300polityka

07:58

Friday's Political Agenda: The Left's Local Government Conference

At 11:00 AM, a meeting of Left's local government officials will take place in the Sejm, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Deputy Minister and Secretary-General of New Left Marcin Kulasek, Deputy Ministers Andrzej Szejna, Jacek Czerniak, Przemysław Koperski, Krzysztof Śmiszek, Anita Sowińska, Paulina Piechna-Więckiewicz, Krzysztof Kukucki, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, and the head of the Left parliamentary club, Anna-Maria Żukowska.

The meeting guests will also include MPs Arkadiusz Sikora and Łukasz Litewka, as well as Świdnica Mayor Beata Moskal-Słaniewska, Będzin Mayor Łukasz Komoniewski, Głogów Mayor Rafael Rokaszewicz, and Wrocław Mayor Jacek Sutryk.

At 10:30 AM, a press conference and the opening of the parliamentary office of Michał Kobosko, MP and Vice-Chairman of Poland 2050, will be held in Radom.

Friday marks the final day of the visit of His Majesty Frederik X, King of Denmark. At 9:30 AM, he will participate in the symbolic opening ceremony of Vestas ST3 at the Vestas Offshore turbine factory in Szczecin, and at 11:00 AM, he will attend the conference "Wind, Waves and Wires".

At 11:45 AM, a meeting will be held with the West Pomeranian Voivode, the Marshal of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, and the Mayor of Szczecin, followed at 12:30 PM by a visit to the Headquarters of the Multinational Corps Northeast.

08:04

Komorowski:

The Constitutional Tribunal has been politicized in favor of PiS, and the entire country and the President are still feeling the consequences

- These are the consequences of various kinds of original political sins. President Duda's sin was undoubtedly excessive entanglement in party politics, meaning supporting only his own political camp. The initial decisions were flawed, I'm referring to the foundation of democracy, which is the Constitutional Tribunal. It has been politicized in favor of PiS, its independence has been violated, and the entire country is still feeling the consequences today. The President is also feeling them, as this matter keeps returning to him - said Bronisław Komorowski on "Poranek TOK FM".

08:11

Grabiec:

Orlen's CEO Will Be an Expert Tasked with Restoring Order in the Company

- The CEO of Orlen will undoubtedly be an expert whose task will be to sort out the situation in the company and verify the actual state of affairs of these publicly known scandals, their basis, the losses incurred, and who is responsible. I don't want to name names (...) The list of candidates is primarily in the media. A large portion of these names appearing on the stock exchange are names that are not being considered at all in any discussions about managing Poland's largest company – stated Jan Grabiec on RMF FM.

08:12

Grabiec:

Graś is Already Head of the Prime Minister's Political Cabinet

- Paweł Graś is already the head of the Prime Minister's political cabinet. He will be responsible for organizing the work on the political plane around the Prime Minister. He has extensive experience in this area – said Jan Grabiec on RMF FM.

08:13

Komorowski on potential Sejm resolution regarding the unconstitutionality of the Constitutional Tribunal: Some look better when violating the law and the Constitution, others less so

- Some look better when violating the law and the Constitution, and others less so, and their voters assess this. With PiS, it was such that it suited PiS, their voters liked it, that, to put it bluntly, going to the extreme or even beyond that extreme, they were implementing PiS-style order, which, as it turns out today, is turning into systemic chaos - Bronisław Komorowski said in TOK FM, when asked if the Sejm should adopt a resolution stating the unconstitutionality of the current composition of the Constitutional Tribunal.

- I think the democratic side must be very careful. I hope that an appropriate solution, perhaps spread over time, will be found by Minister Bodnar, whom I extremely respect, and whom I also respect and value for his stance as a legalist and a statesman - he continued.

08:15

Grabiec:

The President, Contrary to His Verbal Declarations, Pursues a Policy of Confrontation

- No, there is no [concern that the president will block the government's work], but of course, we are analyzing various scenarios for the political situation's development. Today, after these 6 weeks of the government, it's difficult to say how President Duda's policy towards the new government will shape up, what this cohabitation will look like. For now, we see, based on the president's decisions, somewhat contrary to his verbal declarations, that it is a policy of confrontation, not as the constitution states. There is no cooperation between the authorities here; there is more confrontation, at least in its symbolic and verbal dimension – stated Jan Grabiec on RMF FM.

