Live Feed

12/27/2023

07:41

Wednesday's Political Agenda: Government on Church Fund and Pediatric Oncology, Presidential Draft on Teacher Pay Raises

At 9:00 AM, a press conference will be held in the Sejm with the participation of the head of the PiS parliamentary group, Mariusz Błaszczak, and MP Janusz Kowalski.

The government will convene for a session at 11:00 AM. The agenda includes, among other items, information from the Minister of Finance regarding the financing of the Church Fund in 2024, as well as information from the Ministers of Finance and Health on increasing funding for pediatric oncology healthcare services.

Ministers will also address the request from the Minister for EU Affairs to withdraw the decision approving the candidates of the Republic of Poland for the office of judge of the Court of Justice and judge of the General Court of the European Union.

This morning – as announced by Marcin Mastalerek during the holidays – the President is scheduled to submit a new draft bill to the Sejm concerning, among other things, pay raises for teachers and other expenditures planned in the supplementary budget act. "In connection with the above, I call upon the Marshal of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, and the Marshal of the Senate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, to urgently convene sessions of both Houses to consider and adopt the bill by the end of this year" – Andrzej Duda wrote on Twitter.

Also, today, work will commence in parliamentary committees on the draft budget act for 2024 – the schedule includes sessions of the Committee on Energy, Climate, and State Assets, and the Committee on Social Policy and Family.

07:53

Śmiszek:

PiS turned public media into a private fiefdom in recent years, and now it needs to be undone

- Of course, the situation is extremely complicated, and it's due to PiS, which in recent years has turned public media into its own private fiefdom, and now this needs to be undone. The ruling party, meaning the government, meaning the new parliamentary majority, has chosen a specific method, namely the provisions of the Commercial Companies Code, to regulate this situation. The fact that a second, third, and I'm hearing a fourth president is in play and is somewhere also aspiring to the title of TVP CEO, these are certain costs that one must endure, wait out - stated Krzysztof Śmiszek in "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.

07:54

Śmiszek:

Ladies and Gentlemen from PiS are Breaking the Law

- I would like to tell the ladies and gentlemen from PiS, who by prescription seem to want to take over the buildings of TVP and PAP, that they are breaking the law. The Act on the performance of the mandate of a Member of Parliament and Senator does not grant the right to dismantle the work of offices or public institutions, nor to block the work of public institutions. The mandate of a Member of Parliament or Senator serves to control the head of a given institution, to demand specific documents - stated Krzysztof Śmiszek in the "Piasecki Conversation" on TVN24.

07:59

Śmiszek:

The Left Naturally Supports Minister Sienkiewicz's Move, and I See No Disagreements Among Coalition Partners

- The Left naturally supports Minister Sienkiewicz's move, and I see no disagreements among coalition partners. We have all agreed on one thing – that public media needs to be fixed, and it needs to be done quickly, but in accordance with the law – stated Krzysztof Śmiszek in TVN24's "Piasecki's Conversation".

08:01

Śmiszek:

Government to Work on Media Order Legislation from January

- Public media need to be fixed, and it needs to be done quickly, but legally. For too long, public media have been a tool and a toy in the hands of politicians of one option or another. For too long, public media have served as, I would say, a tool for blunt and brutal propaganda. All of this needs to be put in order. From January, the government will also be working on legislation concerning the media order. This has been announced, and this is what we will do - stated Krzysztof Śmiszek in "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.

08:15

Śmiszek:

Warsaw Prisons Are Ready to Receive Wąsik and Kamiński

- I would like to note that the Ministry of Justice does not manage these types of transports [to prison]. It manages [prisons], and these correctional facilities, Białołęka or Służewiec, are already prepared. We know that these are potential inmates, so to speak, with a sensitive entourage, therefore their stay in the correctional facility will certainly be managed with the utmost care by the authorities - stated Krzysztof Śmiszek on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

08:16

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

Turning a Propaganda Mouthpiece into Actual Public Media - There's No Doubt We Must Do This
- Public media must finally become public. This goal is shared, this goal is clear: restoring independence, depoliticizing, turning a propaganda mouthpiece into actual public media, and there is no doubt that we must do this. After these 8 years of the so-called public media functioning as a propaganda mouthpiece for the government, no one expected that the commencement, the initiation of this change would be an easy process - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on Polsat News' "Graffiti".

