Live Feed

01/04/2024

08:04

Kotula:

A Joint List in Local Elections Would Be a Natural Extension of What Happened on October 15th
- Such a joint list in the local elections would be a natural extension of what happened on October 15th. Today we are forming a governing coalition, […] on October 15th we won the elections, and it seems that this arrangement was good, especially regarding the Senate pact, where as Lewica we gained a lot, but we also gained a lot as the former opposition, now the governing coalition. Why not simply repeat it? If there is one proven way to defeat PiS, then it seems that the natural idea would be to go into the local elections in the same coalition - said Katarzyna Kotula in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24.

08:10

Konwiński on the Grodzki Case: We are Continuously Dealing with Ziobro's Prosecution
- The prosecution, still Zbigniew Ziobro's prosecution, has been dealing with Senator Grodzki since he actually became Marshal of the Senate. We've had many developments here; he didn't previously attract the prosecution's attention for the first four years of PiS rule, but he drew their interest when he became Marshal of the Senate. We also heard a statement [...] from a former patient of the Marshal, who claimed they were offered some money to testify against the Marshal - said Zbigniew Konwiński in an interview with Dariusz Ociepa on Polsat News's "Graffiti". - The issue of immunity, it seems, is undergoing procedure in the Senate and the eventual decision will be made there. [...] We have no doubt that we are continuously dealing with Zbigniew Ziobro's prosecution [...] a series of actions were taken to entrench the prosecution - he continued.

08:17

Konwiński on Whether Kamiński and Wąsik Can Go to Prison Before Supreme Court Ruling: 'We Won the Election So Politicians Don't Tell Courts What to Do'
- Gentlemen [Kamiński and Wąsik] spoke a lot about law, about justice, they are even in a party that has these two words in its name, so if we were talking about any other citizen in Poland, there would be no such doubts. Having been convicted by a final verdict, the gentlemen are using various tactics to avoid responsibility – said Zbigniew Konwiński on Polsat News. - The gentlemen exceeded their authority during the first PiS government, they were responsible for forging documents, for creating a scandal that didn't really exist, the law didn't allow for such actions then [...]. We won the election, among other things, so that a politician doesn't tell courts what to do. So the court will decide here [whether they will go to prison before the Supreme Court ruling] – he continued.

08:18

Kotula:

If there's no joint list, I suspect we'll go to the elections alone
- If there is no joint list, I suspect that we will rather go to these [local government] elections alone, and we will probably also decide to run independently in the European elections – said Katarzyna Kotula in TVN24's "Piasecki's Conversation".

08:22

Konwiński on the Pardon of Kamiński and Wąsik: I Wouldn't Rule Out the President Behaving Differently Than He Claims Now
- The President and his entourage are clearly saying publicly that no, that in their opinion the act of grace has already been applied, however, I would not rule out that today this is a bit of an attempt to present certain facts to the judiciary, the court, but in the end, the gentlemen will end up in prison, or they will end up in prison, I would not rule out that President Duda will behave differently than he claims right now - said Zbigniew Konwiński in Polsat News.

08:23

Kotula:

I Would Want the Left to Have Its Own Presidential Candidate, Preferably a Woman
- I would want the Left to have its own candidate, preferably a female candidate. I believe it should be a woman; this is the time to back a woman in the presidential election – Katarzyna Kotula stated in TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" (Piasecki's Conversation).

08:27

Konwiński on the Public Media Bill: We Must Find a Way to Agree with the President
- We do not have a majority that would allow us to proceed without the president. If we are to successfully pass a bill that will come into effect, we must somehow reach an agreement with Mr. President on this matter - said Zbigniew Konwiński on Polsat News.

08:40

Kotula:

Partnership Law for Both Heterosexual and Homosexual Couples
- We are putting on the table these laws which we consider the best as a starting point, we are conducting social consultations, as well as political consultations, because it is probably no surprise to anyone today when we say that there are differing opinions. These are mainly opinions from the PSL, because Polska 2050, through the voice of Szymon Hołownia, has said that it supports such a solution as partnership unions, which is an absolute minimum - said Katarzyna Kotula in "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24. - There will be two possible paths - if a majority can be found, it will be a government bill, but I am very pleased that there is also a green light for us to be able to submit this law as a parliamentary bill - she continued. When asked if she would like the partnership law to apply to both heterosexual and homosexual couples, the Minister for Equality replied: - Yes, of course. Because both one and the other side are waiting for such a solution today.

