300polityka

07:37

Tuesday's Political Agenda: Duda Appoints Government Representatives to RDS, Meets with Solidarity, Hołownia in Białystok, Pomaska on Lotos Sale Decision, PiS Team Meeting, Government Session, Kosiniak-Kamysz in Brussels

At 9:00 AM in the Presidential Palace, President Andrzej Duda will appoint government representatives to the Social Dialogue Council.

At 11:00 AM in Gdańsk, a press conference will be held by KO MP Agnieszka Pomaska. The topic: The sale of Lotos. The prosecutor's decision regarding the investigation.

At 11:00 AM, a government session will commence. The agenda includes draft amendments to regulations concerning medical boards determining fitness for military service for individuals reporting for military qualification, as well as the method of determining additional remuneration for members of medical boards assessing fitness for military service and for nurses or medical rescuers appointed to district medical boards.

At 12:00 PM in the Presidential Palace, President Andrzej Duda will meet with the National Commission of NSZZ "Solidarność".

At 11:45 AM, the first meeting of the "Work for Poland" Team, organized by PiS and dedicated to the topic of "Poland's development opportunities resulting from the implementation of the Central Communication Port," will take place with the participation of Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Following the meeting, a press conference will be held at 1:40 PM.

At 3:00 PM in Białystok, a press conference will be held by the Marshal of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia.

Today and tomorrow in Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz will participate in an informal meeting of EU defense ministers organized by the Belgian presidency. Today, the head of the Ministry of National Defence will sign a letter of intent regarding troop movement procedures with the ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Germany, and then will hold a bilateral meeting with Boris Pistorius, the head of the German Ministry of Defence.

07:50

Karnowski on the Appointment of Social Dialogue Council Members: The Chancellery of the Sejm Made a Mistake by Summoning Ministers During Sejm Debates

- I am convinced that the Chancellery of the Sejm made a mistake, because summoning ministers when the Sejm is in session, when committees are meeting, when ministers must be present in the Sejm, was a big mistake on the part of the Chancellery of the Sejm - stated Jacek Karnowski in the program “Sygnały dnia” on PR1.

07:51

Karnowski on Government-President Relations: 'We Know These Relations Are Not the Best'

- We know that these relations are not the best. The President is not appointing new members to the National Electoral Commission chosen in December. He has until March 15th according to the law, but let's remember that the elections are just around the corner, (...) April 7th - stated Jacek Karnowski on the PR1 program 'Sygnały dnia'.

- On the other hand, the veto of the budget-related bill provided a good pretext, an opportunity to liquidate TVP, Polish Radio, or PAP. Now there will be another test of this cooperation, as Minister Adam Bodnar has nevertheless proposed submitting a new bill on the National Council of the Judiciary, which will bring order to the situation of the most important judicial body in the country - he added.

08:03

Karnowski on the Envelope Election Commission: They Didn't Care About Poles' Lives and Health, They Just Wanted to Hold Elections When There Was No Vaccine

- The picture is tragic because they didn't care about the lives and health of Poles, only at the worst moment, when we were locked up at home, when there was no vaccine, when testing lasted 24 hours, it wasn't 15-minute testing that everyone could do, they wanted to hold these elections - stated Jacek Karnowski on the program "Sygnały dnia" PR1.

08:23

Brejza on the Pegasus Investigative Committee: I Expect the Truth. Immense Harm Was Done to Me and My Family, But Also to Polish Democracy

- I expect [from the Pegasus investigative committee] the truth about this matter. I expect society, Polish women and men, to see how dishonorable, extremely immoral the PiS government was. Fortunately, this period of building digital authoritarianism has ended. I do not hide the fact that immense harm was done to me personally and my family, but immense harm was also done to Polish democracy - said Krzysztof Brejza in an interview with Małgorzata Naukowicz on PR24. - For 7 months, completely without basis, on the basis of fabricated documents and obtained-by-deception requests, my two phones were attacked with this cyberweapon. Not only were 80,000 messages downloaded, searching for a flaw in my life, perhaps some leverage, but messages were also uploaded to my phone, impersonating campaign staff members - he continued. - The case concerning the publication of falsified correspondence shows that this tool was used to find [...] dirt. When they didn't find it, when they combed through more than a decade of my life, they resorted to leaks, but they still had to doctor the materials: swap the sender with the recipient, add a negative context - he continued.