08:25

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

What's Happening Around Public Media Is Far From Ideal. We Have an Occupation of PAP and a Pseudo-Protest
- Of course, what is happening, what we are observing today at PAP, around public media, is far from ideal. I would very much like to see a situation where this process of repairing, rebuilding public media proceeds calmly, where all sides of the political dispute agree that public media are necessary, but that is not the case - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk in „Graffiti” Polsat News. - We have an occupation of PAP, we have a situation of a pseudo-protest created by one side of the political dispute, because after all, no citizens are visible there, there are no mass protests - she continued.

08:30

Domański:

I received a letter from the World Bank confirming the termination of cooperation with Mr. Kurski and Mr. Kamiński

- I received a letter from the World Bank confirming the termination of cooperation with Mr. Kurski and Mr. Kamiński - wrote Finance Minister Andrzej Domański on Twitter.

08:32

Dziemianowicz-Bąk on Adamczyk: This Shows How Short the PiS Bench Is, Having to Reach for Someone with Such Serious Allegations
- I would like to pause for a moment to consider the figure of Mr. Michał Adamczyk, because it probably shows how very short the PiS bench is, if they have to reach for someone with such serious allegations. A person who became known for being accused of domestic violence, violence against women, and dramatic proceedings. And such a person, according to the previous government, was supposed to represent public media. This is a symbol of a certain decline - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk in "Graffiti" on Polsat News.

08:48

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

Veto on the Budgetary Bill Shows the President Has Embraced the PiS Narrative of 'After Us, the Deluge'
- The announcement of the presidential veto [on the budgetary bill] primarily hits those who were waiting for the bill's effects, meaning teachers, [...] the public sector. [...] It's simply shooting ourselves in the foot and a very sad Christmas present - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk in 'Graffiti' on Polsat News. - This veto shows that President Andrzej Duda has embraced the PiS narrative or story that it's 'after us, the deluge'. That since they have lost power, and they have lost power by the democratic decision of the majority of Polish women and men, they will now not hesitate to spite citizens by taking away their due salaries and hindering the government's work - she continued. - I would ask President Andrzej Duda today: does the end truly justify the means? If he had doubts about the bill, about the possibility, because I emphasize that it only contained a potential possibility of transferring money to public media, a possibility that the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Culture openly stated they did not intend to use - did this doubt require such a radical step and plunge people into uncertainty just before the holidays? [...] No, it was not necessary - she stated.

09:15

Jabłoński on TVP and PAP Headquarters: No Government, Except PO, Sent Armed People to the Media

- The Civic Platform (PO) sends people with weapons there, security guards, and it's not entirely clear in what role. I saw armed individuals enter PAP. When our MPs wanted to find out who they were, they quickly fled and clearly acted in agreement with one of the lawyers who was present at the time. She essentially told them to leave the premises quickly so that no one would realize where they were from. These are forceful, gangster-like methods. No government, except PO, has sent armed people to the media - stated Paweł Jabłoński in an interview with Beata Lubecka on the program "Gość Radia Zet".

- I'm not particularly interested in who is the president of PAP, radio, or TVP. I am interested in whether they were chosen in accordance with the law. If the law has been broken, we will intervene until a lawful state is restored. Motions have been filed with the court and prosecutor's office - he added.

09:17

Jabłoński:

Another Parliamentary Inspection Today at the Ministry of Culture

- Today marks another parliamentary inspection at the Ministry of Culture. We have very serious suspicions that forged documents and notarial deeds have occurred - stated Paweł Jabłoński on the program "Guest of Radio Zet".

- These notarial deeds could have been drawn up at the earliest at 10:14 PM, which is one second after the resolution was adopted, and that is of course assuming the minister teleported himself from the Sejm to the Ministry of Culture. We have serious suspicions that these notarial deeds do not reflect reality - he added.