- Our intention is certainly to maintain cohesion in matters of security, defense, and foreign policy, especially regarding objectives. Because as for the methods of implementation, the president may naturally have a different opinion, but it is the government that today holds the social mandate, resulting from the recent elections, to govern. The president may express his opinion, he may exercise his constitutional competences, but this will not change the government's policy – he continued.

08:18

Grabiec:

If any decisions or rulings by judges at the Constitutional Tribunal are unlawful, it will be difficult for us to respect them

- Certainly, the beginning of these [legal] changes will be a declaration of intent, meaning the presentation of draft laws or resolutions by the Sejm, which will show how we want to fix the situation (...) It will be a decision [of the Sejm] whether this is a matter of the coming days or weeks. The Constitutional Tribunal and its repair is one of the most difficult in this structure of public authorities, so perhaps it will have to happen gradually over many weeks, or even months – said Jan Grabiec on RMF FM.

- If any decisions, rulings, or orders by judges at the Tribunal are unlawful, question the legal order in Poland, are simply foolish, then it will be difficult for public authorities to be responsible for complicity in these illegal actions, and it will be difficult for us to respect such decisions or announced statements. Certainly, this would not contribute to ordering the situation in Poland or restoring the rule of law – he continued.

08:20

Komorowski:

The President Tries to Walk a Tightrope

- He is also trying to walk a tightrope, meaning, I signed the budget bill, and at the same time, I am referring it to the Constitutional Tribunal in a subsequent procedure. [...] He emphasizes at the moment that he does not want to block the Tribunal, right, he wants the ruling coalition to have the opportunity to fulfill its pre-election or election commitments, but at the same time, he demands that they first fulfill the election commitments stemming from the Law and Justice program. That's President Duda for you, walking on both legs, so to speak - said Bronisław Komorowski on TOK FM.

08:22

Schetyna:

If snap elections, then PiS's defeat. They would hasten their end

- This is more of a response, I think, to Kaczyński's suppositions that there will be snap elections, that it's necessary to have the sovereign speak as soon as possible. We are ready, that is Prime Minister Tusk's response. If there are snap elections, we believe, and polls indicate this, it will be PiS's defeat. It's known that they will not bring this about because they are in a state of total political disintegration and would simply hasten their own end - stated Grzegorz Schetyna on Polsat News's 'Graffiti'.

08:25

Schetyna:

Accelerated Parliamentary Elections Unlikely Before Presidential Vote

- I don't think accelerated parliamentary elections are possible before the presidential election. There will be a new quality [after the presidential election] and a new reality - stated Grzegorz Schetyna on "Graffiti" Polsat News.

08:25

Komorowski:

The President Can Convene the Cabinet Council Whenever He Wishes. I Hope He Won't Abuse This Right

- It is, after all, a requirement of the Polish Constitution that the President presides over and can convene the Cabinet Council whenever he wishes. I hope the current President will not abuse this right. The Cabinet Council, in political reality, doesn't change much anyway, because it doesn't have the powers of the Council of Ministers; this Council of Ministers, presided over by the President, does not make any decisions, but it can be a certain place for discussion - said Bronisław Komorowski on TOK FM.

08:29

Schetyna:

I don't see a possibility of agreement between the opposition and the ruling coalition in the coming weeks and months

- It seems that they are possible, there is such a time, there are moments of good cooperation, normal conversation, but I believe a lot of it is influenced by Kaczyński, by PiS, by the policy they exert pressure with, PiS policy on the president. He should, however, assert his independence, sovereignty, and truly be an arbiter, not enter into political dispute, because this dispute is already very difficult and serious, but I do not see a possibility of agreement between the opposition and the ruling coalition in the coming weeks and months. There will be a hard dispute over all matters, because today's opposition will not back down - stated Grzegorz Schetyna in Polsat News' "Graffiti".

08:30

Komorowski:

We Are Democrats, We Cannot Copy PiS Methods and Appoint a New Constitutional Tribunal Overnight

- We are democrats, it cannot be that we completely copy the PiS methods and appoint a new shape of the Constitutional Tribunal overnight. Perhaps in some matters, it will be necessary to wait out the President and wait for the moment when, after a change of president, deeper changes in the legal system can be carried out, without risking a presidential veto - said Bronisław Komorowski on TOK FM.