08:47

Kotula:

I'd Like Civil Partnerships to be Possible in the Civil Registry Office
- I would like civil partnerships to be possible to enter into at the Civil Registry Office. It is symbolic that people who live in same-sex relationships, form families, raise children, and run a joint household can together, before each other, in the Civil Registry Office, make a vow that is important to them - said Katarzyna Kotula in "Piasecki's Conversation" on TVN24.

08:58

Gawkowski on Coalition for Local Elections:

We Are Ready.

- The Left, in past elections and those ahead of us, will clearly declare that it is ready to run in large coalition blocs. If there were a desire from other partners to create such a bloc of four parties running together, the coalition of October 15th, we are ready. If it were to be some other formula, then it would probably be a formula similar to the elections to the Polish parliament - stated Krzysztof Gawkowski in an interview with Beata Michniewicz in "Trójka Political Salon".


09:00

Kotula:

I Would Like the Partnership Unions Act to be Ready and Submitted by March
- By March, I would like this act [on partnership unions] to be ready, submitted, and prepared for proceedings - said Katarzyna Kotula in "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.

09:00

Gawkowski Announces January Talks on Local Elections:

A Joint Declaration Will Be Issued.

- At this moment, I believe the most likely scenario is that we will repeat the approach of running in similar blocs as in the parliamentary elections, and these will be blocs that united Civic Coalition, Third Way, and The Left. However, I am not ruling out any scenario. The leaders of both The Left, Third Way, and Civic Coalition are scheduled for such talks in January. I think there will also be some joint declaration regarding the final direction that will be chosen - stated Krzysztof Gawkowski in "Salon polityczny Trójki" (Political Salon of Trójka).


09:01

Kotula on Hate Speech Penalty Bill: I Think It's a February Matter, But That's Up to the Ministry of Justice
- We agreed on this as part of the negotiation talks, and it was included in the coalition agreement [penalties for hate speech based on gender or sexual orientation]. I am convinced that today this is a bill that could be quickly processed, as we discussed with non-governmental organizations, which clearly asked for this bill to precede the bill on civil partnerships - said Katarzyna Kotula in "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24. - I think it's a February matter, when we could discuss it, but that's up to the Ministry of Justice - she added.

09:05

Gawkowski:

Nobody is Talking About Presidential Elections Today. In the First Round, Every Party Should Nominate Its Own Candidate

- Many things are open, but nobody is talking about presidential elections today, because these presidential elections are still ahead of us and likely only after the European Parliament and local government election campaigns have concluded. A lot can happen in Polish politics in 1.5 years. I would like the opposition's candidate to win, but also today, if I were to aim for an answer on how this should be constructed, I think it should be constructed in such a way that every party nominates its own candidate in the first round, and in the second round, the opposition parties forming the government support their candidate who advanced to that round, unless there are two candidates, then it will look different and then there is the greatest chance for the current coalition to have its president - stated Krzysztof Gawkowski in "Trójka's Political Salon".


09:09

Zdrojewski on Media Law: It Will Appear in the First Half of This Year, More Likely in March or April

- 2024 is the year it will come into effect. It will appear in the first half of this year. More likely in March or April than in June or July. There is, of course, a concern that President Andrzej Duda may not have a particular will to sign it, but we believe there will be a will to discuss it - stated Bogdan Zdrojewski in an interview with Beata Lubecka on the program "Gość Radia Zet".


09:10

Zdrojewski:

Bill to Liquidate the National Media Council is Ready. It's Even in the Freezer, as Speaker Witek Put It There

- The bill concerning the liquidation of the National Media Council is ready. It's even in the freezer, as Speaker Witek put it there. It was a project passed by the Senate. A good project, in which perhaps minor corrections might be needed due to the passage of time, but it is generally ready. The assumptions for a major media bill are ready. Some of these assumptions were discussed in 2023 - stated Bogdan Zdrojewski on the program "Gość Radia Zet".