08:42

Nowacka:

No More Mandatory Homework Starting April

- The absence of a grade does not mean the absence of feedback, meaning a grade is just a shorthand for feedback, quite simply saying 'a C', 'a D', 'you know something', 'you know nothing', 'you didn't have time to do it', 'you didn't have the opportunity to do it', 'no one could revise with you' - said Barbara Nowacka in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program 'Gość Radia ZET'. - There are consultations, then there must be a response, the whole institutional procedure, so from April there will be no [mandatory] homework - she continued.

08:46

Brejza:

A Report on the Internal Investigation into Actions Against Me Was to Be Created at the CBA. It's Devastating

- I know that in the operational-investigative department of the CBA – and I would very much like the commission to familiarize itself with this report – a few months ago, still under the PiS government […], an internal report was to be created from an internal investigation concerning this entire massive provocation against me. And it is devastating; there are direct phrases to be found there about a completely unjustified hunt, baseless slander, and attacks on people who had nothing [to do] with any criminal activity – said Krzysztof Brejza in PR24.

08:48

Nowacka:

The ceremony the President invited us to last week coincided with discussions in the Sejm on changes to the Teachers' Charter

- Last week, the President invited us to a ceremony regarding the appointment of ministers to the Social Dialogue Council, and it precisely coincided with the time when changes to the Teachers' Charter were being discussed in the Sejm, a point that falls directly under the Ministry of Education. It was a citizen-initiated project brought by ZNP, and at a time when our task is also to listen to the voices of citizens, it seems to me that attending the ceremony at the Presidential Palace had a slightly lower priority - said Barbara Nowacka on Radio ZET. - On Friday, we received invitations for a date that makes sense for everyone - she continued.

08:51

Nowacka on the possibility of voting in elections from the age of 16: An interesting solution, I would be its supporter

- An interesting solution, I would be its supporter, because I see what the young generation is like, but it is not an element of any electoral program today - said Barbara Nowacka in Radio ZET, when asked whether the voting age in elections should be lowered to 16.

08:54

Nowacka:

Curriculum Overhaul Planned for Two to Three Years

- In the ministry's plans, and these are plans for two to three years from now, there is a complete overhaul of the curricula and of what the core syllabuses are, how subjects are shaped. However, we will not be doing this immediately and announcing it on radio or television studios, but rather we will be preparing it with experts and a commission that will be working on it - said Barbara Nowacka on Radio ZET.

09:10

Biejat:

The Left Should Field its Own Candidate for President of Warsaw

- Personally, I believe that the Left should field its own candidate, or the coalition we will be a part of should support its own candidate for President of Warsaw. These are important elections, and as I've said in many different places, it breaks down very differently [...]. We are currently in discussions with urban movements, we are in talks with various parties, and we want to create an offer for progressive voters, for those who also need their representation on the city council, which they haven't had until now – stated Magdalena Biejat in the program 'Graffiti' on Polsat News.

09:12

Biejat on Local Elections: We are Open to a Nationwide Agreement, Talks are Underway

- In many cities, or parts of cities, coalitions are forming that include Lewica Razem, Nowa Lewica, and PO. It's not as if we are programmatically against this. Therefore, we are also open to a nationwide agreement. It's not as if we are vetoing this; talks are ongoing. I expect these talks to conclude within a week, as time is pressing us, and I am convinced, regardless of how they end, and we have no doubts on this matter, neither from NL nor LR, that we will contest the regional assemblies together – said Magdalena Biejat on Polsat News.

09:20

Biejat on Abortion: It's Worrying That Hołownia Hasn't Yet Found Time to Meet Representatives of Organizations Helping Women

- We must talk about abortion, about women's rights. This is what our female voters expect, this is what the women who brought this government into existence expect. I would like to point out that it is also very worrying that Mr. Marshal Hołownia has not yet found time to meet with representatives of organizations that help women, who have worked with us over the last term to develop good legislative projects that could regulate this matter. There is a lack of dialogue on this topic – stated Magdalena Biejat on Polsat News.

09:21

Biejat:

I believe we can pass at least the decriminalization of abortion and persuade the president to sign it

- I encourage the organization of a genuine public hearing in the Sejm, to invite various parties willing to discuss abortion, primarily women affected by it, and finally to lead to a real debate and a genuine discussion on these projects. Because these projects should pass through the Sejm. We should have the right to see who is ready to raise their hand for them, and we can pass at least the decriminalization of abortion and persuade the president to sign it – said Magdalena Biejat in Polsat News.

09:48

Duda Appoints Government Representatives to the RDS:

I am glad the Council is gaining new momentum.

