Live Feed

08/27/2020

08:40

Karczewski:

We Should Start the School Year Normally. We Need Habits. We'll Explain to Children. Children Eagerly Wear Masks. My Grandchildren Enthusiastically Put Them On.
I believe we should start the school year normally. I have six grandchildren, but five are going to school. I am keeping my fingers crossed for all children at school, all children in Poland – said Stanisław Karczewski in an interview with Jacek Łęski on TVP1's “Political Quarter of an Hour”. Everything depends on us. We cannot be offended. I hear Mr. Broniarz's statements, full of aggression and arrogance. We should all get involved. Teachers, parents, local government officials, us, those in power. We are very keen on this cohabitation, that is, living with the coronavirus, being reasonable. We have to get used to it. We must primarily have certain habits. I cannot imagine a surgeon, I am a surgeon, touching their nose after washing their hands, but I myself forget my mask when going to the store and returning to the car, I put on a mask – he continued. We will explain [to the children]. Children very eagerly wear masks. My grandchildren very eagerly put them on – added the former Marshal of the Senate.

08:10

Bielan:

I'm Calmly Awaiting the Outcome of United Right Leaders' Negotiations. I Believe They'll Resume After the Holiday Season.

- If you ask how many ministers will leave, it naturally depends primarily on the final government formula adopted. I am calmly awaiting the outcome of the United Right leaders' negotiations. I believe these negotiations will resume after the holiday season concludes. It's difficult for me to say today, and I don't want to prejudge in any way, whether there will be 12, 13, or 14 ministries after the reconstruction. The most important thing is that at the threshold of the new political season, we have a government that functions efficiently, because the United Right has a unique chance to implement reforms important for Poland. I believe no political force in the future will have the situation we have today, meaning a stable majority in the Sejm, a president sympathetic to us, and when we look at the electoral calendar – parliamentary elections in 3 years, then presidential elections in 5 years – no one will have such a situation for a long time. This means we face immense responsibility. We must efficiently reform Poland to address the consequences of the crisis related to the coronavirus epidemic - stated Adam Bielan in an interview with Krzysztof Skórzyński on TVN24's "Jeden na jeden".


08:12

Bielan:

Negotiations Have Just Begun; Final Results Expected in 3-4 Weeks After September Resumption

- There is no agreement yet [regarding the government reshuffling], but these negotiations have only just begun. Later, we had the holiday season, and in reality, they will be resumed in September. I think that within 3-4 weeks, we should know the final outcome of these talks - stated Adam Bielan in "One on One" on TVN24.


08:23

Bielan:

We Face Enormous Responsibility, and I Truly Don't Believe Any Political Group Would Embarrass Themselves in Front of the Entire Public Opinion by Fighting for One Ministry or Deputy Ministry Post

- I can assure you that Porozumienie is and will remain a member of the coalition. We have emphasized this many times. However, I believe these are secondary issues [the number of ministries for coalition partners]. Truly. Much more important is the program for the coming year and the next three years. We are in a new reality, already after the presidential elections. We have achieved our desired electoral success, but we face enormous responsibility, and I truly don't believe any political group would try to embarrass themselves in front of the entire public opinion by fighting for one ministry or deputy ministry post for themselves. These are secondary matters. The program is much more important, and of course, the shape of the government. If there is an agreement on this matter, I am convinced that we are capable of cooperating harmoniously for the next 3 years – stated Adam Bielan in "One on One" on TVN24.


08:30

Bielan:

No Justification to Squabble Over Chairs After Four Election Wins and Strong Mandate

- I am convinced that despite certain personal tensions, let's not deceive ourselves, politics is also a game between various ambitious figures, I am convinced that despite this, we will not quarrel. There is no justification to quarrel at this moment over one or another position, after four consecutive electoral victories, having a very strong mandate, strengthened by the presidential elections for another 3 years - stated Adam Bielan in TVN24's "One on One".


08:44

Karczewski:

I resigned from the position of Deputy Marshal not to take up other roles. I want to continue my work at the hospital

- I resigned from the position of Deputy Marshal not to take up other roles. I wanted to return to my profession, so a two- or three-month return would make no sense at all. I want to continue my work at the hospital, largely dedicating myself to working for patients - Stanisław Karczewski said on TVP1.


08:48

Karczewski:

In crucial moments, Trzaskowski either goes on holiday or takes sick leave, so this move by Trzaskowski has absolutely no chance of success in my prediction.

- In crucial moments, Rafał Trzaskowski either goes on holiday or takes sick leave, so this move by Rafał Trzaskowski has absolutely no chance of success in my prediction. I cannot imagine, translating this to our political formation, my political formation Law and Justice, that a vice-chairman, a vice-president would create some kind of social movement - said Stanisław Karczewski on TVP1.


09:49

Dworczyk:

Council of Ministers adopts resolution obliging Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister to initiate talks with individual ministers and ministries regarding employment reductions; these talks will commence on Monday.
- The government reform and reconstruction are fast approaching. Therefore, a little more patience, and everyone will certainly learn what the government and various government agencies will look like after this reconstruction. Second matter – the COVID act, which allows for certain reductions in administration, was also adopted some time ago. The consequences of the crisis related to COVID also affect the economy, and also the administration. Certain limitations are necessary regarding the number of employees, especially as the number of ministries will be reduced. Hence, the Council of Ministers adopted a resolution obliging the Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister to initiate talks with individual ministers, individual ministries regarding limitations concerning employment, and these talks will commence on Monday. I will ask the ministers for meetings and discussions, to substantively, along with experts, discuss the possibilities of increasing the efficiency of individual ministries' operations and the number of positions necessary to ensure their functioning – stated Michał Dworczyk on TVP Info.

