Aircraft to Support Evacuation of Poles from the Middle East. Tusk Submits Request to the President
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03/05/2024
07:35
Tuesday's Political Agenda: Government on Loan Holidays, Burakowski on Visa Scandal, The Left in Łódź, Duda at STEADFAST DEFENDER-24 Drills
At 9:00 AM, a press conference will be held at the press tables in the Sejm with the participation of the head of the PiS parliamentary club, Mariusz Błaszczak, PiS spokesperson Rafał Bochenek, and MP Anna Gembicka.
At 10:00 AM, the investigative committee for the visa scandal will interrogate the former Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to India, Adam Burakowski.
At 11:00 AM, the government will address, among other things, a draft amendment to the act on supporting borrowers who have taken out housing loans and are in difficult financial situations. Also on the agenda is a draft regulation concerning the establishment, organization, and operating procedures of the Codification Commission for the System of Judiciary and Prosecution.
At 12:05 PM, a press conference of The Left will take place in Łódź with the participation of Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty and MP Tomasz Trela.
Following this, at 5:30 PM, a meeting with residents of Pabianice will commence, with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski and Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty.
At 2:00 PM, the Senate's health committee will consider – before tomorrow's Senate session – an amendment to the Pharmaceutical Law, which proposes the introduction of the 'day after' pill without a prescription.
Today, President Andrzej Duda will observe the cooperation of NATO troops in Korzeniewo as part of the STEADFAST DEFENDER-24 exercise.
Also today, a two-day meeting of the Monetary Policy Council will begin, during which a decision regarding interest rates may be made.
07:57
Berek on the package of solutions for the Constitutional Tribunal: This is meant to be the restoration of the Tribunal. We have an institution, a body, that handles cases outside the law.
- This [package of solutions for the Constitutional Tribunal] is meant to be the restoration of the Tribunal. A state needs a constitutional court, in our case called the Constitutional Tribunal, an institution that verifies the correctness of the laws being issued – said Maciej Berek in an interview with Mariusz Piekarski on TVP Info's "Gość poranka" (Morning Guest).
- We do not have a functioning Tribunal. We do not have a Tribunal that considers cases. We have an institution, a body, that handles some cases outside the law – he continued.
08:17
Berek on Constitutional Tribunal Judges: Absolutely No Plans for Forceful Solutions
- If the Constitutional Tribunal judges do not heed the will of the Sejm [expressed in a resolution], we will have to accept the current situation, and it will have to persist for some time, until – and this will be the second step – we manage to pass an amendment to the Constitution – said Maciej Berek in “Gość poranka” on TVP Info.
- Absolutely, and for certain, there are no plans for forceful solutions – assured the minister in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, when asked if there was a plan for the forceful removal of Constitutional Tribunal judges after the Sejm's resolution.
- If someone is locking this Tribunal, it is a symbolic lock […]. Either these dozen or so individuals, in the name of responsibility for the state, in the name of supporting the state in exiting the crisis, a very serious constitutional crisis in which we are, will help accelerate this with their actions, or we will have to wait for a constitutional amendment that will do this through legal means, without asking these individuals for their opinion – he continued.
08:18
Trzaskowski:
You Can Often See Me Using Public Transport
- I often travel by tram, I often travel by metro, and not just during election campaigns, but every year, every month. Depending on whether I only need to get to one place or, for example, I need to be in a dozen or so places during the day, then of course I use a car. But believe me, you can often see me using public transport - stated Rafał Trzaskowski in an interview with Grzegorz Kępka on Polsat News' "Graffiti".
- Not for every election, but when I take the metro, I always have a book with me. I do this very often. You just need to ask the residents of Kabaty, who often see me on the metro, and most often with a book - he continued.
08:23
Trzaskowski:
We're Counting on High Mobilization, It's Crucial. Paradoxically, It Might Have Been Easier 5 Years Ago
- We are, of course, counting on high mobilization, it is absolutely crucial, and paradoxically, it might have been easier 5 years ago because then there was great mobilization, as everyone wanted to show a red card to PiS. However, I am counting on the turnout to be good for us in these local elections as well - stated Rafał Trzaskowski on Polsat News' 'Graffiti'.