I want to express my joy, and as someone who was entrusted with the role of patron of social dialogue, and at the same time of the RDS, by the decision of the then parliament in 2015. I want to thank all of you for coming and for allowing us to complete this ceremony. This is an important moment for two reasons. Because the RDS is very important. After the collapse of the Tripartite Commission, after that deep divergence of paths in social dialogue, in 2015, thanks to the initiative of Solidarity on the one hand, and thanks to the goodwill of the then government on the other, it was possible to establish and enact the law on the RDS. A new, institutionalized form of dialogue, in which all parties that should normally participate in this dialogue are involved - stated President Andrzej Duda during the ceremony of appointing government representatives to the Council of Social Dialogue. - This is a great achievement, both of that work, that law, that initiative, and of this entire period so far. According to democratic rules, we have changes, concerning which, from the perspective of the RDS, one can say that history somehow comes full circle, because it was the PO-PSL coalition that worked on this law at the time, and it constituted the parliamentary majority when this law was passed. Today, again, the government is largely composed of representatives of these very groupings, although of course, it is a broader coalition today, but you are not only taking your seats in the RDS again, but since October, it is precisely the government side that heads the RDS and leads its work for a year until October 2024 - he continued. - I am glad that the Council is gaining new momentum for work at this moment. I am glad that you will be able to sit down to discuss the most important matters for Poland, and above all, the most important matters for our society, for our economy, for the further development of Poland, because this dialogue in this aspect, social and developmental issues, i.e., how Polish affairs will proceed in this regard, the living standards of all of us, has absolutely fundamental significance for calm and stable development - emphasized the president.

12:14

Kaczyński:

I am deeply convinced that those who try to destroy the Polish state will face the gravest consequences

- Today in Poland, we are witnessing a process of radical departure from the rule of law and democracy [...]. I am deeply personally convinced that, at least in the slightly longer term, and by that slightly longer term I mean a few years, the future will still be one of a democratic and law-abiding state, and those who try to destroy this state will face the gravest consequences of their actions - said Jarosław Kaczyński during a meeting of the Team for Work for Poland.

12:18

Kaczyński:

We Simply Want to Return to a Normal, Democratic, and Law-Abiding Poland

– We simply want to return to a normal, democratic, and law-abiding Poland, which of course is not and will never be a perfect state, because perfect states do not exist, but which will be able to fulfill everything associated with the duties of a state [...] and above all, will be able to utilize the potential that exists within our nation, which is our chance – said Jarosław Kaczyński during a meeting of the 'Team for Work for Poland'.

12:19

Pomaska:

Prosecutor's Office Launches Investigation into Two Cases Regarding Orlen-Lotos Merger

- I wanted to inform you that I have received notification from the District Prosecutor's Office in Płock that, by a prosecutor's decision dated January 22, 2024, an investigation has been launched into, specifically, two cases. Firstly, the prosecutor's office is drawing attention to abuses of granted powers and dereliction of duty by the management board of PKN Orlen and other individuals appointed to manage property matters or business activities. The prosecutor's investigation will concern agreements related to both the merger of Lotos and Orlen, as well as the sale of Lotos. The prosecutor's office explicitly states that PKN Orlen may have suffered substantial financial damage, no less than 4 billion Polish zlotys – Agnieszka Pomaska said at a press conference in Gdańsk. - Secondly, the prosecutor's office is launching an investigation in connection with exceeding powers and neglecting official duties by public officials, including the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection – the President of UOKiK, who consented to this merger and improperly applied the provisions of the law, which should protect such transactions and which should be subject to particular supervision by the President of UOKiK – she continued. - This is just the beginning. As I said, no case will be swept under the rug, and this case is particularly outrageous. Because it exposed the State Treasury not only to financial losses, but this case exposed the State Treasury and all of us to fuel security. To a sense of security in a situation of serious threat happening right at our borders. These are very serious accusations. I have no doubt that today this prosecutor's office may feel that no politicians from the ruling party, nor the opposition party, will put pressure on it. They will expect only and exclusively from the prosecutor's office to deal with what it was appointed to do – she continued.

12:38

Morawiecki on the "Work for Poland" Team: Three Main Goals Guide Us

- Three main goals guide us. Firstly, to develop program foundations based on what we proposed a few months ago, but also to seek new paths that will be interesting for a society full of ambition, full of aspirations. We perfectly sense that we must present and want to present such a core for economic development - said Mateusz Morawiecki during a meeting of the "Work for Poland" Team. - Secondly, it is the ambition for this "Work for Poland" Team to be a team of free thought. One that truly allows for very diverse solutions in areas that we cannot even fully predict or imagine right now. Therefore, we have planned some debates for the coming weeks, but we are also leaving the agenda partially open so that others can also propose their topics here. [...] We invite various think tanks, various non-governmental organizations, experts, and analysts here - he continued. - The third area is the area of analyzing everything that is happening, that is, the present, one might say, around us. What the current government will serve us with their economic ideas, what they should propose to society in line with their election promises - he went on to say.

