Prime Minister Donald Tusk will participate in the funeral ceremonies for the late Iwona Śledzińska-Katarasińska. The funeral ceremonies will begin at 12:00 PM with a mass at the Church of St. Teresa and St. John Bosco. After the mass, the funeral procession will proceed along Grzegorz Pałka Avenue to Telefoniczna Street. The late Iwona Śledzińska-Katarasińska will be laid to rest in the Avenue of the Meritorious at the Doły Cemetery in Łódź.

Today, Sejm Marshal Szymon Hołownia is scheduled to meet with the Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General, Adam Bodnar. Following this, a meeting with the Ombudsman, Marcin Wiącek, and retired judges is planned.

At 6:45 PM in Warsaw, the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, will participate in a joint carol singing event with the Polish Olympic Family.

Today and tomorrow, a two-day meeting of the Monetary Policy Council will take place, during which a decision regarding interest rates may be made – although, it seems, the most probable scenario is to leave them unchanged.

- The President will invite Marshal Hołownia to the Presidential Palace today. Invitations for Marshal Hołownia will be sent out this morning. So, Mr. Marshal, perhaps we will see each other at the Palace, if, of course, the Marshal accepts the invitation, but I believe he will, because very important matters are unfolding and the President has decided to invite Marshal Hołownia - stated Marcin Mastalerek during "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.

- The President has no intention of issuing a second pardon. The first one was effective - stated Marcin Mastalerek in the "Piasecki's Interview" on TVN24.

- I will tell you what this dispute is about. It's like this: rule of law according to PO means when PO is in power, and then when those from the two largest factions govern in Brussels or in other member states, then there is rule of law. But if the right-wing governs, then there is no rule of law. That's what this dispute is about - stated Marcin Mastalerek during "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.

– PO, KO, and the Third Way promised that after October 15th there would be calm, harmony, a land flowing with milk and honey. And do you know what we have? Even greater chaos, even greater bickering, and in effect, nobody knows what's going on. Nobody understands what is happening – stated Marcin Mastalerek on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

- I am convinced that after the veto of the budget-related act, which included PLN 3 billion, the new governing coalition will not have money for TVP and, thanks to this, will have to solve this matter in a systemic way. Will the National Broadcasting Council be dismissed? I think no one will mourn it if it leads to systemic solutions to these issues - stated Marcin Mastalerek in the "Piasecki's Conversation" on TVN24.

- If it were up to me, I personally would not have let them in. Their cards are deactivated, they cannot participate in votes because these IDs confirm the right to participate in votes. Nobody imagines that anyone, even the most radically thinking representatives of PiS, will try, choosing a forceful option, to show that Kamiński and Wąsik still have anything to say. Nobody imagines that PiS MPs will surround them with a cordon and try to force their way in [to the plenary hall]. What would that serve, some demonstration of power over law? - stated Arkadiusz Myrcha in a conversation with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Gość Radia Zet".

- The Minister of Justice will primarily explain the legal situation. Messrs. Kamiński and Wąsik have been sentenced to prison by a final court ruling, and this sentence is binding. The gentlemen should soon be sent to serve their sentences. What is currently being debated concerns exclusively the expiration of their mandates - stated Arkadiusz Myrcha on the program „Gość Radia Zet”.

– This must be a joint decision. I am always a supporter of cooperation, but you can't force anything – stated Arkadiusz Myrcha on the program "Gość Radia Zet".

- Regarding MP Braun, I will repeat myself once more. Legal steps are being taken against him, and rightly so. A report was filed with the prosecutor's office concerning his violation of the law. As for both gentlemen [Wąsik and Kamiński], we have final judgments issued by an independent court. I know there is a discussion ongoing, parallel to the one we are having in the studio right now, concerning when they should be sent to prison. This is because an unconditional prison sentence has been imposed, and that is where their place is today. So, while we ponder whether they will enter or not enter the Sejm, the real discussion is about which correctional facility they will be in and when they will be there. That is the real situation – stated Michał Kobosko on the Polsat News program "Graffiti".

- We spoke clearly. It cannot be the case that any party says, 'we have our judges' – this is the moment when a citizen must truly start to fear that Poland is destabilized, if any party dares to say. 'I have public media, I have courts, I have my prosecutors, I have my judges in the Supreme Court.' This is a total crisis of the Polish state – said Michał Kobosko on Polsat News.

- [The Chamber of Extraordinary Review of the Supreme Court] is not a court. Of course, it is not a court. We exist as a member state of the EU, and upon joining the Union, we committed to adhering to common principles – he added.

– I know that the Presidential Palace is currently pursuing a policy where Minister Mastalerek effectively plays the role of the Deputy President of the Republic and informs about certain matters instead of the president. If there were such an invitation [for Marshal Hołownia], I think it's very good that this is happening, that the president wants to actively engage in the process. Well, President Duda is, in reality, the co-author of the legal mess and judicial chaos that we have in Poland today. It's very good if he feels co-responsible for at least an attempt to exit this entanglement we have found ourselves in – stated Michał Kobosko on Polsat News.