09:18

Błaszczak:

PiS to File No-Confidence Motion Against Sienkiewicz Today
- The Parliamentary Club of Law and Justice will today file a motion of no-confidence against Colonel Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, a special services officer delegated by Donald Tusk to the office of Minister of Culture and National Heritage. Why are we filing this motion? Due to Colonel Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz's attempt to forcibly take over public media. A forceful takeover, just as Donald Tusk spoke about during the election campaign, strong men entered, for example, the Polish Press Agency and attempted to seize the PAP building. I myself witnessed these events - said Mariusz Błaszczak at a press conference. - If the ruling majority, if the December 13th coalition, wants to change the legal order, then parliament serves that purpose, meaning a draft bill is passed, then signed by the President of the Republic of Poland, not by introducing a security company at 3 AM [...]. The no-confidence motion will be filed today; the Marshal of the Sejm is obligated to have this motion be the subject of parliamentary debate either at the nearest session or the subsequent one - he continued.

09:37

Kobosko:

It wasn't the government that declared war on the president, but the president on the government
- The president entered a certain political game. It wasn't the government that declared war on the president, but the president on the government, in this very way, that just before Christmas Eve, he vetoed the supplementary budget bill and thus truly cast doubt on whether teachers and the budget sphere would receive the raises promised to them by our coalition. The president is demanding a Sejm session, the convocation of a Sejm session. It seems to me that this should not be the case, it is not within the competence of the head of state to demand - stated Michał Kobosko during a conversation with Beata Michniewicz in the program “Salon Polityczny Trójki”. - It is a question of the words used, but the president demanded the convocation of the Sejm this year, between Christmas and New Year. I think there is no reason to urgently convene a Sejm session, especially since we don't know the draft bill the president wants to present. This draft needs to be analyzed, to see if it truly differs from the government's draft beyond the element related to the financing of public media. This needs to be analyzed, we need to consider how to approach it. The government will meet today, the Council of Ministers will convene and will also analyze the situation from its perspective. One thing is certain, teachers and the budget sphere will receive raises thanks to the government, regardless of whether the president strongly opposes it or not - he added.

09:40

Kobosko:

We Must Put Public Media Back on Track, Physically Remove Politicians from Occupied Positions
- This discussion we're having at the end of 2023 should not even be happening, this problem would not exist at all if not for the actions of PiS, which we must untangle, unravel, put public media back on track, and physically remove politicians from the positions they occupy - stated Michał Kobosko on the program of Polish Radio 3. - Public media is not a place where politicians should sit and spend their days and nights. When we talk about MPs, their place of work is in the Sejm - he added.

09:42

Kobosko:

A Major Public Media Law is Coming; Talks and Negotiations Have Begun
- A major public media law is coming. We have begun discussions and negotiations among the coalition parties. All sides recognize that the situation of public media needs to be stabilized for years to come – stated Michał Kobosko on Polish Radio 3.

09:55

Head of the President's Chancellery: We are submitting a presidential bill with raises for teachers

- We are submitting a presidential bill with raises for teachers to the Sejm, but without 3 billion PLN for the illegally seized public television - informed the Head of the President's Chancellery, Grażyna Ignaczak-Bandych.

11:15

Hołownia Announces Sejm's Move Regarding Presidential Bill:

Work According to Schedule.

A statement from Marshal Szymon Hołownia regarding the President's veto of the budget-related act and a new bill submitted to the Sejm today was published on the Sejm Chancellery's Twitter profile.

- I inform you that both documents have been sent for preliminary opinion by the Sejm's legal services. After the completion of this procedure, most likely still today, they will be assigned Sejm print numbers. The Presidential bill will be sent for consultation and forwarded to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in order to present the government's position. The Presidential veto will be considered by the Sejm. The Sejm will work according to the schedule adopted by all political forces. The next Sejm session will therefore take place on January 10-11, 2024 - stated the Marshal of the Sejm.