09:11

Zdrojewski on Public Media: One or Two Laws Needed to Restore Legal Order

- One or two laws will be needed to restore legal order. This order includes the competencies of the National Broadcasting Council and the National Media Council, which should be liquidated as soon as possible. Minister Sienkiewicz has quite a few tasks to undertake in the first place – stated Bogdan Zdrojewski on the program „Gość Radia Zet”.


09:12

Zdrojewski:

We have no guarantees regarding President Duda today

- Regarding President Andrzej Duda, we have no guarantees for anything today. That's the kind of president we have. When it comes to guarantees for PiS, they are very high, but I don't want to say 100 percent either, various things have happened there. The president was repeatedly dissatisfied with the media, expressed it, he was in dispute with Kurski, but Jarosław Kaczyński stamped his foot and everything returned to "normal" – stated Bogdan Zdrojewski on the program "Gość Radia Zet".

- I don't expect anything constructive from President Duda and his chancellery. I expect decisions that will be a source of turbulence for the government – he added.


12:01

Civic Coalition MP: Public Finance Committee to Address President's Chancellery Budget

- The Public Finance Committee will address the budget of the President's Chancellery. Maintaining two presidents and a host of advisors costs Poland far too much - wrote Civic Coalition MP Zdzisław Gawlik on Twitter.


13:17

Trela on the Presidential Budgetary Bill: No Such Tricks with Us, Mr. President

- The budgetary bill is an element of the budget act, and as we all know, the preparation of the budget act is the domain of the government, and in reality, the Minister of Finance. But I know why Mr. President did this – first, he succumbed to PiS's political pressure to veto a good budgetary bill, and he wanted to quickly try to fix his mistake. No such tricks with us, Mr. President – stated Tomasz Trela on RMF FM's program “Rozmowa w południe” (Midday Conversation).

- If you wanted to prepare anything, you had 8 years. You could have made requests, appealed, submitted individual draft bills. Now you messed up, and we fixed it after you, because yesterday at the committee session of public finance, at the first reading, the government's bill received a positive opinion. At the next Sejm session, we will deal with this bill, and the budgetary bill will be adopted. However, the President has once again allowed himself to be drawn into some unnecessary game that Mr. Jarosław Kaczyński is playing – he added.


13:19

Trela:

We are very neutral towards the Presidential Palace. Prime Minister Tusk, ministers say this
We are very neutral towards the Presidential Palace. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, ministers, the entire prime ministerial administration, and the parliamentary majority are saying this. After all, it wasn't us who vetoed the budget-related act, it wasn't us who delivered a confrontational presidential address, and it's not us who are going for confrontation. We are simply showing the President that there is now a different quality of lawmaking, a different way of thinking – stated Tomasz Trela on the program "Rozmowa w południe" on RMF FM.

14:07

Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs Chamber Rules on Wąsik's Mandate

The Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs Chamber of the Supreme Court has overturned the decision of Sejm Marshal Szymon Hołownia regarding the declaration of invalidation of the parliamentary mandate of MP Maciej Wąsik.


14:20

Gajewska:

Just as we promised - 800 plus is already reaching parents' accounts
Just as we promised - 800 plus is already reaching parents' accounts! And this will only be part of our systemic pro-family policy! - wrote the Deputy Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy, Aleksandra Gajewska, on Facebook.

14:33

Deputy Justice Minister on Kamiński and Wąsik: Nothing Can Protect Them From Punishment Right Now
- There is a legally binding court ruling which sentenced them [MPs Kamiński and Wąsik] to an unconditional prison sentence, and this is the basis for that sentence to be carried out. Therefore, there is nothing that can protect them from this punishment at this moment. Of course, we know that the President can grant a pardon, he has that right, we don't know what decision he will make or when. Naturally, there are also various other possibilities [...] postponement of the prison sentence, or a break in the execution of the sentence due to, for example, health reasons. However, as far as the legal situation after the verdict is concerned, there is no obstacle to this sentence being carried out - said Deputy Minister of Justice Maria Ejchart in a conversation with journalists. - I understand that the defendants' lawyers also have the right to use all possibilities provided by law to postpone the execution of the sentence, because at the moment these are only actions that serve to postpone the execution of the sentence, not to avoid it, and I understand that they are using them, but they are not an obstacle at this moment. If the court has issued an arrest warrant, then Mr. Kamiński and Mr. Wąsik should be arrested, immediately, as the regulation states, and immediately taken to a correctional facility - she continued.

