Live Feed

01/09/2024

07:35

Tuesday's Political Agenda: Government on Entrepreneur Leave, Gowin Before Inquiry Commission, Culture Committee on Vote of No Confidence for Sienkiewicz, Hołownia with National Electoral Commission Head, Duda with Kamiński and Wąsik, and National Media Co
In the morning, Marshal Szymon Hołownia is scheduled to meet with the head of the National Electoral Commission, Sylwester Marciniak.

At 9:00 AM, the inquiry commission for the "envelope elections" will convene. The agenda includes the consideration of evidence motions filed by commission members and hearing expert testimony from Professor Robert Flisiak. At 2:00 PM, MPs will question former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science, Jarosław Gowin.

At 10:00 AM, Sejm Marshal Szymon Hołownia will meet with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, and at 10:30 AM, a meeting will be held with Senate Marshal Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska.

At 11:00 AM, the government session will begin. The agenda includes, among other items, information on the direction and timeline of legislative work implementing the so-called "entrepreneur leave," as well as information on the direction and timeline of legislative work implementing the payment of sickness benefits by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) for employees from the first day of absence.

At 11:00 AM – as informed by Marcin Mastalerek – President Andrzej Duda has invited Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik. A ceremony will be held at that time for the appointment of their close associates, Błażej Poboży and Stanisław Żaryn, as advisors to the President of the Republic of Poland.

At 5:00 PM, the Sejm Committee on Culture and Media will consider and provide an opinion on the motion for a vote of no confidence against the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz.

At 6:00 PM, at the Belvedere Palace, President Andrzej Duda will participate in a festive New Year's meeting with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and representatives of the Belarusian community.

Tuesday also marks the second day of the Monetary Policy Council's meeting. Furthermore, today, President Andrzej Duda will meet with the National Media Council. The discussions will focus on the situation in, among others, Telewizja Polska and PAP.

08:13

Wiącek:

The Chamber of Extraordinary Control Assesses the Effectiveness of the Verdict on Kamiński and Wąsik, Despite Lacking Competence

- Based on the press release that I am aware of, the Chamber of Extraordinary Control has deemed itself competent to assess the effectiveness of a legally binding criminal court verdict. I believe that in this capacity, the Chamber of Extraordinary Control does not possess such competence, and this stems from the legal provisions I have mentioned. This procedure should serve an entirely different purpose – stated Marcin Wiącek in the program "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.

- It is the court that is authorized to consider all these circumstances and make a legally binding decision on the matter – he added.

08:22

Szczucki:

We are outraged that the President's pardon, the Constitutional Tribunal's ruling, and the Supreme Court's decision can be dismissed

- We are outraged that the President's pardon, the Constitutional Tribunal's ruling, and the Supreme Court's decision can be dismissed - stated Krzysztof Szczucki in Polsat News's "Graffiti".

- There is still, I know it's a shrinking space, but there is hope that someone will experience some sobering up in the district court, in these bodies that decide on this, and will open their eyes, that these gentlemen, they will have it with them, as they publicly declared, the President's pardon, the Supreme Court's decision, that there will be a halt to this illegal procedure of placing them in a correctional facility - he continued.

08:27

Szczucki Suggests Motion to Dismiss Hołownia

- [Other instruments] could include, for example, an attempt to dismiss Marshal Hołownia. Of course, we will see if such decisions are made by the leadership of our club, but we need to be clear about this. Szymon Hołownia is responsible for this, he allowed himself, one might say, to be used by Donald Tusk to resolve, to take on this matter, which from our perspective is legally obvious, but as for the theses put forward by the other side of the political scene, they are very questionable - stated Krzysztof Szczucki on Polsat News' "Graffiti" program.

08:41

Hennig-Kloska:

Court Found Wąsik and Kamiński Exceeded Their Authority. Failure to Punish Them May Have Led to Worse Actions Under Subsequent Governments
- Politicians cannot avoid criminal responsibility for their transgressions. The court found that Mr. Wąsik and Mr. Kamiński exceeded their authority. In this way, through their actions, any opponent can be destroyed, and public opinion can be manipulated. Failure to punish them then led to the possibility that under their subsequent governments they did even worse things, for example, they used Pegasus surveillance against the opposition during an election campaign - said Paulina Hennig-Kloska in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Gość Radia ZET".

