- How should we treat the tweet of the Mayor of Warsaw and a candidate, one might surmise, for the President of Poland, in which he expresses joy over a public transport bus being blocked at a moment when the President of the Republic was present? This is a kind of boyish glee, and a boy cannot be the president of a city, let alone Poland - stated Jarosław Kaczyński during a press conference.

- The regulations do not provide for the existence of such a position [acting National Prosecutor], and therefore the Prime Minister cannot appoint anyone to such a position. Where such a position is foreseen, for example in the Police Act, then such a possibility exists. However, as far as the regulations concerning the prosecution are concerned, the National Prosecutor himself can transfer his powers, within the scope defined by himself, to one of his deputies, meaning also deputies of the Prosecutor General, as he is the First Deputy - stated Jarosław Kaczyński during a press conference.

- In short, this entire operation, which is currently being used, is completely unlawful. This is characteristic and indicates a state of, on the one hand, immense confusion, and on the other hand, panic caused, as one can assume, by a sense of threat from the actions of prosecutors. This concerns 144 prosecutors who are to be dismissed and who are conducting various investigations and operations - he continued.

- This indicates that first they asked Prosecutor Barski to appoint a certain Mr., perhaps with the surname Bilewicz, as National Prosecutor, who would be the acting one. After 4 hours, it was stated that Prosecutor Barski was never the National Prosecutor, allegedly being on retirement the entire time. This shows the extent of the confusion, the panic, and more broadly, the qualifications of the current government, the people in it, to lead a large European country - added the PiS leader.

- I haven't heard anything about such plans. I see that Marshal Hołownia has some special service that is potentially eavesdropping on the private conversations of MPs, who may have different ideas, but that doesn't mean they will be implemented. It would be worth checking if such a service exists, because if it did, it would be completely illegal, and Marshal Hołownia would have to face very severe consequences – stated Jarosław Kaczyński during a press conference.

- Yes, of course, we will participate in the votes, unless these votes concern initiatives that are contrary to the law – he added.

- Demonstrations are necessary. Under no circumstances can we leave this matter as it currently stands. A major scandal is unfolding right now, one that, if it had been perpetrated by us, would be an European or even a global scandal. Unfortunately, the world is constructed today in such a way that when the true defenders of the rule of law are persecuted – because we were always those defenders and we did not break the rule of law – there is this imaginary reality, created by the media. I say this with regret, but that is how it truly was, there would have been a great outcry. Even though it was imaginary, there was no violation of the rule of law in Poland – stated Jarosław Kaczyński during a press conference.

- Wincenty Witos wanted a free, sovereign, independent, democratic Poland, free from the diseases that plague it, such as corruption. Because, ladies and gentlemen, it was precisely for this reason, among others, that he left the PSL and founded the PSL Piast, because he opposed the weakness and corruption of the then-party's authorities. Because he knew how such phenomena destroy a state and that they must be condemned with all possible force. Where is the PSL today? It is participating in a ruling coalition that imprisons MPs - stated President Andrzej Duda during the ceremony celebrating the 150th anniversary of Wincenty Witos' birth.

Tak jak skończyła się pisowska okupacja Polski, tak skończą się okupacje przez PiS państwowych urzędów. Tylko reputacja okupantów zostanie z nimi na długo.

— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) January 14, 2024

- Let this be a great warning sign for all politicians of today's Republic of Poland. Especially for those who are currently in power. What arrogance of power and a sense of impunity lead to, or as I prefer to call it, the terror of the rule of law. Because today we are dealing with the terror of the so-called rule of law - stated President Andrzej Duda during the ceremony on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Wincenty Witos's birth.

The upcoming week in Polish politics is dominated by a Sejm session – originally scheduled for last week. While the main focus will be the state budget for the current year, discussions are expected to heavily revolve around the dispute within the prosecution service. MPs will also address motions to dismiss Minister Sienkiewicz and Marshal Bosak.

At the beginning of the week, President Andrzej Duda will meet with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Prosecutor Dariusz Barski. Meanwhile, a Sejm committee will examine the immunity of Grzegorz Braun. Following these meetings, the head of state will travel to Davos for the World Economic Forum.

The Constitutional Tribunal will consider regulations enabling the liquidation and dissolution of companies constituting public radio and television broadcasters. Additionally, for the second time, it will review regulations concerning the impeachment of the NBP President, this time at the request of PiS senators.

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Duda-Barski Meeting. - On Monday morning, President Andrzej Duda has invited the National Prosecutor, Dariusz Barski, and his colleagues to the Presidential Palace for a meeting to discuss the recent events, specifically the attempt on the independence of the prosecution service. This is a very serious crisis situation in the state – informed Minister Wojciech Kolarski on Polsat News.

Duda-Tusk Meeting. - I requested this meeting to discuss this matter in detail, and it will take place on Monday at 11 AM. I will go to see the President, among other things, to discuss the specifics and the nature of my mission, as I will be in Kyiv in the coming days – announced Donald Tusk during an interview with TVN, Polsat, and TVP.

Committee on Braun's Immunity. On Monday, the Sejm Committee on Rules of Procedure, MP Affairs, and Immunity will review the motion filed by the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw on January 9, 2024, supplemented on January 10, requesting consent to prosecute MP Grzegorz Braun.

Constitutional Tribunal on Public Media. On Tuesday, at the request of PiS MPs, the Constitutional Tribunal will hold a hearing concerning regulations that, among other things, allow for the liquidation and dissolution of companies forming public radio and television entities. Last year, the Constitutional Tribunal issued an interim measure prohibiting such actions. The hearing will be held by a 5-judge panel, presided over by Julia Przyłębska. Judge Krystyna Pawłowicz is designated as the rapporteur for the case.

Sejm on the Budget. The Sejm session, commencing on Tuesday – which was originally scheduled for last week – will feature the second reading of the state budget bill for 2024. Subsequently, on Thursday, a vote will be held on adopting the most crucial legislative act of the year. Therefore, the session, as each year, has been divided into two parts.

Sejm on Investigative Committee. During the aforementioned session, the Sejm will also address the establishment of an investigative committee concerning Pegasus – this is the last of the three draft proposals under consideration. The agenda also includes the appointment of the President of the Personal Data Protection Office.

Sejm on Vote of No Confidence in Sienkiewicz and Dismissal of Bosak. MPs are also expected to consider the motion filed by PiS for a vote of no confidence in Minister of Culture Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, as well as a motion to dismiss Krzysztof Bosak from his position as Deputy Marshal of the Sejm.

Duda in Davos. From Tuesday to Thursday, President Andrzej Duda will participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos. His schedule includes meetings with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová, and the Presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, and Croatia. He will also participate in debates and the opening of an exhibition on Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Constitutional Tribunal Again on Glapiński. On Thursday – this time at the request of a group of PiS senators – the Constitutional Tribunal will hold a hearing concerning the procedure for holding the President of the National Bank of Poland constitutionally accountable, which in practice pertains to the Act on the State Tribunal. The hearing will be conducted by a 5-judge panel, presided over by Julia Przyłębska.

Senate Session. On Wednesday, the session of the upper house will commence, continuing into the following week. Senators were originally slated to address the budget this week, but the Sejm session was rescheduled.

Photo: *Sejm*