08:23
Trzaskowski:
If PiS Loses Elections in All Regions, This Party Will Simply Fall Apart
– These are incredibly important if we want to remove populists and PiS from power, we must turn out in large numbers for the local government elections, because if PiS loses elections in all regions, this party will simply fall apart – stated Rafał Trzaskowski on Polsat News's 'Graffiti'.
08:41
Berek:
85 Judgments by the Constitutional Tribunal Affected by Legal Flaws; Removing Their Legal Effects Requires Passing a Law Each Time
- The number of these judgments [affected by legal flaws because they were issued with the participation of so-called 'dubler' judges or Julia Przyłębska] according to the analysis that was conducted, is 85. The fact that something needs to be done about these judgments stems again from the fact that if we do nothing, in cases where these judgments were issued, individuals affected by these rulings would later face the consequence of finding out after some time, for example, that their judgment does not produce legal effects - stated Maciej Berek on TVP Info's "Gość poranka".
- The ECHR ruled as such, stating that a decision made within the Polish legal system, issued by the Constitutional Tribunal with the participation of a so-called 'dubler' judge, is not a court judgment. And a person who went through a long legal process would suddenly find out after several years: no, your case was not properly resolved after all - he explained.
- We need to sort this out and make this situation unambiguous. That is why a law is needed that will properly introduce the effects of these judgments into the legal system or neutralize them, if they were of such a nature that they were issued with the participation of 'dubler' judges and cannot produce legal effects because they are flawed - he continued.
- There is no such possibility [of deleting these judgments from the Monitor Polski]. They were issued by an authority acting in that composition, they were announced, and now removing the legal effects of these judgments requires a decision from the Sejm, the Senate, simply passing a law each time - he went on to say.
08:43
Brejza Asked if Kwiatkowska-Gurdak Became Head of CBA Thanks to Him: Nonsense, Untrue
- Nonsense, untrue - Krzysztof Brejza stated in an interview with Justyna Dobrosz-Oracz on TVP Info's "Morning" program, when asked if it was true that Agnieszka Kwiatkowska-Gurdak became the head of the CBA thanks to him.
- I do not know this person, but from the stories of investigative journalists, I know that she was indeed one of the individuals who played a certain role in this largest, arguably most flawed, special operation of Kamiński's services - he continued.
08:49
Brejza:
The 15 Million PLN Figure Suggests the Exclusive, Surveillance-Equipped Version of Hermes Could Have Been Purchased
- According to my findings, Hermes has two variants: one, referred to by the services as a comb for sifting through and aggregating information, but there is also a more exclusive variant. If it is true that Święczkowski's people spent 15 million Polish złoty on this, the amount indicates that it might be the exclusive function Hermes, which possesses certain surveillance capabilities - Krzysztof Brejza stated on TVP Info.
- The prosecution is independent to investigate the functions of this tool and check what it was used for - he continued.
08:56
Brejza on Jaki: It's incredible how this man lies, what a liar he is, and we will verify this in court
- It's incredible how this man lies, what a liar he is, and we will of course verify this in court. My wife is finishing the preparation of this lawsuit, supplementing it with Jaki's further statements. Each of these statements is an additional claim, and a significant, financial one - said Krzysztof Brejza on TVP Info.
- This man is an incredibly cynical liar, and I will verify this in court. Exactly what Jaki accused me of, I won a case against Samuel Pereira - he continued.
09:02
Kierwiński:
We Disagree with the Migration Pact Not Taking Polish Specifics into Account
- The Polish government very clearly declared that it would be against this matter. We will not endorse what the PiS government negotiated. We disagree with the migration pact not taking Polish specifics into account. I am surprised that PiS politicians did not take care of this. They have their mouths full of platitudes, but when it comes to looking after Polish interests, they did absolutely nothing - stated Marcin Kierwiński in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Gość Radia Zet".