12:41

Morawiecki:

Today We Begin Our Debate with Reflection on CPK

- Today we begin our debate with reflection on the Central Communication Port. Reflection is an understatement, because over the last few years we have managed to move this project forward, a project that has been discussed in Poland for nearly 20 years. I remember in 2003 the first documents on this subject, even during the governments of the Democratic Left Alliance - said Mateusz Morawiecki during a meeting of the Team for Work for Poland.

12:45

Duda:

I will serve as President in accordance with the current constitution until the end of my term, upholding commitments to 'Solidarity'

- I will continue to serve as President in accordance with the current constitution until the very end of my term, diligently and to the best of my ability. This also includes upholding all the commitments we have already made, which are firm obligations for me, not only to 'Solidarity' but primarily to the people associated with 'Solidarity', whether through membership or because they feel that 'Solidarity' represents them - stated President Andrzej Duda during a meeting with the National Commission of NSZZ 'Solidarność'.

- Those elements of our agreement that are important and have not yet been implemented, and there are a few elements left to complete, including retirement pensions based on years of service, which, despite both 'Solidarity' and my presidential project submitting drafts, as we had agreed, have unfortunately not been adopted to date, but I believe we will continue this process. We will lobby for the new parliament, in its new configuration, to adopt this solution. We will discuss this in detail later today - he added.

14:26

Tusk:

Decision to Lower VAT for the 'Beauty Industry' to Take Effect April 1

- I am referring to the commitment to lower the VAT tax for the so-called beauty industry, meaning beauty salons, cosmetic salons. [...] I hope this will bring relief and a sense of fairness to a very large professional group. The decision will come into effect on April 1 - Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a press conference.

14:26

Tusk:

We Are Withdrawing Morawiecki's Motion to the Constitutional Tribunal Regarding the Istanbul Convention

- I signed a document just before the Council of Ministers meeting today, by virtue of which we are withdrawing the motion submitted by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to the Constitutional Tribunal concerning the Istanbul Convention. Prime Minister Morawiecki filed the motion to the Constitutional Tribunal with the assumption that the Istanbul Convention, which I remind you is intended to protect women and children from violence, also known as the anti-violence convention, was, according to Prime Minister Morawiecki, inconsistent with the constitution. My withdrawal of this motion as Prime Minister of the government signifies, I hope, a definitive end to this unnecessary argument surrounding this obvious convention, which we established years ago - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

14:29

Tusk Announces Filing of Civic Coalition Electoral Committee Registration for Local Elections

- Allow me to inform you of the decision to file an application for the registration of the Civic Coalition Electoral Committee for the upcoming local elections, and I hope that just as efficiently as we are preparing for these elections, the campaign and the result itself will also be satisfactory - said Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

14:34

Tusk:

I Will Do Everything to Be Present in This Campaign, Invest in the Best People Possible, Because Local Government is About People

I will do everything to be present in this campaign, invest the maximum in the best people possible, because local government is about people. A very hard grind awaits us together with local government representatives to rebuild the prestige of local government. This is not directly an electoral issue; I know that for the residents of our villages, towns, districts, and voivodeships, these issues of the relationship between central government and local government are not particularly attractive – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

14:44

Tusk:

You Will Judge Whether We Are Depoliticizing State Treasury Companies and Other Institutions, or Repeating PiS's Mistakes

- We will ensure that these elections are conducted honestly, transparently, and that the result is a safe and responsible body managing these companies. You will see for yourselves, because there is nothing secret about it, the biographies of those who will run for supervisory boards, and later participate in the competitions that will select the management boards of these companies; all their biographies, their party affiliations, or other affiliations, you will know everything. You will judge for yourselves whether we are trying to depoliticize state treasury companies and other institutions, or whether we are repeating the mistakes of PiS - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

14:46

Tusk:

We're Talking About Hundreds of Prime Ministerial and Presidential Flights Annually. I Feel Proportions Have Been Drastically Lost

- When I became Prime Minister in 2007, I used these flights, which are available to the Prime Minister or head of state for domestic transport, too often. I was quickly brought back down to earth, and I have no doubt that we need to maintain some healthy proportions here - Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a press conference. - You mention 34 flights for the monthly anniversaries of the Smolensk funerals. You know, the topic itself is not suitable for malice or political squabbling; I'm talking about the Smolensk tragedy. However, it's not understandable to me. The real problem is that today we are talking about hundreds of flights every year by the Prime Minister and the President. Not those 34, but hundreds of flights. So, I have the impression that the proportions have been drastically lost there - he continued.