08:48

Hennig-Kloska on Higher Air Ticket Prices: Yes, But the Poorer Should Also Be Able to Travel. I Wouldn't Want Public Funds for Airlines
- For environmental reasons, we should use air travel as rarely as possible. [...] Yes, but the poorer should also be able to use this form of transport. [...] I wouldn't want us to, for example, subsidize the maintenance of airlines with public money in an extraordinary way; let them balance their own books - said Paulina Hennig-Kloska on Radio ZET, when asked whether air tickets should be more expensive.

08:57

Hennig-Kloska on Wind Turbine Act: We'd Like to Present Solutions by the End of the First Quarter
- Minister Miłosz Motyka is working on it today; he is responsible. The Deputy Minister for Energy, who deals with the energy sector, is working on these solutions. We are scheduled to meet this week to discuss the work schedule for this [wind turbine] act - Paulina Hennig-Kloska said on Radio ZET. - The ministerial path, because that is what we will take, of course, meaning it will be a government bill, takes approximately two months [...] by the end of the first quarter, we'd like to present some solutions. [...] This act has already changed, as we continued to work on it with lawyers, including from the Sejm's Legislative Office, and we also submitted amendments as a group of MPs, so it has evolved, but its latest version has not yet seen the light of day. There was never any intention to abolish the 500-meter minimum distance for large wind turbines; that was an error that should not have been in the act, and this distance will certainly remain - she continued. - Today, in the ministry, we have two bills: one that is within the ministry and another that was drafted through a parliamentary route. We will select the best elements from these two bills to create the optimal solution - she added.

09:03

Hennig-Kloska on Combustion Engine Car Tax: I Have No Knowledge of Such a Bill Being Drafted at This Moment
- We are not working on this, I understand it is at most a matter for the Ministry of Finance, but I have no knowledge of such a bill being drafted at this moment - Paulina Hennig-Kloska said on Radio ZET, when asked about the tax on combustion engine cars.

- Mateusz Morawiecki committed to similar provisions, in my opinion, but let's remember that these transitional regulations will still be assessed. Today, we need to have the technology, and I stand by the position, even as the Minister of Climate and Environment, that we should implement any far-reaching solutions only when technology is available for the average Polish wallet - she continued.

09:08

Schetyna:

In My Opinion, the President Will Again Pardon Kamiński and Wąsik in the Next Few Days
- The inevitability of legal judgments – I would like [the story of Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik] to show this. That is, that those convicted legally in the second instance begin the process of serving their prison sentence. I don't think this will happen, but we will witness a festival of many things and events over the next few hours or days - said Grzegorz Schetyna in an interview with Dariusz Wieczorkowski on Radio Wrocław.

- I believe, and I've said this from the beginning, that it will all end with them being properly pardoned by President Duda if they are not to end up in prison, and I think that's what will happen - he continued.

- The President's officials, President Duda himself, believe that the first pardon was legal. It was not, and that is obvious. That's why he doesn't want to admit it […]. They say everything and do everything, they try to build an atmosphere that suggests it was legal. It was not legal, but a second one, a proper pardon after the process has concluded, is possible. In my opinion, this pardon will occur in the next few days - he assessed.

09:09

Hennig-Kloska:

I expect Gowin to tell the truth, as it's time to clarify who and why tried at all costs to hold elections without the supervision of the National Election Commission
- I expect and am counting on the Prime Minister [Gowin] to tell the truth [before the investigation committee], because it is time to clarify who and why tried at all costs to hold elections in Poland, bypassing the supervision of the National Election Commission. I remember that time well, I remember the night-time Public Finance Committee, where an amendment was suddenly introduced to a law in a completely different area, which removed the National Election Commission from overseeing the course of free, democratic elections in difficult COVID conditions - said Paulina Hennig-Kloska on Radio ZET.

09:20

Schetyna:

Gowin possesses vast knowledge. I would call him a political star witness
- Jarosław Gowin is a person who, as Deputy Prime Minister at the time, entered into a very sharp conflict with Jarosław Kaczyński, who was one of the perpetrators, the spiritus movens of this idea to conduct postal elections. [...] It seems to me that yes [Gowin is the most important witness] - said Grzegorz Schetyna in the "Conversation of the Day" on Radio Wrocław. - I would call him a political star witness, if we could use such a formula, because he has vast knowledge. Here, we must first and foremost show what the PiS state mechanism looked like, what the command responsibility looked like, who made the decisions, who indicated and built the subsequent stages of breaking the law - he continued. - Postal elections and everything connected with them, meaning the annulment of those elections, ended Jarosław Gowin's political career. He also knows that if he wants to return, or wants to build a better memory of his political activity in recent years, he should say everything and should also describe it appropriately so that public opinion can form its own assessment of these matters. I think so, it will be interesting - he went on to say.