09:59

Dworczyk:

Lamenting Politically Motivated Mayors and Presidents Exploiting Current Situations

- We are ready to support educational institutions, of course, but we are not ready to replace local governments. This is precisely what local government means: it should fulfill specific duties and ensure the security of, for example, educational institutions. It's not as if September 1st is a surprise for local governments. It's not as if in autumn the number of flu cases increases and the second wave of COVID is coming, that this is some kind of surprise for local governments. I don't know what individual local government officials were doing. I can speak from my own experience, from my electoral district in Lower Silesia. I know many local governments that prepared well for the school year to begin harmoniously and calmly, despite all the objective difficulties that exist and affect us all. And I think there are many such local governments across Poland. However, there are local governments where the mayor or president is simply politically engaged, like Mr. Trzaskowski, and I lament this. But it appears they are trying to exploit this situation for some kind of current political maneuvering. I believe such situations should not occur - stated Michał Dworczyk on TVP Info.


10:33

Ministry of Health: 887 New Coronavirus Infections in Poland, 16 Deaths

https://twitter.com/MZ_GOV_PL/status/1298900640714948608

https://twitter.com/MZ_GOV_PL/status/1298900644267544576


10:33

Zdrojewski:

I'd see Leszczyna in this role. Financial and economic troubles will be the more pressing issues. It would be good for the club to be led by someone highly competent in this area.

- It would be good to opt for a rather radical change here. I would gladly see Ms. Iza Leszczyna in this position. Also because I anticipate the situation and believe that financial troubles, economic troubles will be the more pressing issues. Therefore, it would be good for the club to be led by someone highly competent in this matter - said Bogdan Zdrojewski on Radio Wrocław.


13:25

Piontkowski:

I have information from Minister Zagórski that an additional 40,000 laptops can be provided to Polish schools participating in the Nationwide Education Network

- The Ministry of Digital Affairs has already handed over tens of thousands of tablets to schools participating in the OSE. They have already reached the schools. I have information from Minister Zagórski, who will likely speak about it tomorrow at a conference, that an additional 40,000 laptops can be provided to Polish schools that are part of the Nationwide Education Network - said Dariusz Piontkowski during a press conference.


13:31

Piontkowski:

After further discussions with the Chief Sanitary Inspector, we decided not to introduce a mask mandate in schools

- I mentioned that we were considering whether to introduce a mask mandate in all schools. After further discussions with the Chief Sanitary Inspector, we have decided, however, not to introduce such an obligation. We will stick to the current regulations stating that the school principal, if they deem that their premises do not ensure full safety in common areas, or if there is an increased epidemic threat, will be able to introduce the obligation to cover the nose and mouth - said Dariusz Piontkowski during a press conference.


14:40

Niedzielski:

We Want to Propose Shortening Quarantine Duration to 10 Days
I have decided on such a swift reaction, and we will be changing the rules for both quarantine and isolation. What I wanted to announce today is that this afternoon a first package of three or two health minister's regulations will be presented, which will change the rules for both quarantine and isolation - stated Adam Niedzielski at a press conference. Firstly, in the case of quarantine, we want to propose shortening the duration of quarantine to 10 days. We have evidence for this, including from Norway, but also from clinical practice here, that such a period of isolation is safe and does not cause a significant increase in risk compared to the 14-day quarantine period. The second novelty in the case of quarantine will be the discontinuation of testing - he continued. Tests are such an important issue, especially in the context of preparing for the second wave of the pandemic. For what will happen in September, for the potentially increased number of infections, we must have the infrastructure prepared to perform tests where they are necessary. And this operation, apart from the fact that we consider that in quarantine, in the absence of symptoms, there is simply no need to conduct tests, it is also preparation of our infrastructure for what will happen in the autumn - he emphasized.

19:53

Piontkowski:

Green Represents Countries That Ordered Schools Back to In-Person Learning. As I Understand It, Civic Coalition, Contrary to Most European Governments, Wants Us to Switch to a Different System

- You can see a map of Europe here. Green represents those European countries that have adopted a similar model to Poland. That is, they have ordered schools to return to in-person learning, and in the case of an elevated epidemic threat, they speak of switching to hybrid learning, meaning in-person or remote learning. We have acted like the overwhelming majority of countries in Europe. As I understand it today, the Civic Coalition, contrary to what most European governments are doing, would like us to switch to a completely different system. We are trying to approach this problem rationally – said Dariusz Piontkowski in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on the program "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.


20:51

Kopcińska on the Situation in Belarus: I Disagree That the Polish Government's Reactions Were Delayed. They Are Adequate to the Situation

- I absolutely disagree with the Honourable Member on one point, that the Polish government's reactions were delayed [regarding the situation in Belarus]. No, they are adequate to the situation, and the Polish government has reacted and will continue to react adequately to the situation - stated Joanna Kopcińska on TVP Info's "Gość Wiadomości".