14:34

Deputy Justice Minister: Supreme Court Will Not Decide if Kamiński and Wąsik Are MPs
- They are not [Kamiński and Wąsik] MPs. Their mandates have expired. The case at the Supreme Court, the appeal case, does not concern this; the Supreme Court will not decide whether they are MPs or not. It is only performing a formal review of the Marshal of the Sejm's decision, not a substantive one - stated Deputy Minister of Justice Maria Ejchart in a conversation with journalists.

14:47

Wąsik:

I am pleased with the Supreme Court's decision, awaiting an identical one in Kamiński's case

- I am pleased with the Supreme Court's decision in my case. But I am still waiting for an identical one in Mariusz Kamiński's case. Thank you all for your support - wrote Maciej Wąsik on Twitter.


15:42

Hołownia on the Wąsik and Kamiński Case: I Await a Response from the Supreme Court's Chamber of Labour – I Would Like It to Take a Stance
- As you well know, I sent both their [Maciej Wąsik and Mariusz Kamiński] appeals against my decision to the Chamber of Labour and Social Insurance of the Supreme Court. Not out of caprice, but because, supported by a legal opinion I obtained from, among others, the Chairman of the Committee of Legal Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and the opinion of many other lawyers, this chamber, in the situation of doubts concerning the legitimacy of the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs, guarantees the parties to this proceeding […], Mr. Wąsik and Mr. Kamiński, the undoubted and unwavering exercise of their rights – said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference. - I am doing this out of concern for them, so that their case is heard by a court that is beyond any doubt. I expressed this in my letter to Mr. President [of the Chamber of Penal Matters, Piotr] Prusinowski […], I wrote that I am requesting the case be assigned to a judging panel that will not undermine the trust that the judiciary should inspire in a democratic society and the rule of law – continued the Marshal of the Sejm. - We have just received the news […], that the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs has issued a decision annulling my decision to invalidate the mandate of Mr. Maciej Wąsik. From the case file number, we infer that it was reviewed based on documents that Mr. Wąsik himself improperly submitted to the Court. We heard that documents were transferred from the Chamber of Labour to the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs, but the case file number is different – it indicates that it was probably the documents that Mr. Wąsik sent by mail to […] the Chamber of Extraordinary Control that formed the basis of this ruling, but we are still verifying this at the moment – he continued. - We received such a letter, but I have not received its justification. I do not know on what basis the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs decided to remove my decision to invalidate the mandate from circulation. […] I, as the Marshal of the Sejm, directed my correspondence to the Chamber of Labour and Social Insurance of the Supreme Court and I am awaiting a response from the Chamber of Labour and Social Insurance of the Supreme Court – in both cases that I sent to this chamber. I would like it to take a stance on this matter – Hołownia stated. - If I find out that the Chamber of Labour, its president, has concluded that it feels it is not the appropriate forum to consider this and is therefore transferring it to the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs, I would like to know about it, because as the sender of the correspondence, I want to be sure that if I send it to Kowalski, I will receive a response from Kowalski, and not from Nowak, to put it in plain language – he explained.

15:49

Hołownia:

Kamiński's Parliamentary Mandate Expired. His MP ID Will Not Work at the Next Sejm Session

- Mariusz Kamiński's parliamentary mandate has expired. Consequently, his MP ID will not be valid at the next Sejm session, and he will be able to enter the building like any guest wishing to visit the parliament grounds. If the Supreme Court issues a different stance on this matter, he has the right to take a position on it, and then we will verify and change our decisions. For now, the situation is clear - stated Szymon Hołownia at a press conference in the Sejm.