09:28

Schetyna:

I'd like to see a confrontation between Kaczyński and Gowin regarding postal elections
- Jarosław Kaczyński is certainly [a key witness for the investigative committee on postal elections]. […] I can imagine, I would like to see a confrontation between Jarosław Kaczyński and Jarosław Gowin concerning the findings and preparation of decisions, or the forcing of decisions, regarding the postal elections. If [it] does not happen, if Jarosław Kaczyński flees from such a confrontation, he will himself assess and describe his role in this matter - said Grzegorz Schetyna in "Rozmowa dnia" on Radio Wrocław.

09:40

Hołownia Meets with the President of the National Electoral Commission

Marshal of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, met with the President of the National Electoral Commission, Sylwester Marciniak.

09:55

Paprocka:

No one has the right to question the president's act of grace. We will likely need to consider the consequences of such judicial activity.

- The President pardoned Mr. Wąsik and Mr. Kamiński, as well as two other individuals in 2015. No one has the right to question this act, as neither the Supreme Court, nor the District Court, nor the Local Court has the competence to do so. We will likely need to consider the consequences of such judicial activity - stated Małgorzata Paprocka in "Trójka Political Salon".

10:02

Paprocka:

The Only Solution for the Kamiński and Wąsik Case is to Take a Step Back, Calm Emotions, and Recognize the 2015 Pardon

- There is only one possible solution to this matter: taking a step back, calming emotions, and recognizing the 2015 pardon. This is the only solution to this case, because everyone currently has legal arguments, everyone currently has court rulings to present, and as you rightly said, Ms. Editor, a citizen who wants to familiarize themselves with this case has great difficulty forming an opinion on it – stated Małgorzata Paprocka in "Salon Polityczny Trójki".

10:51

Żukowska:

Leftist Voters Expect Us to Work, Not Hide from Two Criminals

- Leftist voters expect us to work, to pass the budget, to appoint the head of UODO, and for the Pegasus investigation committee to be constituted. They do not expect us to hide in corners from two criminals - Anna-Maria Żukowska wrote on Twitter.

10:54

Hołownia:

There's No Such Thing as Canceling a Sejm Session. It Can Be Postponed, and the Presidium Makes the Decisions

- There's no such thing as canceling a [Sejm] session. A session can potentially be postponed, but I will address you right after the Sejm Presidium meeting. The Presidium makes these decisions. We have it at 11 a.m., and I will come out to you with information afterward - stated Szymon Hołownia in a conversation with journalists in the Sejm.

12:16

Wąsik and Kamiński at the Presidential Palace: The President's Chancellery Publishes Photos

A ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace to appoint Błażej Poboży and Stanisław Żaryn as advisors to the President of the Republic of Poland. Maciej Wąsik and Mariusz Kamiński, their former colleagues, were invited to the event as previously announced. The President's Chancellery published photos from the ceremony.

"You both have extensive experience and are characterized by the diligent execution of entrusted tasks. The best proof of your pro-state patriotism is that you have collaborated in recent years with Ministers Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik," the President was quoted as saying by the KPRP.

12:42

Hołownia:

Two Sejm Sessions Scheduled for This Week Postponed to Next Week

- Just now, a meeting of the Sejm Presidium took place, which unanimously decided that the two Sejm sessions planned for this week, one was supposed to be two-day and the other one-day, will be postponed. I would like to point out that we are not cancelling anything, not closing anything, we are postponing them to next week - stated Marshal Szymon Hołownia at a press conference.

- The budget Sejm session, where the so-called around-the-budget law will also be discussed, and a vote of no confidence against Minister Sienkiewicz will be held. It will take place next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Thursday, it will be a one-day session, where I hope we will pass the budget and effectively send it to the Senate - he added.