08:39

Schetyna:

Not Everything Will Be Done at Express Speed Due to Our Opposition and President

- Not everything will be done at express speed, not everything will be done, because we have such an opposition and such a president, who will not make things easier, to put it mildly, he will often make them harder - stated Grzegorz Schetyna in Polsat News' "Graffiti".

08:45

Gawkowski:

I see President Duda as one and the other character; they merge into one for me – Judas and Pilate

- I see President Andrzej Duda as one and the other character; they merge into one for me – Judas and Pilate. I am not exaggerating – stated Krzysztof Gawkowski in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the "Gość Radia Zet" program.

08:46

Gawkowski:

I Don't Know What President Duda is Planning with His Push for a Cabinet Council. He Probably Knows the Council Can't Do Much.

- I don't know what President Andrzej Duda is planning by wanting a Cabinet Council. He probably knows that the Council can't do much, and President Andrzej Duda would like to be able to do a lot, but that's not his constitutional prerogative. No, I won't say he's a man who sells out his voters and does it like Judas, because during the campaign he said, and during his inauguration, that he wouldn't block the new Sejm's laws, but he's washing his hands like Pilate, who pursues a very strong policy – stated Krzysztof Gawkowski on the program “Gość Radia Zet”.

08:49

Gawkowski:

Kaczyński's Delusions Grow Daily. He Has Delved Deep into the Concept of Political Irrationality

- Mr. Kaczyński's delusions are growing day by day. He has delved so deep into the concept of political irrationality that he is now trying to convince Poles that criminals will be released from prison under the Tusk government. It's hard to find dumber statements on the political map today than what Kaczyński is serving up - stated Krzysztof Gawkowski on the program „Gość Radia Zet”.

08:54

Gawkowski:

I am a proponent of firm action regarding the Constitutional Tribunal

- I am a proponent of firm action concerning the Constitutional Tribunal. The Left said 8 years ago that the Constitutional Tribunal is politicized and does not operate legally. I have the conviction that this must be done, seeing what President Andrzej Duda is doing - stated Krzysztof Gawkowski on the program „Gość Radia Zet”.

- We are discussing within the Left how to sort out matters concerning the Constitutional Tribunal. I am a proponent of decisions being made, the sooner the better - he added.

08:59

Wielichowska:

In the Wrocław Presidential Election, I Would Like to Be Able to Vote for Jaros

- Wrocław is one of those cities where there is more than one democratic candidate or candidate for candidate, because Michał Jaros is just that, a candidate for candidate. Meanwhile, President Sutryk announced his run - said Monika Wielichowska in an interview with Dariusz Wieczorkowski on Radio Wrocław. - Michał Jaros is undoubtedly a very dynamic, active, and effective head of the Lower Silesian structures of Civic Platform (PO), who led the Civic Coalition (KO) in our voivodeship to victory in the parliamentary elections. But decisions have not yet been made here, we will see. I know that Michał Jaros is ready and has made himself available to Prime Minister Donald Tusk - she continued. - I would like to be able to vote for Michał Jaros. I don't know about the residents of Wrocław, that question belongs to them [...]. Decisions are ahead of us - she added.

09:18

Wielichowska:

A Referendum on Abortion Law is Our Last Resort

- We went into the elections with a clear message concerning women's safety and conscious parenthood, and we are consistently implementing it. However, other groups, such as Trzecia Droga [Third Way] [...] would like to hold a referendum on this matter. For us, that is a last resort - said Monika Wielichowska in the 'Conversation of the Day' on Radio Wrocław. - Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke about this a few days ago, stating that we are of course not ruling out holding a referendum on abortion if it is the only way to liberalize abortion law. I hope this will not happen - she continued.

09:28

Wielichowska on the 'morning after' pill without a prescription: I hope the President won't make problems and will read a bit about this pill

- Regarding the 'morning after' pill [...], the arithmetic here seems favorable, as there is agreement between Civic Coalition, Third Way, and The Left to adopt the government's already drafted bill. As for Mr. President, I hope he won't create problems here, that he will truly read a bit about this pill, because it is not an early-term abortifacient, it is merely emergency contraception - said Monika Wielichowska in "Rozmowa dnia" on Radio Wrocław.