15:54

Hołownia:

Wąsik's Status Is Unclear to Me at This Moment
- Regarding the status of Maciej Wąsik - because it is unclear to me at this moment - I will speak when I receive the complete documentation from the Supreme Court, when I have familiarized myself with the position not only of one chamber, but also of the chamber to which I directed this letter [...] and then I will be able to assess what legal reality we are dealing with - said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference.

15:55

Hołownia:

I Don't Want Criminals in Polish Parliament, But I Don't Want to Become One Either
- I understand that some are driven by this desire to clearly, unequivocally restore the rule of law in Poland, and they don't want, to put it bluntly, criminals to sit in the Polish parliament, but I'm very sorry, I am not responsible for this mess, but those who led to this mess are, and my duty as Marshal of the Sejm is to act in accordance with the law of the Republic of Poland - said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference. - Do you think I want criminals to sit in the Polish parliament? I don't, but I also don't want to become one by violating the paragraphs concerning the performance of my office, the administrative actions I must take, and I must be firm and act consistently in this matter, walking through this minefield that has been created - he continued.

18:38

Pełczyńska-Nałęcz:

The Chamber of Labour's decision will be decisive. Kamiński and Wąsik appealed to the Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs Chamber unlawfully
- The court stated so in a final judgment [that Kamiński and Wąsik are criminals] - Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz said in the "Afternoon Interview" on RMF FM. - This is [Kamiński and Wąsik's pardon by the president] even before the court managed to state so in a final judgment, and unfortunately, the disruption of this lawful order is resulting in enormous turbulence today, and it is a great pity, because it really does not do the legal order in Poland any good - she continued. - The appeal submitted through Marshal Hołownia is significant, because the law states that it can only be done through Marshal Hołownia, and this appeal was submitted to the Chamber of Labour, a chamber of the Supreme Court, and the decision of this chamber will be decisive. This [appeal to the Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs Chamber] was submitted by the gentlemen [Kamiński and Wąsik] completely outside of any procedure, outside of any law, as a complete political manipulation, and here we are already moving completely outside of any legal space - she went on to say.

18:44

Pełczyńska-Nałęcz:

If Those Convicted by Final Verdict for Political Reasons Don't Go to Jail, While Others Do Because They Lack Party Support, What Does Security in Poland Look Like?
- I am tremendously attached to the idea of minimizing social divisions [...] but at the same time, if we have people convicted by a final court verdict, and they do not go to prison for political reasons, while other people, convicted by a final court verdict, go to prison simply because they lack political and party support, then please imagine what security in Poland looks like - said Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz on RMF FM.

18:48

Pełczyńska-Nałęcz:

Without a Law on Public Media, there's a Fear of Replacing One Political Mouthpiece with Another
- For me, the most important thing, and what I, as someone representing a specific political force, would truly expect from the coalition, from the coalition partner, is a swift law that will genuinely regulate these matters, and that this will concern public television. Because without such a law, there's a fear, and I would understand such a fear, that simply one group of people has been replaced by another group, and one political mouthpiece by another. This absolutely cannot happen - stated Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz on RMF FM.

19:20

Sienkiewicz:

I Advise Caution Regarding Journalistic Sensationalism

- Yes, it's me, and I'm writing from my own phone. I advise caution regarding journalistic sensationalism - Minister Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz wrote on Twitter.


19:44

Kamiński:

In the Eyes of the Law, I Am Innocent, Unconvicted, and a Member of Parliament

- In the eyes of the law, I am an innocent, unconvicted person and I am a Member of Parliament. This is my factual status. It is being challenged, of course - stated Mariusz Kamiński in an interview with Danuta Holecka on TV Republika.


19:48

Tomczyk:

I have no doubt that Wąsik and Kamiński should be imprisoned as soon as possible
- I understand that Marshal Hołownia wanted to exercise utmost diligence and appealed to the Supreme Court, and that procedure is ongoing. However, I have no doubt that Mr. Wąsik and Mr. Kamiński should be imprisoned as soon as possible, because that is the court's verdict. This is not my whim, nor yours, nor anyone else's, but in a multi-year process, both these gentlemen were sentenced by a final court judgment to an unconditional prison sentence – said Cezary Tomczyk in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on Polsat News's "Gość Wydarzeń".

