Aircraft to Support Evacuation of Poles from the Middle East. Tusk Submits Request to the President
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02/17/2024
11:51
Tusk:
Nothing was ever given to us forever
- Any omission, any moment of doubt, like in this almost biblical wisdom, any moment of indifference immediately allows evil to triumph again. Nothing was ever given to us forever. If for a moment we thought the matter was settled because we won the elections, it would mean we haven't understood that we make and must make these choices every day. The local government elections, those in Warsaw, they will have a particularly symbolic dimension, but the elections in every Polish town, in every Polish municipality, in every Polish corner, they carry the same weight, perhaps even greater than the most spectacular, flashy ones that took place on October 15th - stated Donald Tusk at the local government convention.
11:45
Tusk to Trzaskowski: You Gave People Hope, We Managed to Continue It Later, But We Are Still at the Beginning of This Road. This Road Never Ends
- Rafał, Mr. President, dear friend. Nothing we've achieved would have been possible without your great work, both in Warsaw and back then when you stood, seemingly alone, in a duel against the overwhelming force of those in power. You showed how to fight, how to be effective, how to captivate people when you deeply believe that good can triumph over evil, that there is no place in Poland, no hour in our calendar, where we have the right to doubt that Poland deserves good governance at every level, a good fate, security, and happiness for every Polish family. You gave people that hope. We managed to continue it later, but we are still at the beginning of this road. This road never ends - stated Donald Tusk at the local government convention.
11:47
Tusk:
No Time for Rest
I am here today to send this strong, unambiguous signal once again. There is no time for rest. I want to address all of you here in Warsaw, across Poland, who are about to undertake a great effort in the local government campaign, very seriously. This campaign, what you do every day, is just as important, and in some ways even more important, than the great battle that was decided in favour of our homeland on October 15th. But what is happening in Poland, around Poland, in the world, in our neighbour suffering from Russian aggression, but even in Budapest in the last few hours, all of this shows an old truth that some people sometimes forget: that the most important values, good in public life, democracy, the safety of our families, towns, high standards, a positive moral tension – all of this is threatened when people think: oh, we've already sorted everything out – stated Donald Tusk at the local government convention.
11:54
Tusk:
Good Cannot Be Powerless
- In this confrontation with evil, we cannot be powerless. Navalny's death shows, on the one hand, the courage, determination, and heroism of one man who was able to face this confrontation without any chance of victory, and he was aware of this. But our task is that in everything we do, in every action we take, we must keep in mind this one commandment – good cannot be powerless. On October 15th, Poles showed that they can stand on the side of good, decency, the rule of law, and democracy, not just to demonstrate, but to overcome evil – stated Donald Tusk at a local government convention.
11:59
Hołownia:
We All Feel That After 20 Years of Politics Dominated by Conflict, it's Time for 20 Years of Politics Driven by Cooperation
- They told us it was impossible, that two guys who are in politics, young, ambitious, would never transcend their ambitions. They would never be able to create something together. Look, they said: the old party and the new party, together – that can never work. After all, we have people here who are more from the left, and from the right, they will never unite. But they did unite, and it worked, do you know why? Because both he and I, and all of you sitting here, instinctively feel that after 20 years of politics dominated by conflict, it is time for 20 years of politics where cooperation will reign, where people will know how to talk to each other, create, build, and not just argue amongst themselves. We are at the beginning of this era – stated Szymon Hołownia at the TD convention in Kielce.
12:00
Tusk:
Yesterday, Kaczyński announced we should be grateful we didn't end up like Navalny when PiS ruled. What a benevolent ruler.
- Yesterday, Chairman Kaczyński announced that we should be grateful that when PiS was in power, we didn't end up like Navalny. He said this yesterday to the people, to the media, asking what all the fuss was about, why they were making such a fuss, because they could have met the fate of Navalny. He probably meant Rafał, myself, and all of us. A benevolent ruler, you understand, that's the concept of democracy, self-governance, freedom in the minds of these people who destroyed these values for 8 years - stated Donald Tusk at a local government convention.