11:42

Gliński:

An attack on the Constitutional Tribunal is being prepared. The announcements suggest another devastation of democracy

- I believe that you, the public, will also defend state institutions like the Constitutional Tribunal, against which an attack is being prepared. The announcements suggest that this will once again be a devastation of democracy. We all live in a democracy, and regardless of the fact that these people making these decisions will be held accountable, they will have to bear the consequences for violating the law and the Polish constitution. It is in our common interest to defend Polish democracy, to defend the legal Constitutional Tribunal. It is an independent institution of the Polish state - stated Piotr Gliński at a press conference.

11:54

Gliński:

Various Liquidation Measures Undertaken at the Ministry of Culture

We wanted to share with you very concerning opinions regarding the functioning of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. We are all aware of the unlawful assault on public media, which is an unprecedented act, a violation of law, the Constitution, and the devastation of institutions crucial for democracy, such as public media. However, regardless of these destructive actions, various liquidation measures have been carried out within the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage over these 50 days in other areas of culture as well - stated Piotr Gliński at a press briefing in the Sejm. First and foremost, it should be noted that the budget adopted for the ministry for 2024 is the budget we planned, which was increased in those projects, presented by us, by 24%. Now, this is an increase of 18%. Furthermore, certain informal decisions are being made, as they are often inconsistent with internal regulations, for example, with the promises received by individual institutions concerning the budgets of particular cultural institutions. For instance, the budget of the Institute of National Heritage Thought has been reduced by 50%, or the budget of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute by 40 million zlotys - he continued. Destructions or liquidations are also occurring in many other areas. For example, Minister Sienkiewicz has adopted the method of fictional mergers of institutions. I would like to remind you that during our eight years in government, we twice merged two institutions with full substantive justification due to the convergence of their substantive activities and the obviousness of such decisions. Sienkiewicz has already managed to merge or initiate the process of merging the National Heritage Institute and the National Institute for Monument Conservation, which, despite their names, are institutions dealing with different matters - he added.

12:04

Wąsik:

I'm Going to the Sejm

- I am a Member of Parliament, I was elected by the votes of my constituents, and it is my duty, when I have the opportunity, to participate in the Sejm's deliberations. I am going to the Sejm. Minister Kamiński is a Member of Parliament, his situation is identical, I am convinced that we will meet Minister Kamiński in the Sejm. Marshal Hołownia should not decide who is a Member of Parliament and who is not; the voters decide. And Marshal Hołownia has probably gotten a bit puffed up, grown in strength, and I'll say this – the God syndrome has appeared. He is not the one who decides, the voters decide. He tried to annul the mandates, but the Supreme Court gave him a slap on the wrist – stated Maciej Wąsik in the program "Sedno sprawy" on Radio Plus.

12:05

Wąsik:

Barring Us from the Sejm on February 7th Will Be Further Confirmation of Tusk and Hołownia's Authoritarian Rule

- If there is a police cordon and they do not let us into the Sejm, then I will simply say this. The police entered the Presidential Palace to take us from there, and now the police will stand in front of the Sejm to prevent us from entering? It would be a huge scandal if the police, without the Sejm Marshal's consent, entered the Sejm to carry out any action... We are starting authoritarian rule, and barring us from the Sejm on February 7th will be further confirmation of Tusk and Hołownia's authoritarian rule – stated Maciej Wąsik on Radio Plus.

12:06

Wąsik:

I'm Not Comparing Myself to Poczobut

- You know, I know one person who was unlawfully surveilled, wiretapped in Poland. One person, it's my wife, who in 2010 was wiretapped by the ABW for 3 months. When they actually obtained, obtained, an application in someone else's name, and my wife's phone was connected. The court issued permission for Maciej Wąsik to be wiretapped, and my wife was wiretapped, illegally for three months – stated Maciej Wąsik on Radio Plus.

- I am not comparing myself to Andrzej Poczobut. His situation is decidedly worse, but please remember that Lukashenka claims Poczobut is a criminal and the Belarusian court convicted him. There is a certain similarity. I am not comparing myself to Andrzej Poczobut, I am free, he has been in prison for a very long time, I believe perhaps three years. I am not comparing myself, but I did receive a two-year prison sentence – he continued.