- On Friday there was a notification, and today I received a letter from Marshal Hołownia dated December 21st. It asks me to refrain from my parliamentary duties until the appeal to the Supreme Court is resolved. The Supreme Court ruled on my appeal in my favor on January 4th. Therefore, I am returning to my duties! January 10th in the Sejm - wrote Maciej Wąsik on Twitter.

W piątek bylo awizo, a dziś odebrałem pismo od Marszałka Hołowni z 21 XII. Zwraca się w nim, by do czasu rozstrzygnięcia odwołania do SN wstrzymać się od obowiązków poselskich. SN rozstrzygnął odwołanie na moją korzyść 4 stycznia. Zatem wracam do obowiazkow! 10 stycznia w Sejmie! pic.twitter.com/St1sKFJRNy

— Maciej Wąsik ?? (@WasikMaciej) January 8, 2024

- I think we have a clear situation here. The gentlemen [Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik] have been convicted by a final verdict, their mandates have been extinguished, while a dispute is ongoing before the Supreme Court regarding its effectiveness - stated Adam Bodnar in a conversation with journalists in the Sejm.

- I receive with dismay the disregard by the President of the Chamber of Labor and Social Security, Piotr Prusinowski, for Order No. 1/2024 of the First President of the Supreme Court of January 4 this year, which resolved the competence dispute between the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs and the Chamber of Labor and Social Security, unequivocally stating the competence of the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs in the appeal filed by MP Mariusz Kamiński against the Marshal of the Sejm's decision to revoke his parliamentary mandate - wrote the First President of the Supreme Court in a statement.

"Such an action constitutes a significant violation of the legal order of the Republic of Poland, is the result of the arbitrariness of the President of the Chamber of Labor and Social Security, acting in concert with the Marshal of the Sejm – a legislative authority. It is outrageous that such an agreement has been reached in a matter aimed at the Supreme Court's review of the legality of the Marshal of the Sejm's decision. The legislative authority transferred the appeal of MP Mariusz Kamiński to a chamber other than that specified by law and other than that designated by the appellant, and the President of the Chamber of Labor and Social Security supported such actions. These circumstances, unfortunately, raise questions about the impartiality of the actions of the President of the Chamber of Labor and Social Security, as they may cause citizens to doubt the apolitical nature of the Supreme Court as an organ of justice.

Such actions by the President of the Chamber of Labor and Social Security constitute a violation of national law, including the internal regulations in force within the Supreme Court, nor are they based on the judgment C-718/21 of the Court of Justice of the European Union of December 21, 2023. In paragraph 74 of this ruling, it was clearly indicated that the reservations concerning the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs were formulated 'solely for the purpose of assessing the admissibility of requests for preliminary rulings lodged under Article 267 TFEU'. Therefore, they do not concern any other issues. It should also be emphasized that matters concerning electoral law, including the expiration of a parliamentary mandate, have not been transferred to EU bodies and are not governed by European law. The same applies to reservations formulated by the European Court of Human Rights on the basis of Article 6(1) ECHR, as this provision does not concern the review of the Marshal's decisions on the expiration of a parliamentary mandate, which the Court itself has repeatedly stated, most recently in 2016 in the case of the expiration of parliamentary mandates of Dariusz Barski and Bogdan Święczkowski (§ 57)"

- I will not engage in commentary today; I have serious constitutional matters to attend to and I must organize a process that was supposed to be simple, but has turned out not to be. This is due to the state in which the country and the rule of law find themselves today, after those eight years of PiS rule. We will do it, we will carry it out effectively. However, to be absolutely clear about our situation and to be able to explain to people, very clearly and concretely, what our situation is, I want to discuss it today – stated Szymon Hołownia in a conversation with journalists.

- I hope that this week we will be able to resolve this matter. Everything is possible [postponement of the second Sejm session from the 10th]. My goal, and I have spoken about this very clearly, is for social calm, based on the law, to prevail in Poland, including on this issue, but also on other matters. Which is the same for everyone – said Szymon Hołownia in a conversation with journalists in the Sejm.

A meeting between President Andrzej Duda and Sejm Marshal Szymon Hołownia has begun at the Presidential Palace.

W Pałacu Prezydenckim rozpoczęło się spotkanie Prezydenta @AndrzejDuda z Marszałkiem Sejmu @szymon_holownia. pic.twitter.com/ixeQX4sVcs

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) January 8, 2024

Kamila Terpiał, formerly a journalist for Polish Radio among other roles, has become the new director of the Government Information Centre.

- In 2015, I decided to pardon these convicted individuals, including Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik, which has recently been described as a textbook case, and why? For a very simple reason. It was an exact implementation of the constitutional presidential prerogative, which is the right of mercy. Coupled with what can be said to have been written in textbooks for law students for decades, which young lawyers learn about criminal procedure, where there were two possible types of pardon - stated President Andrzej Duda at a press conference after his meeting with Marshal Szymon Hołownia.