14:57

Tusk:

I Spoke with Kosiniak-Kamysz and Czarzasty. It's Obvious to Me We Will Cooperate Very Closely in the Campaign

- Today I was supposed to talk with Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and, by phone, because he has a cold, with Włodzimierz Czarzasty. [...] It is obvious to me that we will cooperate very closely and sincerely during this campaign. In very many places, especially where we have direct elections for mayor, city mayor, president [...] it seems to me that without much difficulty we should build a full Coalition of October 15th - said Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference. - Sometimes, especially where there are direct elections, competition may arise, but it will always be maintained within the framework of mutual respect and awareness that we cooperate on the most important matters. However, when it comes to elections to regional assemblies [...] I assume, just in case, since the October 15th model achieved success, let's not change this configuration. We'll see, the risk is, in my opinion, small, and regardless of the configuration we go with, it seems the results will be more or less similar. For me, the most important thing is, as I mentioned, that people see that these past few months have not been wasted - he continued. - I guarantee you that I will use my entire authority, if I have it among the coalition partners, so that even a heated election campaign does not divide anyone in the Coalition of October 15th, and I am quite sure that this will succeed - he went on to say.

15:07

Tusk:

Regardless of the CBA's Fate, We Will Rebuild a True Anti-Corruption Service That Holds Us Accountable

– My task and that of our coalition is to rebuild a true anti-corruption service that will primarily hold those in power at every level accountable, rather than pursuing and persecuting the opposition. And regardless of what fate befalls the CBA, the people currently heading the CBA have a truly great determination to restore the good name of the dozens and hundreds of individuals who undoubtedly wanted to serve well and who are also victims of this situation. And regardless of what fate befalls the CBA in its current form, we in Poland will rebuild a true, reliable anti-corruption service that keeps an eye on us – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:10

Tusk:

I Hope Graś Will Be My Chief of Staff

- I hope this is being finalized, that Paweł Graś will be the chief of my cabinet (...), but I can always count on him. It will certainly be very significant support for me - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

15:29

Kaczyński:

We have no intention of backing down even one millimeter when it comes to defending the rule of law and democracy in our country

- We are witnessing an attempt in Poland to destroy the rule of law and democracy. But this does not absolve us from working on substantive issues related to our country's development, leveraging its opportunities, and presenting society with everything that can be done, what can be achieved, what needs to be done, and what will build these opportunities for Poland, sometimes very significant opportunities, in many cases, together. CPK is precisely one of these opportunities - stated Jarosław Kaczyński at a press conference.

- [Today's debate] also showed a great need to achieve political consensus, at least on such matters. This is very difficult today, but we must try. We will try, regardless of the fact that we have no intention of backing down even one millimeter when it comes to defending the rule of law and democracy in our country - he continued. He added that "the anti-CPK front is starting to retreat, and the pro-CPK social movement is growing stronger."

16:00

Kaczyński:

We are dealing with a situation where the law, even when written clearly and obviously, is being broken

- This is a selective comparison. Unfortunately, we are currently dealing with a situation where the law, even when written completely clearly and obviously, is being broken. And Donald Tusk used such a term, 'the law as we understand it.' Well, unfortunately, the analogy here imposes itself in this regard, not, for example, in the case of genocide or other crimes committed by Hitler - stated Jarosław Kaczyński at a press conference.

16:05

Kaczyński:

TVN is a media formation very closely linked to the currently ruling party

- Allow me to maintain the view that TVN is indeed a media formation very closely linked to the currently ruling party - stated Jarosław Kaczyński at a press conference.

16:10

Morawiecki:

Orlen and Lotos Merger Was Conducted Model-Like

- I can only say, as someone who has observed many transactions on the market for over 20 years, that first of all, such a transaction involving these two enterprises, Orlen and Lotos, made and continues to make enormous sense from the perspective of the Polish economy, as well as the shareholders of this merged enterprise. It was conducted, one could say, model-like, taking into account valuations carried out by professionals operating on the market, and considering the remedial measures proposed by the European Commission. And let's recall that it was the EC that compelled the merged Orlen, or Orlen as such, to sell parts of Lotos. So, any reservations regarding why, despite the merged Orlen being and remaining significantly smaller in size than Repsol, BP, Shell, or several other companies, including European ones, it had to meet such a condition, can be directed at them - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference.