12:01
Kosiniak-Kamysz:
Today's democratic government and open parliamentarism wouldn't exist without the value and strength of the Third Way
- There would be no democratic government today, no open parliamentarism, no sense and presence of freedom, democracy, and justice, were it not for the Third Way. It was the voters of the Third Way, our voters, over 3 million people, who decided (...). It wouldn't have been possible without the value and strength of TD, because if we didn't have a total of 65 MPs, if we didn't have a Senate club, also for the first time in history so rich and so strong, if not for these three million votes for the Third Way, which went towards, and the emanation of this emotion was 'either the Third Way or PiS's third term'. And Poles chose the Third Way – stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at the TD convention in Kielce.
12:02
Tusk:
Warsaw is in Warsaw, and Warsaw will always be Warsaw; Poland will remain Poland with Polish order.
- I also remember those words from many years ago, and today they have taken on a truly exceptional value when the same politician spoke about the day coming when Budapest would be in Warsaw. Rafał, thanks to you, thanks to all Polish women and men, and on this specific matter, thanks to the women and men of Warsaw, Warsaw is in Warsaw, and Warsaw will always be Warsaw; Poland will remain Poland with Polish order - stated Donald Tusk at a local government convention.
12:05
Tusk:
We Would Like to Send a Sign of Hope to Hungary - Warsaw Will Still Be in Budapest
- But indeed, today we would like to say and send such a sign of hope to Hungary: Warsaw will still be in Budapest, but this is not about wordplay, although it is known how sincerely we Poles wish, for example, for Hungary, perhaps our closest partners in Europe always, our brothers, we wish them, of course, also the return of full democracy - stated Donald Tusk at the local government convention.
12:08
Tusk:
This is a War for Everything
- This is not a war between Russia and Ukraine; it is a war that is taking place with varying force and intensity all over the world. And on October 15th, we in Poland showed that we do not have to lose this war. What's more, we must win it, so that Putins and other autocrats of this kind do not triumph, but so that evil does not triumph among us and within ourselves. This is a war for everything – stated Donald Tusk at a local government convention.
12:08
Hołownia:
We Must Primarily Be Ready Today to Defend Externally Together What We've Built Internally Over 30 Years
- See how much TD is needed today. How much someone is needed who understands that at home we can argue about who is making noise on the stairs, about who hammered a nail in the wrong place, about who arranged things in one way or another. But today, we must primarily be ready to defend externally together what we've built internally over these 30 years. This is the most important task facing Poland today. And TD, where both the left and the right meet, because we as a political grouping are not here to exclude anyone (…). We have shown that TD is a home in the middle of the road, close to both the left and the right. Close to both this Poland and that Poland which, for 30 years, didn't listen to each other – said Szymon Hołownia at the TD convention in Kielce.
12:12
Tusk:
Poland Will Be Secure if We Meet Several Key Conditions
- In reality, these local government elections, I am convinced we will win, but we want to win them in order to end the war at this level. Poland will be secure if we meet several key conditions. One of the key conditions is the definitive end to the war between the central government and local government. We are the guarantors of this – stated Donald Tusk at the local government convention.
12:20
Tusk:
We're Going to Rebuild Local Government as it Should Be, Get it Back on Its Feet
- Just as we did in October, in the parliamentary elections, now in April, in the local government elections, we are going to rebuild local government as it should be, to get it back on its feet. They have turned it upside down, and not in the best way - stated Donald Tusk at the local government convention.
12:22
Tusk:
We're Going for Victory to Give Power Back to the People
- As the Prime Minister of the Polish government, I want to declare to you that this local government campaign will be a return to authentic self-government. We are going for victory to give power back to the people. This is not a slogan, it is the goal of these elections - stated Donald Tusk at the local government convention.
12:23
Kosiniak-Kamysz:
We Represent Local Poland, From the Smallest Village to the Largest Metropolis
- The credibility and effectiveness of our actions depend on the upcoming local government elections. The stronger and better the TD's result, the stronger our position in the government and parliament will be. These are absolutely linked. This result is very important for determining who will be the host in our commune, district, and voivodeship. Who will be our best candidate, who will win the elections there, because it is closest to us, where the most important matters should truly be decided. And where the most important matters are decided – said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at the TD convention in Kielce.