12:11

Gawkowski:

Local Government Was an Enemy to Kaczyński and His Associates. Today, Local Government is a Friend to the Government.

- We are aware in the government that for many years PiS restricted local governments in their power, competencies, and finances. Local government for Kaczyński and his associates was an enemy. Today, what we can tell you on behalf of the Polish government, on behalf of Lewica: local government is a friend to the government. We will do everything so that local government officials, both in the current term and after the elections […], know that together we can change local government Poland – said Krzysztof Gawkowski during a meeting of local government officials in the Sejm.

12:13

Gawkowski:

The Era of Demanding Party Loyalty for Checks and Vouchers for Local Officials is Over

- The era of demanding party loyalty for checks and gift vouchers given to local officials is over. Today, there will only be one loyalty – to the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. The common good, the Republic at the municipal, district, and regional assembly level – that is what is most important to us – said Krzysztof Gawkowski during a meeting with local government officials in the Sejm.

12:13

Gawkowski:

Under PiS, Local Governments Have Bankrupted in Many Places

- We want the local, left-wing community to be able to benefit from how the government will repay [support] for the October 15 elections. Not with a political flag that was somewhere planted by PiS, but with a clear declaration that we can change our local community as the voters expect us to - said Krzysztof Gawkowski during a meeting of local government officials in the Sejm. - A well-funded local government is a well-managed local government. Such slogans will be in our program for the next two months. Such a perspective will give a chance that the next five years after April 7 and 21, i.e., after the two rounds of local government elections, will provide real opportunities to implement the demands that will be made. Under PiS, local governments have bankrupted in many places, their budgets have been faltering. Anyone who did not stoop to accept PiS's money could not count on being able to function normally - he continued. - Another demand from the Left regarding responsibility for local government policy will therefore be the appropriate delegation of government tasks to local government administration. And another promise we want to make, which we will strongly monitor in the local government elections: every task commissioned by the government should have a defined funding path from the government, and not be pushed onto local governments with the saying 'you'll somehow manage' - he went on to say.

15:06

Gajewska on Cabinet Council: The President is Trying to Show He Has a Shred of Honor Left

- The president, who defends criminals, who invites them to his workplace [...], who sends the budget act to the [Constitutional] Tribunal because the lawfully convicted MPs did not participate in its vote, is trying to show us that he still has a shred, I don't know, of any honor, any action, and is trying to pretend that his political activity has any chance of being defended - said Aleksandra Gajewska in a statement to TVP Info, referring to the president's decision regarding the Cabinet Council.

15:07

Gajewska:

Professional Groups Awaiting Salary Increases Will Receive Them, and the President Did Not Stand in the Way

- The most important thing for us is that this budget bill has been passed and the professional groups awaiting increases, which are very important to them, will simply receive this money, and no president stood in the way of this being realized, and this is the most important thing because that was our commitment - said Aleksandra Gajewska in a statement to TVP Info.

15:43

Śmiszek:

The Constitutional Tribunal Needs Urgent Repair. We Will Make Decisions to Fix It Quickly and Effectively

- The Constitutional Tribunal today requires urgent repair, today it is an institution that is not functioning. Today, the Constitutional Tribunal is one of the sources of Poland's problems on the international stage, but also a problem for Polish citizens, and the new democratic majority will be making various decisions. We will be making decisions that will repair this tribunal quickly and effectively - stated Krzysztof Śmiszek in a conversation with journalists in the Sejm.

- There are various tools. These could be resolutions, there must be legislation, because the functioning of the Constitutional Tribunal will also need to be repaired through legislation at some stage. Good legislative proposals are already in the public domain, for example, laws authored by experts from the Batohy Foundation - he continued.

16:28

Hołownia:

I'm for decriminalizing personal marijuana possession. Legalization? I'd expect experts to weigh in.