12:52

Hołownia:

My Task, as I Told the Sejm Presidium Today Which Agreed with My Argumentation, is to Uphold the Dignity of the Sejm

- There is one reason for this postponement. My task, and I stated this today to the Sejm Presidium, which shared my argumentation, is primarily to ensure the dignity of the Sejm, social peace, as it is absolutely fundamentally the most important value today, but also the dignity of the Sejm. I have the impression, and the Sejm Presidium shares it, that what is happening this week is a situation of deep constitutional crisis. The party dispute that has erupted around it does not guarantee that this week, so heated, abundant with various kinds of resolutions, decisions, squabbles, and reports, will proceed peacefully – stated Marshal Szymon Hołownia at a press conference.

12:53

Hołownia:

No Doubts About Kamiński and Wąsik's Status. No Note of Pardon in the National Criminal Register
- I want you to be fully aware that after all the consultations I held yesterday with the Minister of Justice, the Ombudsman, today with the head of the State Electoral Commission, with Professors Łętowska, Zoll, Hermeliński, Lipowicz, Strzembosz, but also after many legal analyses that I commissioned in this matter, I have no doubts as to the status of Messrs Kamiński and Wąsik - said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference. - To leave no room for doubt in this matter, yesterday, as Marshal of the Sejm, I once again sought information from the National Criminal Register, which is a source of information for state bodies on the legal status of a given person, a given citizen. The data visible in the KRK leaves no room for doubt - in the case of both these gentlemen, a conviction has been issued, it is a sentence of imprisonment and loss of public rights [...] and there is no note of any pardon there - he explained.

12:55

Morawiecki:

Sejm Session Cancelled. Sheer Cowardice and Fear of Citizens
- The Sejm session has been cancelled. Sheer cowardice! Fear of citizens. We will see each other in Warsaw on January 11th! - Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on Twitter.

13:06

Hołownia:

I Take Full Responsibility for My Decisions Regarding Wąsik and Kamiński; They Must End This Dispute
- I did not annul the mandates of Mr. Kamiński and Mr. Wąsik; they were annulled by operation of law at the moment the district court ruling became final. My decision confirming this fact serves one purpose in the procedure – to allow the seats of the former MPs to be filled by the next individuals designated by the National Electoral Commission (PKW). And it is this decision that is currently the subject of a dispute in the Supreme Court. For the current status of Mr. Kamiński and Mr. Wąsik, this has no bearing; their status is clear and beyond doubt – said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference.

- During the Seniors' Convention meeting, both PiS and Confederation representatives expressed dissenting opinions on this matter, and we engaged in a lively discussion. […] My stance on this issue is clear. I take full responsibility for the decisions I will make and am making. They must be clear and cut through this dispute, which, unfortunately, is caused by those who, over the past years, have led the justice system to where we are in Poland today – he continued.

13:24

Hołownia:

On Filling the Seats Vacated by Wąsik and Kamiński, I Await Tomorrow's Supreme Court Labour Chamber Ruling
- I've said this as clearly as possible. In this matter [of filling the seats vacated by Wąsik and Kamiński], I am awaiting tomorrow's ruling from the Supreme Court, specifically its Labour Chamber. If the Supreme Court of my country informs me today, and it does – because I have indeed looked at the court's docket – that a hearing on this matter is scheduled for tomorrow, then I must allow the Supreme Court to issue its opinion before making final decisions. I will repeat this once more, as it cannot be stated any simpler: Mr. Kamiński and Mr. Wąsik have had their mandates extinguished by operation of law, and this stems from the district court's verdict. However, how, when, and whether I will initiate, to leave no room for doubt, the procedure for the next individuals to take their places – I will decide as I announced at the outset of this matter, after obtaining complete information from the Supreme Court – stated Szymon Hołownia in the Sejm.

14:12

Gowin:

I learned about the postal voting idea from Bielan. He was the originator

- I learned about the idea of conducting postal voting from a phone call from Adam Bielan, who presented it to me as his proposal, inspired by the postal elections that took place in Bavaria at that time. It was the last week of March, I believe it was the very end of 2020 - stated Jarosław Gowin during a session of the parliamentary investigative committee on postal voting.

- In my opinion, he was the originator; he presented this proposal to me, and also to President Kaczyński. From the beginning, I approached this idea sceptically for reasons that I hope the committee will allow me to elaborate on - he continued.