- These elections have a very personal, local dimension, of local Poland, which we represent. Because TD, among the parties forming the coalition today, reaches the furthest. From the smallest village – and for this, PSL is particularly responsible – to the largest metropolises – and here the strength comes from Poland 2050, this complements each other very well – he continued.
12:26
Tusk:
We Will Never Compromise With Evil
- We will never compromise with evil. We will not compromise with corruption. We will never confuse these orders; I certainly won't, and Rafał certainly won't, when we seek agreement with everyone who wants to do good things - stated Donald Tusk at the local government convention.
12:37
Tusk:
If Someone Fields a Candidate for Warsaw from Another City, We Know They Are Testing Future National Presidential Elections
- If someone in the capital fields a candidate for the mayor of Warsaw from another city, we well know that they are actually testing future national presidential elections, that, forgive me, this might sound too trivial, they don't care about Warsaw and the fate of Varsovians and the Warsaw local government. They are again making a testing ground, thinking about how to regain power - stated Donald Tusk at a local government convention.
12:45
Trzaskowski:
We've Only Won the First Round. We Must Win Local Elections to End the Era of Populism, the PiS Era
- This is only the beginning, we've only won the first round. A very important first round. However, everyone who has ever watched any duel knows that often after the first round, the opponent, even when knocked out, could get back up. And that's why this second round is so incredibly important. We must win the local elections, in all regions, in most cities, towns, and in rural Poland. To end the era of populism, the PiS era - stated Rafał Trzaskowski at the local government convention.
12:48
Trzaskowski:
We Must End the Era of Populism, Expel Evil
- We must end the era of populism, expel evil in order to be able to build, rebuild trust, but above all a community, and these are not empty words, this is what is most important to us. If anyone thinks that our fight for a democratic, open, European Poland ended on October 15th, then they don't understand what is happening in Poland. Today, we must finish this fight precisely in the local government elections - stated Rafał Trzaskowski at the local government convention.
12:52
Trzaskowski:
Warsaw Forgives No One Who Tries to Build Their Political Career Here
- Warsaw forgives no one who tries to build their political career on Warsaw. It will never succeed – stated Rafał Trzaskowski at the local government convention.
12:56
Kosiniak-Kamysz:
There is no more important matter today than the security of Poland, Europe, and NATO states; we will cooperate with everyone on this, starting with the President of the Republic of Poland.
- There is no more important matter today than Polish security, the security of Europe, NATO, and NATO states, to which we are allied and expect the fulfillment of these commitments. We approach this with the utmost seriousness; we will cooperate with everyone, even with the President of the Republic of Poland, because despite political differences and differing opinions on many issues, the national interest is sacred, it is not subject to any negotiations, it is not subject to any margins – stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at the TD convention in Kielce.
12:57
Trzaskowski:
There was a Mayor of Warsaw Who Halted All Investments, Because Then There Are No Problems
- There was a Mayor of Warsaw who halted all investments, because then there are no problems. No one will find fault with anything - stated Rafał Trzaskowski at a local government convention.
13:03
Kosiniak-Kamysz:
The Green Deal's Agricultural Goals Are Unacceptable to Us
- We have various ambitious goals set for 2040, '50, concerning many matters. However, if we want to live to see future decades, we must survive 2024, 2025. These could be the two toughest years, as various analysts are increasingly boldly stating. If we do not change the structure of fund allocation and the goals for which these funds are to be used, the EU will not fulfill its role as a community responsible for security and development, as this is how we define the EU – said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at the TD convention in Kielce.
- If 45% of the Cohesion Fund, the Common Agricultural Policy, or the KPO [National Reconstruction Plan] consist of Green Deal objectives, and they are unacceptable in many respects. Especially concerning agriculture, because energy transformation is one thing, but concerning agriculture, they are unacceptable to us - he continued.