- Of course, first and foremost, possession [of marijuana] for personal use needs to be decriminalized. […] The state really has other things to do than chase people for having one joint or two marijuana cigarettes here or there. That's my opinion, it's not my party's opinion, it's not the coalition's opinion, but I think from a completely rational point of view - said Szymon Hołownia during the Congress of Polish Student Associations in Amsterdam. - However, it's different when it comes to the relationship involving the state, meaning trade appears, and one has to ask oneself how this trade should be regulated. The question arises as to how the state should view […], that there are different opinions among scientists regarding the addictive potential of this substance. If there is addictive potential and there are people who say so... Of course, alcohol also has it, and the state profits from it, that's clear. However, the state also draws conclusions regarding alcohol, other intoxicants. Why? Because the state later pays a lot of money for the treatment of people who have crossed that line - he continued. - It's not that the state shouldn't have a say in this matter, that it doesn't have a mandate to do so […]. It does, because later it might have to – of course, in most cases not – but in some cases, deal with the consequences financially and organizationally. And the state doesn't have a bottomless bag of money - he continued. - I would primarily expect experts to speak on this matter, not ideologues. Because we need a rational approach to this topic - he added.

19:30

Biedroń on the Left's Solo Run in Local Elections: We Didn't Even Have Time to Sit at the Table. We Didn't Discuss Cooperation with Civic Coalition

- We didn't even have time to sit at the table. We haven't discussed cooperation with the Civic Coalition, there hasn't been a single meeting. It is what it is, we are going alongside each other. The most important thing is to reclaim local governments from PiS. We have free media, free courts, it's high time for free local governments - stated Robert Biedroń on the program "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.

19:35

Biedroń:

Sikora to Lead The Left's Campaign for Local Elections

Tomorrow we will present our campaign manager; we will have excellent candidates. The media are already talking about it, it's no secret that Arkadiusz Sikora, our co-leader, will be the head of The Left's campaign for the local elections, he will lead our campaign. He is an outstanding local government official and a new Member of Parliament, with enormous local government experience – stated Robert Biedroń on the program “Gość Wydarzeń” (Guest of the Events) on Polsat News.

19:38

Biedroń:

We Should Support Good Female Politicians. I Dream of a Female Candidate for Mayor of Warsaw

- We should support good female politicians. There are very few women in politics, and I believe that especially in the Left (Lewica), we abound in good female politicians, women who should prove themselves in battle, who should run in local government. I dream of a female candidate for mayor of Warsaw - stated Robert Biedroń on the program "Gość Wydarzeń" (Guest of the Event) on Polsat News.

19:41

Biedroń:

The Coalition Cannot Legalize Abortion Due to the Third Way, Messrs. Hołownia and Kosiniak-Kamysz

- The coalition is unable to legalize it [abortion], we all know why, of course, due to the Third Way, Mr. Hołownia and Mr. Kosiniak-Kamysz. We will try to convince them, we will do everything we can to convince them. Every day without good solutions regarding the protection of women from illegal, dangerous abortions is the suffering of women, and this must change – stated Robert Biedroń in the program “Gość Wydarzeń” on Polsat News.

19:57

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

Reducing Duda to the Ruling Party's Scribe Severely Weakened the Presidency and the Cabinet Council's Importance

- It's not easy to keep up with the moods of the Presidential Palace; I interpret this volatility as a search for attention or a search for significance, because what happened to the office of the President of the Republic of Poland over the last eight years, due to the rule of Law and Justice and the reduction of Andrzej Duda to the role of a scribe, a party notary, as I would say, of the ruling party, has severely weakened this office, weakened, unfortunately, and I say this with regret, its significance and the significance of events like the Cabinet Council - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk in an interview with Diana Rudnik on TVN24's "Fakty po Faktach".

20:03

Dziemianowicz-Bąk on Signing the Budget Act and Sending it to the Constitutional Tribunal: It Looks Like the President is Seeking Attention

- The President tried to draw attention to himself once again by making a decision that is at least inconsistent, because signing the budget act and sending it to the Tribunal would still make some sense. However, the justification that the President is sending the act to the Constitutional Tribunal afterwards because he believes it was unconstitutionally passed by parliament – this is said by a person who should be the guardian of the Constitution. This raises the question: why did he sign it then? - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk on TVN24. - It looks as if the President, as I say, is seeking attention, and not necessarily knows how to navigate this situation in which the new political reality after the assumption of power by the October 15th Coalition has placed him - she continued.

20:10

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

If Duda's Logic Wasn't Subordinated to Protecting Criminals, He Shouldn't Have Signed Laws Passed by Fewer Than 460 MPs Earlier

- If the logic presented by President Andrzej Duda wasn't subordinated to party interests, to the interest of protecting two criminals, namely Mr. Wąsik and Mr. Kamiński, then in principle, laws passed in incomplete sittings, not by 460 MPs, shouldn't have been signed by the President earlier, yet they were - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk on TVN24.