20:01

Kamiński:

From Behind Bars, I Will Continue Public Activity As Much As Possible

- I am not afraid of anything. I come from the 80s, when I started my activity as a young boy, a student. I was one of the activists of the underground Independent Students' Association, and I was repeatedly detained by the Security Service (SB). I am not afraid of anything. What I did, I did for Poland, for the Polish state. I am proud of it, I regret nothing, and from behind bars, I will continue my public activity as much as possible. I will never give in - stated Mariusz Kamiński on TV Republika.


20:04

Kamiński:

A Grim Dictatorship is Forming. On January 10th, I Will Go to the Sejm and Represent My Voters

- I will be faithful to them [my voters], I will not back down. On January 10th, if I am free, if they don't stop me by force, there is another Sejm session. Regardless of Mr. Hołownia's decision, of this December 13th coalition, a grim dictatorship is forming. I will go there, not in my own interest, but by the will of my voters. They gave me a mandate to act, and I will represent them, unless they physically prevent me from entering the chamber - stated Mariusz Kamiński on TV Republika.


20:06

Tomczyk:

Only a Legally Convicted Person Can Be Pardoned. I Didn't Say That, Duda Did Before 2015.
- President Andrzej Duda himself, this video is often cited [...], argued in the Sejm before 2015 that only a person who has been convicted by a final court ruling can be pardoned. Andrzej Duda. I didn't say that, Andrzej Duda, who is president today, said that. You cannot pardon someone blankly; I absolutely agree with Andrzej Duda on this matter - said Cezary Tomczyk in "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.

20:16

Tomczyk:

Military Modernization Spending Remains High; Contract Audit Underway
- Regarding spending on the Polish army and its modernization – it remains at the same high level. It must be clearly stated that we have a gigantic defense budget. This budget currently stands at 118 billion zlotys for the Ministry of National Defence and 50 billion for the Armed Forces Support Fund. These are truly gigantic sums - said Cezary Tomczyk in “Gość Wydarzeń” on Polsat News. - However, an audit of the contracts that have been concluded is underway, in order to ascertain the factual situation. In many matters, these issues are unfortunately unclear. However, I can reassure everyone here and also say on my own behalf, but also on behalf of Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz, and also Prime Minister Tusk […] – we are absolutely in favour of the army being as strong as possible. We will not spare money on the military - assured the Deputy Minister of National Defence.

20:23

Tomczyk:

It's a Matter of Days Until a Special Team Reviews Smolensk Subcommittee's Materials
- I think it's a matter of days, not weeks, when a special team will be appointed to review all the materials produced by the Smolensk subcommittee, Macierewicz's commission. This is indeed a very serious matter. We want to approach it responsibly - said Cezary Tomczyk on Polsat News' "Gość Wydarzeń". - This will be a team composed of outstanding specialists, who will of course be presented to the public. We want it to be predominantly a team made up of military personnel, people who have proven through their honor and lives that they are outstanding specialists in their respective fields - he continued.

20:26

Siemoniak on Wąsik and Kamiński: I trust Marshal Hołownia, he is acting correctly

- I have a certain trust in Marshal Hołownia in this matter; he is acting correctly, and this entire situation, this entire crisis, is not a question of the state of the judiciary, or the state of the Supreme Court. It is not about the fact that a body, which is not a court, as stated by the Court of Justice of the European Union, is attempting to rule single-handedly on such important matters. The Marshal's actions are entirely appropriate - stated Tomasz Siemoniak in an interview with Monika Olejnik on the TVN24 program “Kropka nad I”.


20:31

Siemoniak:

Minister Sienkiewicz's Actions Were All Legal, and I Have No Doubts About It

- All of Minister Sienkiewicz's actions were in accordance with the law, and I have no doubts about it. I don't want to comment on this matter if the prosecutor's office itself or Minister Sienkiewicz himself has not said anything. I think if, hypothetically, the prosecutor's office were trying to act against the government, against the state, by participating in some such political projects, that would be very bad. So I hope these reports are greatly exaggerated - stated Tomasz Siemoniak in the TVN24 program "Kropka nad I".