14:23

Gowin:

In my firm belief, postal elections would have resulted in total organizational chaos

- Firstly, [postal elections] risked exacerbating the pandemic. Postal elections are, in principle, somewhat safer than elections at polling stations, but at the time I believed everything should be done to minimize the risk of the pandemic. For this reason, my friends from Porozumienie and I proposed postponing the elections by 2 years. Through a constitutional amendment and extending the presidential term to 7 years, concurrently with the principle that the president can only be elected for one term and with a transitional provision. Foreseeing the extension of President Duda's term by 2 years. Secondly, in my firm belief, postal elections would have resulted in total organizational chaos – stated Jarosław Gowin at the Inquiry Committee on the conduct of postal elections.

14:23

Gowin:

I Was Informed That Actions Were Being Taken to Compromise Me or Find Leverage to Change My Stance

- There were many political discussions involving Jarosław Kaczyński and Mateusz Morawiecki, during which they tried to persuade me to change my stance. In addition, I was informed that actions were being taken to compromise me, or to find arguments, colloquially speaking, leverage, that would prompt me to change my stance. I was informed that my son's businesses were being investigated, and that controls were being carried out at the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) under my purview as the Minister of Science and Higher Education - stated Jarosław Gowin during a session of the parliamentary investigation committee on the postal election.

14:25

Gowin:

Ziobro Told Me in a One-on-One Conversation He Was Pressured to Use the Prosecutor's Office Against Me, But He Refused

- Minister Ziobro told me in a one-on-one conversation that there was pressure on him, he used the impersonal form, I remember that, to use the prosecutor's office against me, but he refused - stated Jarosław Gowin during the parliamentary investigative committee meeting on envelope elections.

14:45

Gowin:

My Goal Was to Prevent the "Envelope" Election, Not Overthrow the Government
My goal was to prevent the "envelope" election, not overthrow the government. Besides, you esteemed Members of Parliament remember perfectly well what the balance of power was in the parliament, in the Sejm of that term. Any potential new government would have had to be a government from, to put it conventionally, Grzegorz Braun to the Members of Parliament of the Together party. You must admit that this is a rather precarious idea, and my signature would certainly never have been found under such a proposal - stated Jarosław Gowin during the parliamentary investigative committee meeting on the "envelope" election.

15:05

Gowin:

Kaczyński Feared Postponing Elections Further Would Diminish Duda's Electoral Chances

- The main counterarguments were twofold. On the one hand, the argument of constitutional duty, which I have already mentioned. Bringing the elections to the date indicated by the Marshal of the Sejm. On the other hand, the second argument was political in nature. Jarosław Kaczyński feared that postponing the elections further in time would diminish Andrzej Duda's electoral chances, as he expected that in a situation of a pandemic, in a situation of further lockdowns, public sentiment would worsen. This would mean a reversal of electoral support for the then-president – said Jarosław Gowin at the Parliamentary Investigation Committee on the conduct of postal elections.

15:10

Kamiński:

We Get the Impression They Wanted to Prevent Our Meeting with the President of Poland. This is Another Manifestation of Lawlessness

- This information was in the public domain. As we were heading to a meeting with the president, we were already outside our places of residence. Police officers entered our homes to detain us. We get the impression they wanted to prevent our meeting with the President of Poland. This is another manifestation of the lawlessness that has been occurring in our case for years - stated Mariusz Kamiński at a press briefing.

15:10

Kamiński:

We Are Dealing with a Very Deep Crisis of Our State

- In reality, we are dealing with a very deep crisis of our state. Anarchy in the courts, open rebellion in the Supreme Court, more judges from Iustitia, linked to Civic Platform, are issuing verdicts in our cases. These are unacceptable things. I also want to state clearly that this whole matter, which has such a dramatic conclusion, began in 2009 when Donald Tusk caused charges to be brought against us - stated Mariusz Kamiński at a press briefing.

15:39

Tusk:

Draft on 'Leave for Entrepreneurs' to Reach Sejm by End of March, We Will Also Present Draft on ZUS Paying Sickness Benefits from Day One
- One of the drafts we spoke about during the elections, during the election campaign, was the so-called leave for entrepreneurs. [...] The aim is for micro-entrepreneurs, the self-employed, to have the right, similar to other working people [...], to this leave, during which they will not be financially burdened by ZUS contributions [...]. Today we accepted the information from Minister Hetman, which will result in the assumptions, rapid consultations, so that a draft of the relevant act will reach the Sejm by the end of March. According to this act, every micro-entrepreneur, self-employed person, but it concerns all company owners, will be able to choose one month a year free from ZUS contributions [...] the state will pay the contribution for that month - said Donald Tusk at a press conference. - We also dealt with a second draft concerning Polish female and male entrepreneurs, and here Minister Dziemianowicz-Bąk presented information about the pace of work and the directions of work on ZUS paying sickness benefits from the first day of illness. [...] Work has begun today and we will present a relevant draft of the act so that new rules can come into effect from next year - he continued. - We would like to avoid a situation where the beneficiaries are primarily the largest companies, corporations; that is not the intention - he went on to say.