12:35

Mastalerek:

It's Now Clear Tusk Prioritized PLN 3 Billion for Illegally Seized Media, Not Teacher Salary Raises
It's now clear that for Donald Tusk, the PLN 3 billion for illegally seized media was the most important thing. He wasn't concerned with teacher salary raises at all – Marcin Mastalerek wrote on Twitter. - After President Andrzej Duda submitted his draft budget-related bill, which does not include the PLN 3 billion for media, Marshal Szymon Hołownia refused to expedite its proceedings in the Sejm. The President exposed the true intentions of the current majority. Shame – the presidential minister added.

15:17

Tusk:

Government Decides to Prepare New Supplementary Budget Act

- We have also decided, following the president's veto, for the government to prepare a new supplementary budget act. As you recall, although few paid attention, the supplementary budget act vetoed by the president contained a statement that the Minister of Finance may, and this was not the case under PiS, may allocate from PLN 3 billion – this is the value of bonds that the Minister of Finance would have at his disposal – some of these funds for public media - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

We remind you of our text from last week about the compensation mechanism for public media.

15:21

Tusk:

We've Prepared a New Bill Project Where the 3 Billion from Bonds Will Directly Be Available to the National Health Fund, Designated for Specific Purposes

- We have prepared a new government bill project, where these 3 billion from bonds will directly be available to the National Health Fund, designated for specific purposes, namely for pediatric oncology, child psychiatry, rare and genetic diseases, where young children are still dying, and if any part of these 3 billion remains, it will also be allocated to other oncology programs - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:23

Tusk on the Church Fund: Today We Decided to Establish an Interdepartmental Team

- Today, after receiving information about the Church Fund and its sources of financing, we made the decision to establish an interdepartmental team, which will include ministers from several departments. Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz, Marcin Kierwiński, Minister Dziemianowicz-Bąk, the Minister of Finance, the Head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, and the Government Legislation Centre will be part of it. This interdepartmental team will begin working today on changing the financing system for the Church Fund and other sources of public funding for churches, including the principles of financing retirement and disability benefits for clergy - stated Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:24

Tusk:

New Regulations Will Move Towards Financial Responsibility of the Faithful for Their Churches
- Work on new regulations will move, and this is established, it will move towards a system of financial responsibility for the faithful for their churches, meaning we are talking about a system of voluntary tax deductions for individuals interested in supporting their church. It must be a decision of the faithful, not a state decision, so that everyone also has a sense of justice. Some have ties to the church, and others have a sense that they are not paying for something they do not want to pay for – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:24

Tusk:

Council of Ministers Mandates Justice Minister to Act for Poland's Accession to European Public Prosecutor's Office
- Today, the Council of Ministers made a decision obliging the Minister of Justice to take steps towards the urgent notification of enhanced cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor's Office. In reality, we are talking about Poland's accession to the European Public Prosecutor's Office. This should also facilitate faster, transparent, and rule-based acquisition and disbursement of European funds - said Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:25

Tusk:

Today, at the latest tomorrow, you will be informed about further decisions of the Minister of Culture

- The President's veto, which effectively cancels the financing from these bonds entirely, and the public media also necessitate the Minister of Culture to make appropriate decisions. Today, at the latest tomorrow, you will be informed about further decisions of the Minister of Culture in connection with the decisions regarding these bonds, this potential support for TVP. But there are no surprises here, because one way or another they would have gone to treat children - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:26

Tusk Announces Draft Bill on Civil Partnerships:

This Winter Still.

- I also spoke today with Minister Katarzyna Kotula, she will be ready to present the draft bill on civil partnerships, after consultations with the leaders of the parties that form the coalition of October 15th. We will decide on the governmental or parliamentary nature of this legislative initiative, but we are talking about weeks, not months, so this draft [bill] on civil partnerships will be processed by us this winter, one way or another. Regardless of who submits it – said Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:30

Tusk:

There's a significant reserve, prepared by the Morawiecki government, so public media will receive support in case of urgent needs