- My position is unequivocal: the presidential prerogative was effectively exercised in 2015, and the gentlemen were effectively pardoned by the President of the Republic of Poland, and that definitively closed the matter. I have no doubt that Messrs. Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik today hold parliamentary mandates, which were granted to them by the citizens in the recent elections, and they have the right to exercise them. They therefore constitute part of the legislative branch of government, which is the Sejm - he added.

- I proposed to the Marshal of the Sejm that, in order to close this matter and avoid unrest, avoid further piling up of controversy and unnecessary state, social, and systemic anxieties on this issue, simply acknowledge today that the pardon from 2015 was and is effective - he continued.

- Our conversation with the Marshal proceeded in a calm atmosphere, observing all principles of political culture. We did not reach an agreement, we shook hands, and the Marshal will bear further decisions within the scope of his responsibilities related to his office - he concluded.

- Lawlessness in its purest form! This is exactly how dictatorships are born - wrote Mateusz Morawiecki on Twitter.

Bezprawie w czystej formie! Tak właśnie rodzą się dyktatury.

— Mateusz Morawiecki (@MorawieckiM) January 8, 2024

- President Andrzej Duda has invited MPs Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik to the Presidential Palace tomorrow at 11 AM. The ceremony for appointing their close associates, Błażej Poboży and Stanisław Żaryn, as advisors to the President of the Republic of Poland will take place then - informed Marcin Mastalerek on Twitter.

Prezydent @AndrzejDuda zaprosił Posłów @Kaminski_M_ i @WasikMaciej do Pałacu Prezydenckiego jutro na godz. 11. Odbędzie się wówczas uroczystość powołania ich bliskich współpracowników @pobozy oraz @StZaryn na doradców Prezydenta RP.

— Marcin Mastalerek (@MMastalerek) January 8, 2024

- These are truly bad people who used their positions and a pseudo anti-corruption service to persecute political opponents, and such people should face prison. I don't wish prison on anyone, but on these two gentlemen, yes - stated Jacek Karnowski in a conversation with Beata Lubecka on the "Gość Radia Zet" program.

W związku z licznymi zapytaniami dziennikarzy informujemy, że dotychczas nie wpłynęły postanowienia sądu nakazujące Policji doprowadzenie M. Kamińskiego i M. Wąsika. Po otrzymaniu stosownych dokumentów Policja wykona czynności administracyjne przewidziane prawem.

— Polska Policja ?? (@PolskaPolicja) January 8, 2024

- I hope, such bandits, who wanted to cause the civil death of the Deputy Prime Minister of their own government, Andrzej Lepper, to gain power. A bandit murders to gain money, they wanted the civil death of this man, and he eventually committed suicide too, because he probably couldn't mentally withstand all these things [Lepper]. Maybe they didn't do me such harm, but the Central Anticorruption Bureau of Mr. Wąsik and Kamiński falsified evidence in my case - stated Jacek Karnowski in the program “Gość Radia Zet”.

- Questions will certainly arise about who was behind these elections, and also about what Prime Minister Gowin's own stance was on these elections, why, in his opinion, they could not have taken place, and for what reasons. I think these questions will be repeated towards other witnesses - stated Jacek Karnowski in the program "Gość Radia Zet".

- My conviction regarding the content of legal provisions is that the constitution is quite clear in this regard. The constitution clearly states that a person, an MP, or any person convicted by a final ruling for an offense prosecuted publicly, a person deprived of public rights by a final court ruling. Such a person does not have electoral rights, particularly the passive right to vote, meaning they are not an MP, and in light of this assumption, upon the issuance of a final criminal court ruling, the parliamentary mandates have expired. This is an effect that occurs by operation of law; it does not require a decision from any body – stated Marcin Wiącek on RMF FM.

- The Marshal of the Sejm has an obligation in such a situation, stemming from the Electoral Code, to confirm this fact with their decision, but I emphasize that this is a fact that occurred by operation of law – he added.

- It depends on the content of the act of mercy, as the content of the act of mercy can vary. Theoretically, the president can use the right of mercy in a way that pardons the sentence and causes so-called expungement of the conviction. In such a situation, the sentence is no longer executed, and the convicted person is removed from the National Criminal Register and no longer appears in this register as a convicted person, thus eliminating the consequences of the conviction. However, the right of mercy cannot retroactively eliminate that verdict. The right of mercy is not an act of rehabilitation – said Marcin Wiącek on RMF FM.

- Today, all indicators, including European ones, show that corruption, this huge gangrene of economic and legal life in Poland, has been successfully combated, and without a doubt, Minister Kamiński is one of the architects of this success. And yet, the Third Republic thanks the minister by proposing an absolute prison sentence, contrary to the initiative related to the right of clemency, which was carried out in accordance with the Constitution - stated Małgorzata Paprocka on TV Republika.