15:42

Tusk:

Sejm Session Next Week. Marshal Hołownia Has My Full Support and That of Other Coalition Leaders on This Matter
- There will be no Sejm session this week, it will be next week. I just want to confirm that Marshal Hołownia has my full support on this matter, as well as that of other leaders of the ruling coalition. The reasons and motives for which Marshal Hołownia wants to avoid an escalation of tension and a probable unnecessary brawl at a time when we should be seriously discussing and voting on the state budget are absolutely understandable and logical. Once again, I want to emphasize that the October 15th Coalition is united and in this matter, too, we are acting as one fist - said Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:55

Tusk on Kamiński and Wąsik: The Situation is Unprecedented, It's Not in the Textbooks

- The situation is unprecedented, you yourselves will admit, and it's not in the textbooks. There are simply no textbooks for a prime minister or for the minister of the interior and administration that would explain what to do in a situation where individuals convicted by a final court ruling are to be brought to a correctional facility by the police, and they choose other places of confinement, likely more comfortable, but this place of confinement is the Presidential Palace - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

- This is an obvious exploitation of a situation where, after all, no one will use force against institutions like the President of the Republic of Poland. The real problem is that today, unfortunately, the president and the entire losing political camp that ruled Poland for 8 years have also led to unprecedented legal chaos. We are today dealing with an attempt to build a dual authority, and with the involvement of the most important state institution. This is obvious sabotage - he added.

16:03

Tusk on the Kamiński and Wąsik Case: The Solution is Simple, the President Still Has the Right of Mercy, and It Would Be Legal Now
- The solution is simple, the President still has the right of mercy, and it would be legal in addition. If he truly believes that these gentlemen should not be held accountable for what they did and for what they have been lawfully convicted of... I am not the President's advisor, I will not suggest here what he should do, but the matter is clear to me. Unless, indeed, it is in PiS's interest to confront and escalate tension - said Donald Tusk at a press conference.

16:49

Tusk Quotes Criminal Code at Press Conference: "I Address Kaczyński, President Duda, You Will Be Fully Accountable for This"
- It is very worrying that the President is also getting involved in organizing this chaos and conflict of a systemic nature. [...] I have a very significant quote in this folder, it is paragraph 1 of Article 239 of the Criminal Code: whoever obstructs or thwarts criminal proceedings by helping an offender to avoid criminal liability, in particular whoever hides the offender, conceals evidence of the crime, including tax crime, or serves a sentence for a convicted person, shall be punished by imprisonment from three months to eight years. I am reading this article from the Criminal Code not to raise the atmosphere of this political dispute, but to make the President aware of what he has become entangled in. In what situation has President Kaczyński placed him - said Donald Tusk at a press conference. - Mr. President, my fervent appeal, for the good of the Polish state, you must stop this spectacle. It will lead us to a very dangerous situation. You will be, and I address Mr. Kaczyński, Mr. President Duda, other PiS leaders here, you will be fully accountable for this, for sabotaging the Constitution, for violating legal regulations, for disrespecting court judgments and for abusing power [...] for the private interests of convicted individuals - he continued. - I want to make the President aware that the PiS crowd has gotten him into serious trouble, because it really is. [...] I am the last person who would have any reason or interest to scare the President with some regulations or the Criminal Code, really, the last thing that would come to my mind. I just want the President to be aware of what his political friends have maneuvered him into. They are setting a trap for him, not me. It is Kaczyński who is using, forgive me for the wording, the President for his own purposes, not me - he went on to say.

17:50

Presidents Duda and Zelensky Hold Phone Conversation
President Andrzej Duda spoke with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding the situation in Ukraine in connection with Russian aggression. The leaders also raised the issue of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and discussed the schedule of upcoming meetings - the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland informed on Twitter.