- There is a reserve at the disposal of the Prime Minister, as well as bonds, and it is a large reserve, still prepared by the Morawiecki government, so in case of any urgent needs, to prevent a collapse, public media will receive support. But there will be no Byzantium, no billions that translated into astronomical earnings and bonuses for PiS officials in these media - stated Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:32

Tusk:

We're Dealing with Elements of Force, Elements of Violence. The Only Ones Who Embarked on This Are PiS Parliamentarians and Their Associates
I want to set this whole matter straight, to show how it really looks. We are dealing with elements of force, with elements of violence in this process. The only ones who embarked on this are PiS parliamentarians and their associates. Kaczyński doesn't like what is happening today in public media, especially in TVP. I'm not surprised; for 8 years, he accustomed himself, Poland, his party, to the idea that public media are the political, financial property of PiS and its acolytes. That is not the case. Today, they are reacting to the decisions we have made with fury, with rage. They are fighting for their lives; you will soon learn very precisely why some of these people are fighting as if for their lives, to keep their hand on the throat of public media, and the reasons are not pleasant. They disagree with our interpretation of the law; that's what courts and the prosecution service are for – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:42

Tusk on Events at Public Media Buildings: We Will Vote to Lift Immunity for All Who Break the Law
- Some are asking 'why don't you use force yourselves? After all, we are dealing with numerous violations of order, domestic peace, and property'. It's not just because it was the holidays, a time not suited for bad things and violence, but I have a deep conviction that Polish politics should finally be free from this verbal and physical violence, from the abuse of power, and I prefer that the machinery of state and law rolls slowly but consistently like a steamroller – said Donald Tusk at a press conference. - Everyone who violated or broke the law during attempts to occupy buildings or block the changes we are implementing legally, everyone will answer individually for what they did, and it doesn't matter if they are a Member of Parliament or a PiS Member of Parliament. It's irrelevant. We will also vote to lift the immunity of all those who yesterday, today, or tomorrow decided or are deciding to break and violate the law, and there will be no sacred cows – he continued.

15:51

Tusk:

I saw President Matyszkowicz's signature today, who signed documents not only for his resignation but also for handing over duties to his successors
I saw President Matyszkowicz's signature today, who was leaving, who signed documents not only for his resignation but also for handing over duties to his successors. We are acting in accordance with the law; if anyone believes we are acting illegally, they have recourse to institutions for appeals, not to fists - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:57

Tusk on Public Media: The Mess PiS Created Requires New Legislation

- The mess PiS created requires new legislation. It is impossible to carry out real repairs under the current regulations and after Kaczyński's decisions, the Media Council, etc. So we are making repairs at the level of the Commercial Companies Code and we are offering to work immediately on a new media law, which will give equal access to public media to social and political forces, and I am ready to do it very quickly, with the participation of the President's people, I will not hesitate for a moment – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:58

Tusk:

I Took a Beating from Public Media for a Full 7 Years

- I have no ulterior motives. Anyone with a memory knows full well that when I was Prime Minister, I was so heavily attacked by public media in this chamber for a full 7 years, and it never occurred to me to 'clean up' the media because they were attacking me - Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated at a press conference.

16:01

Tusk:

Without Kurskiego, Rachonia, Kłeczek, and Public Media, They Wouldn't Win Any Elections

- Had they not had Kurskiego, Rachonia, Kłeczek, this whole group of functionaries, had they not had all of public media in their grip, in such an iron embrace, they wouldn't have won any elections. Poland wouldn't have wasted these years, and they know that when truth prevails in public life, they have no chance, and that's why they are so furiously attacking our decisions today - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

16:01

Tusk on PiS: They Question the Election Results, Haven't Reconciled with Losing Power
There is no version of restoring public media to the nation that would not provoke the fury of Kaczyński and PiS. One could have acted slower, but would that have changed their way of thinking and acting? No, nothing indicates that. They question the election results, they haven't reconciled with losing power, that's the problem - stated Donald Tusk at a press conference.