16:12

Tusk:

If the President, on Kaczyński's orders, tried to prevent people from receiving money, then perhaps I and the coalition partners will decide to shorten the term

- I can say this, of course, on my own behalf. If President Duda, through institutions whose credibility and importance are highly questionable, for example, the Constitutional Tribunal [...] if they were to find a way with some extraordinary creativity to block the functioning of the state, if President Duda truly on the orders of Chairman Kaczyński wanted to prevent people from receiving money, then perhaps I, together with the coalition partners, will decide to immediately shorten the term, call for new elections - Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a press conference.

16:25

Żukowska Responds to Tusk's Announcement:

The Left is Forming Its Own Electoral Committee.

- In light of this fact, The Left is forming its own electoral committee. This will give us the opportunity to field our candidates across the country with a strong national list, including candidates for city mayors. In Warsaw, of course, as well - Anna Maria Żukowska wrote on social media, referring to Donald Tusk's announcement that Civic Coalition (KO) has filed an application for the registration of its own committee in the local government elections. - According to our research in Warsaw, the Left's Committee, with the participation of urban movements and candidate for mayor Magdalena Biejat, has an initial 11%, and the second round will decide who will become mayor - Anna Maria Żukowska wrote in another post.

W związku z tym faktem @__Lewica tworzy własny komitet wyborczy. Da to szanse wystawić naszych kandydatów i kandydatki w całym kraju z silnej listy ogólnopolskiej, w tym kandydatów_ki na prezydentów miast. W Warszawie oczywiście też. pic.twitter.com/gYhqR2z8un
— Anna-Maria Żukowska ??‍♀️ ???️‍????? (@AM_Zukowska) January 30, 2024

16:34

Kaczyński:

PiS Political Committee to Approve Voivodeship Lists

- Regarding the local government campaign, we are in the process of very advanced preparations, and that's why we are heading to a meeting of the Political Committee, which will approve not all, but numerous voivodeship lists. The lower-level lists have been approved at lower echelons. We have candidates for mayors of larger cities, although there are instances where someone has to withdraw for family reasons. Such a case occurred recently - stated Jarosław Kaczyński at a press conference.

16:35

Kaczyński:

PiS's Candidate for Warsaw Mayor Coming Very Soon

- Very soon, for instance in Warsaw, within a few days, you will see a candidate, a truly impressive figure in every respect - stated Jarosław Kaczyński at a press conference.

16:36

Kaczyński:

I Haven't Spoken with the President in a Very Long Time

- This is simply one of those urban legends, let's call it that. Nothing of the sort happened, there were no conversations between me and the President regarding [the budget]. I haven't spoken with the President at all for a very long time, so there's nothing to discuss - stated Jarosław Kaczyński at a press conference.

16:59

Hołownia:

In Local Elections in Major Cities and Regional Assemblies, We Will Run Together with the PSL under the TD Coalition Banner

- We will, this has already been decided, run in these elections, in the biggest places. In those politically most significant, like large cities, like regional assemblies, we will run together with the PSL as part of the TD coalition. We have made this decision and we believe it is the right one, because there is strength in this coalition, and the parliamentary elections have shown this – said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference in Białystok.

17:00

Hołownia:

I will be strongly personally involved in the local government campaign. I hope we can achieve between 17% and 20%

- PSL has always been a strong partner in these local elections. PSL also always gets more than in parliamentary elections, because people believe in the effectiveness of our partners, but we also have a lot of novelty, freshness to offer. We have already shown by acting in the Sejm, and a bit in government, that politics can be new and done anew. I will also be strongly personally involved in this campaign for our Polski2050 candidates, so I hope we manage to achieve between 17 and 20 [percent]. However, when it comes to presidential elections in large cities, we really need to agree well and arrange things properly, because it is not an art to accept lost battles. The art is to manage our potential in such a way that where we can have a mayor, and where we cannot, we have a deputy mayor, or a majority on the council and influence over the things that will happen in local government - said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference in Białystok.

17:23

Sikorski in Berlin: Democratic Germany is our ally. This doesn't mean we will agree on everything

Indeed, partner relations between democratic Germany and Poland should be restored. I am now addressing my compatriots in Warsaw. A European, democratic Germany is our ally, and that is why I am pleased that my visit can be, I hope it will be, an important step towards normalizing our relations. We are committed to constructive cooperation as members of the same European family and allies in NATO. We will look for areas where we can do something together – stated Radosław Sikorski at a press briefing in Berlin. This does not mean that we will agree on everything. There are always differences of interest between neighbors. We have areas where finding common ground requires more effort, but one can approach this constructively and, above all, without confrontational rhetoric. Partnership means listening carefully to the other side's arguments – he continued after meeting with the German Foreign Minister.