20:13

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

If criminals decide to come to the Sejm and cause a stir, it will likely be some kind of stir

- If criminals decide to come to the Sejm and cause a stir, it will likely be some kind of stir. Criminals have a tendency to like causing stirs. The place for criminals is in prison, unless the president decides to pull them out of that prison through an act of pardon, which is what the president decided to do - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk on TVN24.

20:16

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

We will persuade coalition partners to liberalize abortion law

- We will persuade coalition partners within the entire October 15th Coalition to decriminalize assistance with abortion and to liberalize it, to introduce a civilized, European standard when it comes to terminating a pregnancy up to the 12th week - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk on TVN24.

20:19

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

We should know the head of ZUS by February

- I think we should know the person who will head the Social Insurance Institution by February. I would like that, but I emphasize that this is not solely my decision. I will, of course, approach Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the appropriate time – said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk on TVN24.

20:41

Duda:

I Was Never a Radical Politician

- I never considered myself a radical politician. I was never radical. I always tried to be reasonably calm, reasonably balanced. Of course, I'm human too, I have my emotions, my experiences. Certainly, I have happened to say one word or two sentences too many. There were such situations, and I apologized for them, I regretted them - stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanal Zero. - I always tried to look at things in a reasonably objective way and sometimes I think to myself: I believe that's precisely why I was elected. Because the majority of people in Poland never saw me as a radical person, as a radical politician. I never held any very radical views - he added.

20:42

Duda:

We have a very serious legal conflict surrounding the mandates of Kamiński and Wąsik. Only one entity can resolve this issue.

- This is a very serious legal doubt, objectively there exists a very serious legal doubt. We have a very serious legal conflict surrounding the issue of the mandates of MPs, former ministers Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik, where there are definitely two different positions, and this problem must be resolved in some way, because it is also a constitutional problem and in my opinion, I have no doubt that there is only one entity in Poland, in fact, that is capable of resolving this constitutional problem in this situation - stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

20:43

Duda on Kaminski and Wasik's Mandates: One Constitutional Tribunal Ruling is Enough to Clarify and Resolve the Matter. I Hope They Act Quickly.

- No, one ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal in this matter is enough. I hope they act quickly. After all, one ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal is enough to clarify and resolve the matter. There will be clarity - stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

20:50

Duda:

PO in 2015 Appointed Constitutional Tribunal Judges Illegally

- I asked them not to do it, I appealed for it. Then, PO, breaking the rules, in the presence of the then-President of the Constitutional Tribunal, Mr. Rzepliński, appointed judges illegally, that is the truth and there was a dispute, because I still believe that in essence, all of them were appointed illegally at that time - stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

20:58

Duda:

It's absurd that Hołownia doesn't recognize the Supreme Court's Extraordinary Control Chamber rulings on Kamiński and Wąsik's mandates, but does on election validity

- Mr. Mariusz Kamiński and his appeal are with the Marshal, and the Marshal, by a strange coincidence, orders his personal associate to deliver it directly to the President of the Chamber of Labour at the Supreme Court, and then he himself says at a press conference that the right judges had to be chosen for this. Well, that's a bizarre situation, firstly. Secondly, it suggests that he does not recognize the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and that he does not recognize the rulings issued by the Chamber of Extraordinary Control in these matters. But when this same chamber rules on the validity of the elections […], then he recognizes this chamber and then everything is in order – stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

21:06

Duda:

Trump is a tough competitor. I doubt he'd be a soft touch for Putin and his imperial ambitions

- I have met President Donald Trump. He is a specific, very tough man, a tough competitor. Very experienced in tough business, which he has conducted with great success for decades. And I doubt he would be a soft touch for Vladimir Putin and his imperial ambitions, because he has imperial ambitions. He believes America should be an empire - stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

21:12

Duda:

I don't know if Ukraine will regain Crimea, but I believe it will regain Donetsk and Luhansk