16:03

Tusk:

I am preparing my visit to Kyiv
- I see no reason to spoil Polish-Ukrainian relations, because very good relations can indeed be maintained, as Ukraine also needs this, and at the same time be assertive and resolve problems so that Polish farmers do not lose out - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference. - The Ukrainian side has presented several proposals that could ease the situation for Polish drivers, but this is insufficient from the perspective of Polish drivers' interests. In turn, the system that is in force in the European Union, accepted and strongly supported by our predecessors […], I would also support this system in their place. Then the war broke out, and the whole of Europe wanted to help Ukraine. But now, of course, this situation is an orphan, and the predecessors pretend to have nothing to do with it - he continued. - At the European level, the regulations that are one of the sources of these troubles are in force until June anyway, and I don't think anything radical can be changed at the European level by June, I'm saying this openly. However, a lot of facilitation and safeguards for Polish hauliers can be operationally obtained in agreement with the Ukrainians - he assessed. - I am preparing my visit to Kyiv. […] I feel a bit ashamed to even talk about it, because I know the situation President Zelensky and all of Ukraine are in, so it's not entirely proper to go to Kyiv and dedicate the entire visit to matters of Polish transport. But we will prepare this visit in such a way that during my meeting with the President, it will be clear what can be achieved - the Prime Minister announced. - On a technical level, it seems that I should bring a serious offer from Kyiv. And I will ask the drivers not to block this crossing precisely because of the war […]. I can declare that I will do everything possible to make the lives and fortunes of Polish transport companies easier - he assured.

16:11

Tusk:

I was pleased to learn that one broadcast of the new TVP news attracted more viewers than 10 previous editions
- I was pleased to learn that one broadcast of the public television news, following the changes proposed by Minister Sienkiewicz, the "19:30" news program, was watched by more people than 10 editions of the "Wiadomości" [News] from the predecessors. So, I think we have a reason for satisfaction here - said Donald Tusk at a press conference.

16:34

Tusk:

We Have Opinions from Top Lawyers Who Have No Doubt Minister Sienkiewicz's Actions Are Legal and in the Public Interest

- We have opinions from the most distinguished lawyers who have no doubts that Minister Sienkiewicz's actions are in line with the law and the public interest. I am talking about lawyers who are not paid for this and who would not risk their reputation, truly their reputation, if they were not convinced that our actions are both desirable and legal. As I said, for many years, after what PiS did to the justice system in Poland, there is no decision that doesn't have various interpretations, various assessments. This legal mess means that in reality, there is no longer a single authority, no single lighthouse, that everyone would orient themselves by without unnecessary conflicts. We must restore this here; at this moment, unfortunately, legal disputes will constantly accompany us. However, PiS draws very wrong conclusions from these disputes, meaning they act against the Polish state – stated Donald Tusk at a press conference.

17:55

Sienkiewicz Announces Liquidation Proceedings for TVP, Polish Radio, and PAP
"In connection with the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland to suspend the funding of public media, I have decided to initiate liquidation proceedings for the companies Telewizja Polska S.A., Polskie Radio S.A., and Polska Agencja Prasowa S.A.," the Ministry of Culture announced on Twitter. "In the current situation, such action will allow for the continued functioning of these companies, the implementation of necessary restructuring within them, and the prevention of layoffs for employees in the aforementioned companies due to lack of funding. The liquidation status can be reversed at any time by the owner."

18:33

Mastalerek:

Sienkiewicz's Decision Admits Government's Defeat; The Blitzkrieg Failed

- Minister Sienkiewicz's decision to liquidate TVP, Polish Radio, and PAP is an admission of defeat by the ruling majority. The blitzkrieg did not succeed - wrote Marcin Mastalerek on Twitter.

"Minister Sienkiewicz is behaving like a typical aggressor. First, he attacked brutally, and now – facing effective resistance – he is threatening to blow everything up. This is the first time in the history of Polish media that someone has decided on such a step. It is proof of the complete powerlessness of the authorities, who could not find any legal way to change the management of these companies.

Therefore, they chose the liquidation option, which was one of the ruling coalition's initial ideas, repeatedly described in the media."