17:24

Sikorski in Berlin: I will ask the German government to creatively consider how to find a form of compensation for war losses or reparations

- One of the topics I want to raise is the German-Polish House project. In an earlier stage of work, it was known as the Place of Remembrance and Encounters with Poland, which is to be established in Berlin as a place commemorating Polish victims and war losses. I will also ask the Minister for the German government to creatively consider how to find a form of compensation for these war losses or reparations - stated Radosław Sikorski at a press briefing in Berlin.

18:51

Gawkowski:

Sending the Budget to the Constitutional Tribunal Will Be a Premise to Say: PiS Wants to Paralyze Poland, and the President Signs Off on It

- I can't imagine [the president] not signing the budget, because he would want to paralyze millions of Poles in their work in this way […], to lead to a critical situation, because money might be missing somewhere, it would be a situation difficult to imagine - said Krzysztof Gawkowski in an interview with Piotr Salak on RMF FM's "Popołudniowa rozmowa". - This [sending the budget to the Constitutional Tribunal] will be a premise to say that President Andrzej Duda is siding with Mr. Kaczyński. It will be a premise to say directly: Kaczyński thinks, Duda executes. It will be a premise to say: PiS wants to paralyze Poland, and President Andrzej Duda signs off on this paralysis - he assessed.

19:14

Gawkowski:

We Would Win Snap Elections Many Times Better Than On October 15th, We'd Fight for a Constitutional Majority

- We will win these elections [any snap elections] many times better than on October 15th. […] Are we ready for elections today? Yes, we are ready for elections. If we had to face an election campaign, I am convinced that we would fight for a constitutional majority – said Krzysztof Gawkowski in the "Afternoon Conversation" on RMF FM.

19:19

Gawkowski:

I wanted the October 15th Coalition to be recreated for local elections, but the Left is ready to run independently

- I was a fan of the idea that the October 15th Coalition should be recreated, and that we should translate the coalition into a 'April 7th coalition' for the local elections and fight for the full prize, because it would have been easier. But the Left is ready to run independently [...]. Many indications suggest that we have a chance to win elections in the regional assemblies currently governed by PiS, by running in three blocs. [...] I believe that these three blocs, since there isn't one, big bloc, will also achieve victory - said Krzysztof Gawkowski in RMF FM's 'Afternoon Conversation'.

19:28

Gawkowski:

Biejat is one of the names considered as the Left's candidate for Warsaw Mayor

- I don't know yet who will be the candidate for Warsaw Mayor from the Left, because talks are ongoing. But I know there are various names, and one of those names is Ms. [Magdalena] Biejat – Krzysztof Gawkowski said in the "Afternoon Conversation" on RMF FM.

19:36

Gawkowski:

The Left Will Run in All Voivodeship Assemblies

- We will be running in the voivodeship assemblies in all voivodeships. We will be running in the districts, we will be running in many cities under the Left's committee, but there will also be independent committees where we will cooperate with other parties - said Krzysztof Gawkowski in the 'Afternoon conversation' on RMF FM.

19:39

Halicki:

No Joint Committee with the Left for Local Elections

- Yes, this is a formal decision [there will be no joint committee with the Left], which means that the committee that will be registered is a committee of Civic Coalition (KO), which consists of a coalition format. Without New Left, meaning it's Poland 2050, the Greens, Nowoczesna, and PO, as its most important member, but this is a format that includes KO – stated Andrzej Halicki in PR24.

- The decision stems from coalition talks; the leaders conducted them, and I understand that this decision was made, given that today a resolution has indeed been presented to the members of the national board, which formalizes this first step, meaning the possibility of forming an electoral committee – he continued.

19:40

Halicki:

I hope we reclaim regional assemblies; the lead is significant enough to achieve this in most voivodeships.

- I hope we reclaim them [regional assemblies] one way or another. In short, there will be no room for 'agreed-upon puddles' in individual voivodeships. In short, the advantage, the strength of the broadly understood democratic camp will be so clear that we will not be subjected to any such individual, egoistic blackmail, and that we will do it together, just as we cooperate today at the government level, or at the national parliament level after the elections to the Sejm and Senate. It seems that this advantage is so significant that we will achieve this in almost all voivodeships – said Andrzej Halicki in PR24.