- We believe that this 45% of these Funds should, from each of them, be reallocated in the first instance to three matters: military security and the development of the arms industry, energy security and the development of renewable energy sources, and food security and assistance for food independence for farmers in Poland and Europe. These three issues should be the foundation of EU actions today - he added.
13:05
Trzaskowski:
There's a lot of talk about the green transformation. Yes, some plans were poorly prepared.
Recently, there's been a lot of talk about the green transformation. Yes, some plans were poorly prepared, because the green transformation in agriculture was prepared in such a way that we see the results today, because every change must be discussed with citizens – stated Rafał Trzaskowski at a local government convention.
13:07
Trzaskowski:
This Part of the Green Deal Regarding Agriculture Was Poorly Prepared
- Every reform must be consulted. This part of the Green Deal, which was prepared concerning agriculture, was not well prepared, and what people dislike the most is hypocrisy. On the one hand, standards are being tightened, and on the other, goods from Ukraine are being allowed in without any control, and this is also a test of what citizens cannot stand the most - hypocrisy, a lack of credibility. These are the issues in today's elections - stated Rafał Trzaskowski at a local government convention.
13:15
Kosiniak-Kamysz:
Local government officials humiliated over the past 8 years will receive compensation
- What truly hurt the genuine stewards, the local government officials born and bred to the job, was what they struggled with for these eight years. An attempt was made to turn you, dear local government officials, into beggars. The state's philosophy was constructed in such a way that to get a subsidy for a waterworks, a nursery, a road renovation, even for the simplest of things, you had to go and, at best, kiss the hand of a PiS MP, and in more difficult cases, something else – stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
- We do not agree with this and by no means do we expect or want this from you. We expect something different: a clear presentation of issues, showing the goals for which funds need to be allocated – he added.
- All those [local government officials] who were humiliated over these eight years, simply because they didn't wear the right party affiliation card, or most often, no party affiliation card at all, and received less in national funds, while more was still taken from them into the state budget through tax changes, will receive compensation; these wrongs will be redressed – he declared.
13:18
Hołownia:
Putin is Humanity's Enemy, Sooner or Later He'll End Up Where He Belongs – Behind Bars or in the Ground
- I have two pieces of news for you, bad and good. The bad news is that neither Putin will back down, nor will the world suddenly become a more peaceful place, but there is also good news. The good news is that we will cope with this, that we have been presented with the most serious test in generations. And I want to tell you that we will pass this exam, because we are a wonderful nation of wise, entrepreneurial, and brave people. We will crush Putin into the ground; sooner or later, he will end up where he belongs: behind bars or in the ground. Putin is an enemy of humanity, Putin is someone who has reminded us of the importance of the alliances we forge (...). Today, we have no doubt that Ukraine must be supported so that it can win against this criminal on its territory, so that we do not have to win against him on our own territory – stated Szymon Hołownia at the TD convention in Kielce.
13:33
Czarzasty:
We Are Ready to Fight for at Least 10%. Because We Know that if the Left Gains 10%, PiS Will Not Govern in Any Regional Assembly
- We wanted to inform you that we have finished compiling the lists for the regional assemblies today, the Left is ready. The Left is running in a committee together with all left-wing parties. We have established our priorities; there are people, there is a program, there is a program, there are people. We want to tell everyone clearly and precisely: we are ready to fight to gain at least 10%. Because we know, we know this, that if the Left gains 10%, PiS will not govern in any regional assembly. This is confirmed by research, this is confirmed by analysis – stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty at the Left's press conference in Warsaw.
13:55
Czarzasty:
The Left's Local Government Program Focuses on Building Affordable Rental Housing and Well-Functioning Public Services
- We cannot imagine public services functioning well without the postulates of the Left. We want to create them in places where local governments operate. There are no good public services without well-functioning hospitals, nurseries, and kindergartens. There are no well-functioning public services without housing, and I want to state clearly – we do not believe in programs that involve returning interest to people building apartments. We, as the Left, say clearly and precisely: what about people who lack creditworthiness? Therefore, our program, our local government program, which involves building affordable rental housing, is relevant, and we will not give it up an inch – said Włodzimierz Czarzasty at a Left press conference in Warsaw.
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