19:49

Kwiatkowski:

The Minister of Culture Made the Only Decision Possible in This Situation
- What does it matter that President Kaczyński calls a demonstrator outside PAP (Polish Press Agency) a 'brat, you'll end up in jail.' I'm not interested in that, I'm interested in the employees, those behind the cameras, the women who clean the television or the Polish Press Agency. They cannot be held hostage by MP Macierewicz, who is preventing an employee of the Polish Press Agency from entering their place of work. The Minister of Culture made the only decision that could have been made in this situation – Krzysztof Kwiatkowski said in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program 'Gość Wydarzeń' (Guest of Events) on Polsat News.

19:58

Kwiatkowski on the TVP Situation: PiS is Olsen Gang, Complete Failures. They Didn't Secure Themselves, Acted Dispassionately Intellectually
- Before leaving the government, Mr. Gliński tried to submit a motion to the National Court Register for changes to the statutes, which were intended to hinder, as he himself explained, the takeover of control over the company. How? That if a liquidator were appointed, that liquidator would have to come exclusively from the public television's management board. What's it about? Minister Gliński said: yes, this is a permissible scenario, but to defend ourselves against this liquidator, we will submit such a motion that only people associated with PiS can be liquidators - said Krzysztof Kwiatkowski on Polsat News. - PiS is the Olsen Gang. They can't prepare anything legally, complete failures. They submitted this motion to the register in such a way that the registry court simply rejected it, so unfortunately they did not secure themselves, they acted dispassionately in an intellectual dimension - he continued.

20:04

Suski to Kwiatkowski: You should be comparing yourselves to Hitler
- If we learn that archives of Polish television are being destroyed, then fascists burned books; today they aren't burning on pyres, but files are being removed, so you should be comparing yourselves to Hitler - Marek Suski said on Polsat News.

20:06

Suski to Kwiatkowski: Just as ZOMO used to seize various plants, you are now seizing them with agencies hired by God knows whom
- The President's decision is the President's decision, which he made precisely because of these brutal, completely unlawful actions by various security agencies, just as ZOMO used to seize various plants back then, you are now seizing them with some agencies hired by God knows whom - Marek Suski stated on Polsat News.

20:10

Suski:

Sienkiewicz's Actions are Unlawful; These Aren't Ordinary Companies an Owner Can Just Liquidate
- In my opinion, Mr. Sienkiewicz's actions are completely unlawful because these are not ordinary companies [TVP, Polskie Radio, PAP] that an owner can just liquidate on a whim. These are companies with special legal standing; an organ is enshrined in the Constitution, the National Broadcasting Council (Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji), which supervises these companies. Without agreement with these constitutional organs, such a decision is unlawful - Marek Suski stated on Polsat News.

20:18

Błaszczak:

They Can't Govern and They Can't Be Effective, or Perhaps They Don't Want To Because They Believe Germany Will Defend Us
- Indeed, that was the information coming from the then-opposition [regarding the resignation from purchasing Korean weapons]. I will go further, American contracts will probably also not be terminated, but the number of, for example, HIMARS, which are missile launchers with a range of up to 300 kilometers, will certainly be reduced from 500, the number of Apache attack helicopters from 96 will also certainly be reduced, because they cannot govern, they cannot be effective. Perhaps they don't want to be effective; they believe that Germany will defend us, which is, of course, an illusion, which is untrue, because due to our geographical location, we must have a strong enough Polish Army to be able to defend ourselves independently - stated Mariusz Błaszczak in an interview with Michał Rachoń on the program "Evening Conversation" on TV Republika.

20:22

Błaszczak:

Liquidation of Public Media is a Huge Scandal, but Also Proof of Victory in Defending Them Against Illegal Power Grab
- All these games, the decision today, perhaps an hour ago, by the Minister of Culture, Colonel Sienkiewicz of the special services, to liquidate public media is also a form of organizing another round of games through an illegal decision, intended to overshadow the incompetence in governing our country. These people are not fit to govern, and that's why they are organizing games. Furthermore, the liquidation of public media is a huge scandal, but it is also proof of the victory we achieved by defending public media against an illegal change of authority - stated Mariusz Błaszczak on TV Republika. - On Christmas Eve itself, I met with people who came to Plac Powstańców, after the Christmas Eve supper, they came to support journalists protesting against the illegal actions of Colonel Sienkiewicz. It is our success that they had to withdraw from this change of authority, because they saw that it was a dead end - he added.

