit on Belarus
Poland is responsible for its closest neighbors. That is why Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki appealed in a letter to Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to convene an extraordinary European Council summit on the events in Belarus. Following the presidential elections in Belarus held on August 9, 2020, the authorities used force against their citizens who are demanding change in the country. We must show solidarity and support the Belarusians in their pursuit of freedom. Hence the initiative of the head of the Polish government for the European Council to consider this matter - the Prime Minister's Chancellery informed.

10:39

Ministry of Health: 619 New Coronavirus Infections in Poland, 2 Deaths

The Ministry of Health (MZ) has announced that there have been 619 new cases of coronavirus infection in Poland. Sadly, two individuals have died as a result of the virus.

For further details and updates, please refer to the following official Ministry of Health tweets:


13:20

Halicki:

The European Parliament, like the Polish Sejm, is a home for all who desire freedom and democracy. We will support civil society actions all the more as Lukashenka denies reality.

- In this determination of Belarusian citizens for change, the European Parliament, like the Polish Sejm, is a home for all those who desire freedom and democracy. We will support all civil society actions all the more as Lukashenka denies reality, as he falsifies the election results, as he suppresses his own citizens. The Belarusian society deserves help, it is being provided, but it will be even more intensive, both financial and moral, political aid, support from the EP, the Council of Europe, but also, as we appeal today as the European People's Party, for swift action and a position from the European Commission, and we also call upon the President of the EP, President Sassoli, for a very clear stance at the upcoming session, so that in addition to these actions supporting Belarusian society, it will be obvious and clear that all those who participate in the persecution and this entire repression mechanism will not go unpunished – said Andrzej Halicki in the Sejm.


14:51

PM Morawiecki Discussed with European Council Chief Michel: "Poland Can Be an Intermediary and a Bridge on the Belarusian Issue"
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki held talks today with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel – 300POLITYKA has learned. In addition to requesting the convening of the European Council regarding a unified EU stance on the conduct of Sunday's elections, which has been questioned by the Belarusian opposition, and the use of force against those demanding accurate reporting on cast votes – a matter already reported by the Prime Minister's Chancellery – the Prime Minister reportedly proposed that Poland, as Belarus's largest EU neighbor, could act as an intermediary and a bridge in contacts with the parties involved in Belarusian politics – 300POLITYKA has learned. Politico Europe, in its latest article summarizing EU reactions to the situation in Belarus, in addition to the Polish proposal to convene a Council meeting, also notes the joint statement by the presidents of Poland and Lithuania. "As neighbors of Belarus, we appeal to the Belarusian authorities for full recognition and observance of fundamental democratic standards. We call for restraint from violence and respect for basic freedoms, human and civil rights," Andrzej Duda and Gitanas Nausėda wrote in a joint letter on Sunday evening. Nausėda, who exactly one year ago replaced Dalia Grybauskaitė, who held the office for 10 years, visited Poland for his first foreign visit after his election.

14:57

President Duda: Held a Conversation with the Polish Ambassador to Belarus. Received a Report on Events to Date and the Current Situation. We are Monitoring Matters Constantly and Will Respond Adequately to Events and Circumstances

https://twitter.com/andrzejduda/status/1292804941921296389?s=21


15:18

Grodzki:

RBN Meeting Would Be a Significant Step, Demonstrating Our Serious Commitment to Belarus's Self-Determination

- The unequivocal will to support nations that, having full right to self-determination, wish to join the democratic family of the free world should be ingrained in the DNA of every Polish politician. There should be no doubt about this. We must support Belarus's aspirations - stated Tomasz Grodzki in a conversation with journalists.

- The way in which we will support the freedom-loving, democratic aspirations of Belarusians is a matter of political tactics, but a meeting of the RBN, given that this is happening right across our borders, would certainly be an important step and a demonstration that we are approaching this issue with extreme seriousness, because we are neighbours for whom it is in every interest, political, strategic, economic, for Belarusians to be able to determine the fate of their nation themselves - the Speaker of the Senate continued.


19:43

Jabłoński on the Situation in Belarus: We Will Want a Very Decisive Reaction from the Entire International Community, for the EU to Speak with One Voice

"We will want a very decisive reaction from the entire international community, to show not just as the Polish government or the presidents of Poland and Lithuania, but for the entire European Union to speak here in solidarity and with one voice, because this is a potential crisis that could threaten the security of the entire European Union" - said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paweł Jabłoński in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski in "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.


19:44

Jabłoński:

Prime Minister Spoke with EU Leaders All Day. This Work Will Soon Bear Fruit, Even If No Summit Decision Today
“Today, Prime Minister Morawiecki spoke with EU leaders all day. These were telephone conversations. I believe this work will soon bear fruit. Even if a decision to convene a summit has not yet been made today, I think that this major test facing the EU, whether it will be able to respond effectively to this crisis, will lead to these actions being taken” - said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paweł Jabłoński on Polsat News.

20:01

PM Morawiecki Discussed Situation in Belarus with Government Members

- Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki met with government representatives to discuss the unstable situation in Belarus and the further course of action Poland should take in the current circumstances. In addition to the head of government, the meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Jadwiga Emilewicz, Piotr Gliński, and Jacek Sasin, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz and Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration Maciej Wąsik - informed the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.


20:07

European Commission President on Talks with PM Morawiecki: We Are Closely Monitoring the Situation. The EU Will Be Vigilant and Ready to Support De-escalation and Dialogue Leading to Democratization and Closer, More Intensive EU-Belarus Partnership
- I spoke with Prime Minister Morawiecki about the situation in Belarus. We are closely monitoring the situation. The EU will be vigilant and ready to support a process of de-escalation and dialogue that would lead to democratization and a closer, more intensive EU-Belarus partnership - informed the President of the European Commission on Twitter.