09:06
Kierwiński:
Regarding the Migration Pact, We Will Vote Against It, Doing What the PiS Government Didn't
- I am here to fight for Poland's interest, and so is Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government, which is why on the matter of the [migration] pact, we will vote against it, we will explain and defend Poland's national interest, and we will do what the PiS government did not do - stated Marcin Kierwiński on the program "Gość Radia Zet".
09:11
Kierwiński:
The Law Will Be Respected. Tractors Will Not Drive Through the City Center Due to the Ban
- There is a ban on driving tractors in Warsaw. The police will enforce the law. The blockade of two streets, Wał Miedzeszyński and Trakt Lubelski, has been prohibited. The organizers appealed to the court and lost. This is not about a forceful intervention. The law will be respected, yes. Tractors will not drive through the city center because there is a ban - stated Marcin Kierwiński on the program 'Guest of Radio Zet'.
09:12
Brejza:
I won't be Blida or Lepper. I will speak out about how PiS members governed
- The services used cyber-weapons worth PLN 20 million [...] to reach the conclusion that I was clean [...]. On the other hand, to smear me, some of Ziobro's other people, on September 6 last year, after the Senate session had already ended, indeed filed a narrow, selective motion regarding [...] my exceeding of authority and alleged posting of comments online [...]. They filed the motion when the Senate session was no longer ongoing, the Immunity Committee was not in session, in order to portray me as a villain and a criminal. I immediately waived my immunity, I submitted this document to the Marshal of the Senate, there was no longer any committee. I know there was an error in the prosecution's request itself, it was supplemented by the prosecution two days before the elections, and then I was not summoned for anything anymore - said Krzysztof Brejza on TVP Info.
- This was done solely to smear me. And to conclude this line of thought, the Gdańsk prosecutor Remigiusz Signerski, who supervised this proceeding, disagreed with filing such a motion. As Gazeta Wyborcza reports, he made official notes on the days when this motion was filed, and in proceedings with Jaki and before the investigative committee, I will strive for these notes to be disclosed, because I will not be Barbara Blida, and I will not be Andrzej Lepper. I will speak loudly about how Ziobro ruled, how Kaczyński ruled, how Kamiński ruled, how PiS members, Solidarna Polska members, governed, I will reveal everything - he continued.
09:15
Kierwiński on PiS: They ruled for 8 years and had no influence on anything. They are a bunch of losers
-They ruled for 8 years and had no influence on anything. They are a bunch of losers. On the issue of migration, they didn't push through solutions favorable to Poland, and they couldn't do anything about agriculture either. So what were they there for?! Let them give back the money they took, because they took it for nothing - stated Marcin Kierwiński on the program "Gość Radia Zet".
09:23
Trzaskowski:
The Tram on Kasprzaka Started Today. Investment Completed on Time
- Exactly 2 years ago, we began this investment. This investment is finished, the tram on Kasprzaka started today. I just arrived to you in tram number 10, and for the first time, I could see from the tram what this investment looks like. It will significantly ease the lives of all residents of Odolany and the area around Jana Kazimierza street; they will be able to reach the metro much more easily, as well as the PKP Wola station. We are very happy about this. The route is 3.5 km long, of which 2.5 km is a completely new route, new tracks. This is truly an investment completed on time, and as we announced, it is changing the lives of Warsaw residents here in Wola, as well as speeding up the possibility of getting from Bemowo to the city center - stated Rafał Trzaskowski at a press briefing.
09:24
Trzaskowski:
Work on the tram to Wilanów should finish before the new school year
- We are continuing our work, as we are proceeding with the tram project to Wilanów, which should be completed before the new school year, i.e., by the end of August. Of course, as we announced, the line that will terminate at Dworzec Zachodni, and we are working on further tram investments that are extremely important for the city's residents - stated Rafał Trzaskowski at a press briefing.