- Today, Russia is pushing to win in Ukraine. I say this: if Russia retains Ukrainian territories, it will essentially be a victory for Russia, and then the probability of another attack from Russia will be very high. I believe that Russia must be pressured [regarding the return of Ukrainian territories before 2014], Ukraine must not be allowed to surrender, and the West must not surrender in this struggle (…). I don't know if [Ukraine] will regain Crimea, but I believe it will regain Donetsk and Luhansk – said Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

21:14

Duda on Tusk and Kaczyński: They Hold Virtually Authoritarian, Dictatorial Power Within Their Parties

- Let me put it this way. It's a very specific situation, and I'm glad the editor brought it up. We have a very clear picture today of what it generally looks like. We have two gentlemen today, very serious in age, experience, and position on the Polish political scene. One of them is Chairman Jarosław Kaczyński, and the other is Prime Minister Donald Tusk. They are the leaders of two large groupings who have been engaged in a very fierce dispute on the Polish political scene for many years. These gentlemen head two large parties, or even the largest camps. It's effectively one-person rule in both cases. These gentlemen are the masters of life and death of these groupings because they hold the electoral lists in their hands, with which they shape their parties. Each of them. Their orders are practically all carried out, and it can be safely said that within these parties, the power is virtually authoritarian, dictatorial. They don't like anyone opposing them – stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

21:17

Duda on Tusk and Kaczyński: They Don't Like Me. They Ran for President and Failed

- Both gentlemen [Donald Tusk and Jarosław Kaczyński] ran for president at one time. Both gentlemen failed to achieve this. I ran for the office of President of the Republic of Poland twice, and each time it ended with my victory. I am serving my second term as President of the Republic of Poland. Do you think that in this position, where the president makes all decisions unilaterally and no one has influence over it, do you think the gentlemen like me? I don't think so - stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

21:21

Duda:

In 2015 I won against Komorowski when all media, except for small ones, were on PO's side

- Previously, when in 2015 I won against the hegemon, President Bronisław Komorowski, all media, apart from small Polish media outlets, were on the side of the ruling camp, meaning PO. And yet, I managed to win the election thanks to talking to people, traveling around Poland, and hard work - stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

21:36

Duda:

No One in the Presidential Palace Hid Kamiński and Wąsik

- Nobody in the Presidential Palace hid ministers Kamiński and Wąsik. No one undertook any intervention. What does it mean protected? No one hid them here, and no one protected them here in any particular way - stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

21:41

Duda:

If Tusk Wants Early Elections, Let Him File for the Sejm's Dissolution

- I don't know [if that would be a beneficial scenario for the PiS camp]. If Prime Minister Donald Tusk wants early elections, let him file for the Sejm's dissolution. What is the problem? - stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

21:52

Duda on the Arrest of Kamiński and Wąsik: The Officer Who Carried Out the Task Knows Me and Could Have Asked Me to Talk to the Guests So They Would Leave the Palace

- I did not feel betrayed on that famous day [when Maciej Wąsik and Mariusz Kamiński were arrested]. If I have any reservations about the actions of the officers who were directly responsible for entering the Presidential Palace, it is a reservation concerning their manners, not the performance of their official duties - stated President Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero. - Such is the legal arrangement that the gentlemen are subordinate, I am thinking here of the Government Protection Bureau (SOP), but also the police, to the Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA). [...] They received an official order and had to carry it out. Only one thing could have been done, which they did not do, and here is my only remark: the person who carried out this task knows me very well. He worked with me for many years. He could have contacted me, come to me, and said: Mr. President, you have guests in the Presidential Palace, and we have orders concerning these guests. We would very much appreciate it if you would talk to the guests and ask them to leave the Palace, because we have to carry out our tasks and we have no other choice - he continued. - I would have understood, because I know they had to carry out their tasks and had no other option. They had orders, that's service - he went on to say.

22:04

Duda:

I Am a Man of Success

- In 2015, I became President of the Republic after 9 years, only 9 years in politics, and I am the President of the Republic for a second term. Gentlemen, the probability of becoming President of the Republic is 1 in 38 million, right? Because there is only one president, and so far I am the fifth president in history after '89 elected in universal elections. The second to be elected for a second term. In this regard, I am a man of success. This is the greatest success one can achieve in Polish politics – stated Andrzej Duda on Kanał Zero.

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WHERE POLITICS STARTS THE DAY

ZAPYTAJ GEMINI