20:00

Wąsik and Kamiński Detained by Police

Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik were detained by the police this evening on the grounds of the Presidential Palace.

20:06

Joński:

This is the Symbolic End of the Law and Justice Party
- Everyone who is convicted by a final court ruling must serve their sentence. This is obvious. And today we are discussing whether the [President] pardoned them [Wąsik and Kamiński] once, or if he will pardon them a second time, whether they will hide at the President's residence to avoid being caught by the police. This is a symbolic end to the Law and Justice party, because I remember Kaczyński when he was building this party and said it would be a party of principles - Dariusz Joński said in an interview with Piotr Marciniak on TVN24's "Fakty po Faktach".

20:11

Joński:

PiS Politicians Cannot Feel Immune, and the President Cannot Grant Preemptive Pardons
- Those who have been convicted by a final court ruling must end up in custody; this is obvious, they must serve their sentence. It cannot be the case that the gentlemen from PiS feel they are all immune, and Andrzej Duda, as president, says, I don't know: Mr. Buda, please, I will pardon you preemptively too, I will pardon every PiS MP if something happens to you, Mr. Sasin and others - Dariusz Joński stated on TVN24.

20:15

Kaczyński:

Hołownia Cannot Be Calm, as He Drastically Violates the Law, Including the Constitution

- Mr. Speaker [Hołownia] truly cannot be calm, because he is drastically violating the law, including the Constitution, and this will have far-reaching consequences. The constitutional offenses here are completely obvious. As for criminal offenses, I believe one could also talk about them - stated Jarosław Kaczyński on TV Republika.

20:18

Joński:

It's Unprecedented for the President of Poland to Open Doors for Criminals and Say 'Come to Me, I Will Shelter You'
- I thought that after October 15th, the President would be able to gain some independence. It seems to me that he is not capable of becoming independent and continues to carry out all decisions from Nowogrodzka Street. Therefore, I don't yet know what ideas Jarosław Kaczyński will come up with and how Andrzej Duda will implement them, but each subsequent one is worse than the previous one. After all, it has never happened before that the President of the Republic of Poland opens doors for criminals and says 'come to me, I will shelter you here' - said Dariusz Joński on TVN24.

20:18

Kaczyński:

Thursday's rally will take place

- This rally [on Thursday] will take place. I would very much like everyone to remember this, and I invite everyone to this rally - stated Jarosław Kaczyński on TV Republika.

20:19

Kwiatkowski on Wąsik and Kamiński: In My Opinion, the SOP Officers Who Accompanied the Gentlemen in the Presidential Courtyard Will Be Providing Explanations on This Matter
- The President knew, and his entourage knew, that both gentlemen are subject to a final court ruling. In my opinion, the SOP officers who accompanied the gentlemen in the Presidential Courtyard will be providing explanations on this matter. If it turns out that they were instructed to secure both gentlemen in a way that, for example, would prevent public officials from performing their duties, then I have no doubt that a violation of criminal law has occurred in this regard - stated Krzysztof Kwiatkowski in an interview with Monika Olejnik on the TVN24 program "Kropka nad I".

20:19

Kaczyński:

Rally on Thursday, followed by a march to the TV headquarters

- Nothing has changed. There will be a rally, and after the rally, a march. A march to the TV headquarters, specifically TAI, and that is something that should happen, that must happen - stated Jarosław Kaczyński on TV Republika.

20:25

Kwiatkowski:

We were in a dramatic situation, with the head of state breaking the law before the eyes of all citizens

- We were in a dramatic situation, with the head of state breaking the law before the eyes of all citizens. He knows that he bears no responsibility for this, and that's why, in my opinion, he behaves this way. The police officers have absolutely restored our trust in state institutions - stated Krzysztof Kwiatkowski on TVN24's program "Kropka nad I".

20:33

Morawiecki:

For the First Time Since Jaruzelski's Era, Poland Has Political Prisoners
- For the first time since Jaruzelski's era, we have political prisoners in Poland. A scoundrel government, like under communism, is imprisoning political opponents. Despite the President's pardon, despite the Supreme Court's ruling. Another black mark on Polish history - wrote Mateusz Morawiecki on social media.

21:03

Kierwiński:

Everyone is Equal Before the Law

- Everyone is equal before the law - wrote the head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, Marcin Kierwiński, on Twitter.

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