09:51
Morawiecki:
Polish Farmers Did the Government's Job and Prepared a Resolution Fully Supported by PiS
- Polish farmers work hard to ensure our food security. For this, they deserve immense respect, but above all, support. Today, they have also stepped in for the new government and prepared a resolution that has the full support of PiS - said Mateusz Morawiecki in a recording published on social media.
- The resolution obliges the authorities to take immediate action to defend the interests of the Polish countryside and the entire Polish economy. Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker, since you cannot solve the problems of the Polish countryside yourselves, it is time to start listening to those who know what they are doing - he emphasized.
- You have three issues to solve - introducing a full embargo on agricultural products from Russia and Ukraine, introducing subsidies for farmers so that their agricultural production, their livestock production, is simply profitable, and above all, eliminating those absurdities in the European Green Deal, such as fallowing land or the ban on the use of plant protection products, which make it difficult for Polish farmers to manage their farms - he continued.
- My appeal to the authorities is simple: this is not a time for silence, this is not a time for waiting. The Polish countryside deserves concrete actions, the Polish countryside deserves action - he concluded.
09:55
Schetyna:
Kaczyński's Stay Shows PiS Cannot Diagnose Why It Lost the Election
- This [Kaczyński remaining party leader] only shows that PiS is unable to make a proper diagnosis of why it lost the recent elections, and this is good for our coalition, for those currently governing. Because I believe that no one will tell the truth so as not to offend Kaczyński. Yes [it's bad for PiS, good for the coalition] because Kaczyński will continue to write letters, he will indicate candidates for city mayors in the local government elections, he will write the list for the European Parliament, which is like a journey to the Promised Land for these PiS politicians. He will be the true leader and the head of PiS – stated Grzegorz Schetyna in the program "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.
- I see it this way, looking from the perspective of what's happening inside PiS, I see a clash of two politicians, or rather two options within PiS, i.e., Morawiecki and Czarnek. Meaning, more liberal, perhaps conservative variants, and on the other hand, such hard-right ones – he continued.
10:00
Kukiz:
Perhaps a return to the abortion compromise would be best, but I would vote for a referendum
- Those circles that fear that in a referendum Poles would vote for the possibility of completely unconditional abortion, etc., that such a referendum would be voted through, are mistaken. [...] I think perhaps the best solution would be a return to the classic abortion compromise law [...]. But if there were a referendum, yes, I would vote for a referendum - said Paweł Kukiz in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on the program "Sedno Sprawy" on Radio Plus.
10:04
Schetyna:
Abortion Laws Must Be Liberalized
- I don't know if the bill liberalizing abortion will pass this Sejm, but it must be very clearly put forward by the coalition and very clearly argued. Because the issue of women's rights, minority rights, but women's rights in particular, gave us the key to victory on October 15th. This enormous turnout among women, but also young people, had its reasons, its causes precisely in this state, in this expectation. As I say, it depends, of course, on the state in which it will be put on the table; I believe that these regulations must be liberalized. This is in the Civic Platform's program, and we all said, louder or quieter, that we would sign up to it. However, it is not on the table today, although there are such expectations – stated Grzegorz Schetyna on TVN24.
10:06
Schetyna on Constitutional Tribunal Changes: I See a Vision for the Tribunal, and It's a Very Bold One
- I see more of a vision in this, one that we are striving for and that is a commitment of the coalition. It's symbolic, but you know as well as I do that symbols can also create real, hard politics, and one needs to have a certain vision of how the Constitutional Tribunal should look. And this vision is very bold. I say this with full responsibility, also as a former Marshal, because we have discussed many times how to position the Constitutional Tribunal so that it is not under the influence of political changes and party politics – said Grzegorz Schetyna on TVN24.
10:09
Kukiz:
I'm convinced Kaczyński hasn't changed his mind; he knew from the start the retirement talk was a bit of a ruse
- I am convinced that he [Jarosław Kaczyński] has not changed his mind, that from the very beginning he knew, it was a bit of a ruse, a sort of "maybe I'll go into retirement" and so on. Perhaps if Law and Justice had won the elections significantly, if they had retained power, perhaps then he would have gone into semi-retirement - said Paweł Kukiz in Radio Plus.