20:27

Błaszczak:

If They Liquidate Public Media, They Will Also Move to Liquidate Orlen
- We are all aware that this is the first step. During conversations on Christmas Eve with people who came to Powstańców Square, they expressed concerns about the liquidation of Orlen. Yes, of course - if they liquidate public media, they will also move to liquidate Orlen, and therefore, resistance. We must resist this; it is the most effective method - stated Mariusz Błaszczak on TV Republika.

20:32

Błaszczak:

The Attempt to Imprison Kamiński and Wąsik and the Dissolution of the CBA is a Signal to Thieves that Corruption is Returning to Favor
- This must be interpreted as follows: it is an allowance for corruption. Both the attempt to imprison both gentlemen [Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik] and the dissolution of the CBA are a clear signal to thieves that corruption is returning to favor - stated Mariusz Błaszczak on TV Republika.

20:55

Gliński:

Placing public media in liquidation is contrary to the Radio and Television Act

- Placing public media in liquidation is contrary to the Radio and Television Act. The state of liquidation changes the company's objective, and the act specifies what objectives public broadcasters are to pursue – these are mission-based objectives. This process would have to begin with a change in the act – wrote Piotr Gliński on Twitter.

21:07

Szłapka:

I Trust Sienkiewicz. The President Didn't Really Leave a Choice, as He Questioned Public Media Funding
Over the last eight years, public media have been destroyed, razed. Absolutely partisan media were created, and now this situation needs to be fixed. I have trust in Minister Sienkiewicz, who knows what he is doing. He is prepared for this, but President Andrzej Duda didn't really leave a choice, as he questioned the funding for public media, which was conditional. And in this situation, there is no other way than to put these companies into liquidation – stated Adam Szłapka on TVN24's program "Kropka nad i".

21:08

Szłapka:

By vetoing the budget-related bill, Duda opened up the only possibility, namely the scenario Sienkiewicz applied

- Minister Mastalerek is, after all, the Head of the Presidential Cabinet, and I think he should refrain from such daily publicist commentary, but this shows that we are dealing with a political game in which the President has decided to participate. On the one hand, he has taken millions of Poles hostage in this political game, whom he tried to block salary increases for. But on the other hand, I think both Minister Mastalerek and President Duda foresaw that by vetoing this [budget-related] bill, they were opening up the only possibility, namely the scenario that Minister Sienkiewicz applied – Adam Szłapka said on TVN24.

22:16

Kaczyński on Sienkiewicz's decision: We are dealing with another breach of the law

- [We are dealing] with another breach of the law. Simply put, the Act on Radio and Television does not provide for this type of possibility, and moreover, since the establishment of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT), these institutions in question, namely television, radio, and PAP [Polish Press Agency], have been indirectly, but very clearly, enshrined in the constitutional order. Therefore, liquidation cannot in any way be carried out lawfully here - stated Jarosław Kaczyński on TV Republika.

recommended

Aircraft to Support Evacuation of Poles from the Middle East. Tusk Submits Request to the President

Hot Topic

Why Doesn't Gasoline in Poland Cost 5.19 Zloty, as Promised?

- Błaszczak on Tusk's Announcement

Hot Topic

Interest Rates Down? The Monetary Policy Council Has Decided

Hot Topic

When Will the Government Prepare Shielding Measures?

- PiS Questions the Government

Hot Topic

I Won't Say a Bad Word About the President Today.

- Tusk on the Need for Cooperation on Security Matters

Hot Topic

Nothing indicates this conflict will end in the coming hours or days

- Tusk

news

Previous days

Wczoraj

03.03.2026

02.03.2026

27.02.2026

26.02.2026

25.02.2026

24.02.2026

23.02.2026