19:46

Mentzen:

We are ready for any snap election and will gladly bring them about

- We are, of course, ready for any snap election and will gladly bring them about, but I absolutely do not believe that PiS and Civic Platform will go for such elections at this moment - Sławomir Mentzen said in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News. - It depends on the situation, of course, but I suspect we would support such a motion [to dissolve parliament] - he continued.

19:52

Mentzen on Kamiński and Wąsik: I Suspect Both Will Run for the European Parliament and Consequently Their Mandates Will Expire

- It's not even known whether the gentlemen [Kamiński and Wąsik] are MPs or not. I remind you that Mr. Wąsik has a Supreme Court ruling stating he is an MP, and Mr. Kamiński has two Supreme Court rulings, one stating he is an MP and the other that he is not. In my opinion, they shouldn't be, but Wąsik is, and as for Kamiński, it's unknown, but he probably is as well - Sławomir Mentzen stated in Polsat News. - I suspect it will end in such a way that both gentlemen will run for the European Parliament and consequently their mandates will expire, one way or another - he continued.

20:01

Mentzen:

I am in a partnership with Grzegorz Braun

- I don't expect [Grzegorz Braun to run for President of Rzeszów]. [...] I think it would be very explosive in Rzeszów then, perhaps something would need to be put out after one of those explosions, but I don't expect him to run - Sławomir Mentzen told Polsat News. - The question is quite difficult [whether I wanted to kick Grzegorz Braun out of Confederation]. Who am I to kick Grzegorz Braun out of Confederation? [...] We certainly have differing views on reality, yes, I see it one way, Grzegorz Braun sees it another, we have slightly different goals, slightly different ambitions, we didn't get married, so we won't be working together for the rest of our lives. As long as we both think it's beneficial for us, we will continue this cooperation - he continued. - Yes, it's more of a partnership, I am in a partnership with Grzegorz Braun - he went on to say.

20:09

Mentzen:

Chaos in the Prosecutor's Office Will Affect Ordinary Poles. Criminals Will Go Free, and This Will Be Bodnar's Doing

- We have immense chaos in the prosecutor's office, and this will affect ordinary Poles. The moment a criminal's lawyer invokes that the prosecutor who brought charges against them or placed them in custody was not a prosecutor at all, criminals will be released, and this will be the result of Bodnar's actions, Sławomir Mentzen said on Polsat News. - If Bodnar says that the National Prosecutor was not the National Prosecutor for the last two years, it means that all his decisions were invalid, the appointments of prosecutors made by him were also invalid, and lawyers in courts will certainly raise this, and criminals will be released, and this is, of course, the fault of Prosecutor Bodnar, he continued.

20:12

Mentzen:

Even If the President Doesn't Sign the Bill, the Budget Project Will Still Be in Effect, So Everything Will Remain Unchanged

- I have no idea what the President will do in this matter [the budget bill]. [...] It is not crucial for this budget, because even if he doesn't sign it, the budget project will still be in effect, so everything will basically remain unchanged - Sławomir Mentzen said on Polsat News.

20:14

Petru:

The Orlen and Lotos Merger Was Unnecessary

- This merger [of Orlen and Lotos] was completely unnecessary, there was no need for it. This merger caused Lotos to have to sell part of its stations to MOL, and today we have an Orlen monopoly in the fuel market. Secondly, it turns out that the special services did not vet this transaction - stated Ryszard Petru on the program “Fakty po faktach” on TVN24.

20:20

Petru:

I wouldn't listen to everyone saying there's a dualism. There's only one law, and PiS must adhere to it.

- I believe we don't have two legal systems, we have one legal system, and some individuals are not adhering to the law, and that's where the problem lies. I wouldn't listen to everyone saying there's a dualism. There's only one law, and PiS must adhere to it - stated Ryszard Petru on the TVN24 program "Fakty po faktach" (Facts after Facts).

20:30

Duda Writes to Tusk:

The Responsibility for the Consequences Will Rest Solely on You.

In view of the ongoing actions by the Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General, Adam Bodnar, aimed at unlawfully removing the National Prosecutor Dariusz Barski from office and appointing, by you, Prime Minister, to a position unknown to Polish legal order of the acting National Prosecutor Jacek Bilewicz, I draw your attention, Prime Minister, to the consequences for the Polish State and its citizens resulting from these unlawful actions – writes President Andrzej Duda in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The responsibility for the consequences of these actions, particularly towards citizens, including victims of crimes, will rest personally on you, Prime Minister, and Minister Bodnar – it was emphasized.