- If PiS remains such a closed, hermetic formula, such a single fist, it will not regain power. If PiS adopts the United Right formula with a very broad front of right-wing and center-right organizations, then there is a chance to win the elections. If it's just PiS, there's no chance of winning the next elections - he continued.
10:17
Błaszczak:
PiS Resolution on Agriculture Includes Embargo on Products from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, Rejection of Green Deal, and Compensation for Farmers
- PiS is in favor when it comes to Polish agriculture, when it comes to Polish farmers. I am presenting here a draft resolution that we have submitted to the Marshal of the Sejm, a resolution prepared by the protesting Polish farmers. This resolution was submitted by MPs from the PiS parliamentary club. This resolution contains three main messages. Firstly, it is a matter of 'to be or not to be' for Polish agriculture, meaning a full embargo on food products and agricultural products imported from Ukraine, but we are also in favor of the embargo covering food products and agricultural products coming from Russia and Belarus. The second point, the second message, concerns the rejection of the Green Deal. The Green Deal is indeed very dangerous, extremely dangerous, for the future of Polish agriculture, but also for European agriculture. And the third point of this resolution, this draft, concerns support and compensation for farmers who are incurring losses related to all that concerns the rebuilding of the Russian empire by Putin. What concerns the consequences of the war, which is the result of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Polish government is obliged to support farmers – stated Mariusz Błaszczak at a press conference in the Sejm.
10:22
Błaszczak:
December 13 Coalition's Announcements Are an Example of a Grab for an Independent Institution, the Constitutional Tribunal
- The December 13 coalition hypocritically approaches the issue of the rule of law. They apply the rule of law as they understand it. Donald Tusk said in the election campaign that he would apply the law as he understands it. In PiS, we are for it, but for real, actual rule of law. The kind that results from the law in force in our country. What we are dealing with, these announcements, are another example of a grab for an independent institution [the Constitutional Tribunal], independent of the December 13 coalition, that's how it should be treated – said Mariusz Błaszczak at a press conference in the Sejm.
12:42
Duda:
Defender Europe Exercises Demonstrate Our Readiness to Defend NATO Territory
These are our joint exercises strengthening the security of NATO's entire eastern flank. These are enormous maneuvers, defensive in nature, of course, as that is also the character of the North Atlantic Alliance; they are a response to today's challenges. To the times when Russian aggression against Ukraine, because it is known that today the greatest threat comes precisely from this direction. This is also a response to potential, possible attacks on the Baltic states, potentially possible attacks on Poland. These maneuvers were concentrated on the transfer of allied troops, which in the first part of the Defender Europe maneuvers landed from the United States in the region of Norway – stated President Andrzej Duda during the STEADFAST DEFENDER-24 exercises.
These are exercises that demonstrate our readiness to defend NATO territory, meaning not only Polish territory, but also that of Lithuania and the other Baltic states, should the need arise. This shows that we are ready for it, that we are capable of conducting such an operation, and I congratulate everyone who prepared and commanded this operation – he added.
12:49
Duda to Convene National Security Council on March 11 to Showcase Polish Political Unity on Security Matters
- On Monday, March 11, before my visit to the United States, I will convene the National Security Council. I would like us to meet with the full representation of the Polish political scene present in parliament, to demonstrate the unity of the Polish political scene on security matters - stated President Andrzej Duda during the STEADFAST DEFENDER-24 exercises.
13:09
Hołownia on Abortion Bills: This Matter Must Be Considered Outside the Context of the Election Campaign
- My current findings do not indicate a high probability of establishing such a [extraordinary] commission [on abortion bills]. Today, we will also definitively set the agenda for this Sejm session. I am in favor of the thesis that we must do absolutely everything to minimize the risk of all four bills [on abortion] being rejected in the first reading. We are in an election campaign, there's no hiding that. Campaign emotions are already running high, on a very wide spectrum, and today we must say that this is such an important matter that it must be considered, I don't want to say calmly, because it will never be calm, but nevertheless, outside the context of the current and increasingly heated election campaign – stated Szymon Hołownia in a conversation with journalists.
14:44
Tusk:
We've Decided to Extend Credit Holidays
Today we made a decision, and this is probably the most important piece of news of the day for a significant group of our compatriots, a decision to extend so-called credit holidays. This is about supporting borrowers who have taken out a housing loan and are in a difficult financial situation, and the act on social financing for business ventures and aid for borrowers. Behind these rather technical terms lies the decision to extend this system, which allows those who have taken out a loan and are having trouble repaying it, for various reasons, to have the opportunity for these holidays, i.e., to defer the repayment of the loan, and we have also increased the availability and scope of aid for those who, for example, have lost their jobs – Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated at a press conference.
14:54
Tusk:
We Have Addressed a Project That Should Make It Easier for Farmers to Access Credit
- We have also addressed a project that should make it easier for Polish farmers to access credit, especially now, at this pre-spring time. Perhaps you remember, over a year ago, in April, on PiS's initiative, a law was introduced that was supposed to theoretically help farmers obtain credit, and this agricultural credit resembled a consumer credit, which theoretically offered greater protection to borrowers. Following analyses, as well as many signals from interested communities, we have taken the initiative to amend this law. Excessive consumer protection turned out to be a barrier and, in fact, a hindrance for farmers. Banks are less willing and charge more for loans when this consumer protection is overscaled – Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a press conference.
14:55
Tusk on PiS Politicians: We Are Witnessing a Parade of Deceivers Joining Farmers' Protests
Everyone has the right to protest, and it is not my job to review who should and who shouldn't protest on what matters. But I would like to and want to say this out loud, because it sounds adequate to reality. We are witnessing a parade of deceivers, I am talking about PiS politicians, who today are joining farmers' protests in connection with the excessive import of Ukrainian grain – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.
15:03
Tusk:
Concerns Exist That Due to OTS Company's Activities, Poland Will Face Serious Trouble
- There is this company OTS founded by Orlen, despite warnings directed at members of Mateusz Morawiecki's government. Regarding the nature, activities, and staffing of this company, no effective intervention was decided upon, and Mr. Obajtek proceeded with what he intended. There are justified concerns that due to this company's activities, Poland will face very serious trouble. However, the members of this company's management board will not face trouble; they have guaranteed themselves remuneration. As of the end of February 2024, the data shows that for each board member, it is 2 million Polish zlotys annually – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.
15:03
Tusk invites farmers to another meeting:
I’ll be available.
- I’ve arranged a meeting with the farmers this week to report on the actions I’ve taken since our last meeting. I hope they will accept the invitation – Saturday, 10:00 AM, “Dialog” Center. I’ll be available – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.
15:11
Tusk:
We will call on the EU to verify Green Deal requirements
- We will, if of course the Sejm accepts my proposal and adopts such a resolution, call on the European Union, the institutions of the European Union, for an immediate verification of the Green Deal requirements. There are good, nice regulations there, as is known, but excessive, irrational, and costly Green Deal requirements for agriculture, not just Polish, should be suspended and then corrected - said Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.
15:14
Tusk:
Obajtek Hired a Detective to Surveil KO Politicians. Orlen Spent Over a Million PLN on It
- Mr. President Obajtek – and this is also information I received today – also had interests very typical of all PiS officials. He signed, here is a copy of this document, he signed, among others, an order for a detective whose task, as it was stated in this letter, was to identify and document acts of unfair competition against PKN Orlen, including identifying the sources of disclosure of information regarding the company's operations – Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a press conference.
- We also have documentation that shows what the detective hired by Mr. President Obajtek was doing. Mainly, constantly surveilling opposition MPs, in this case, Mr. Marcin Kierwiński, Mr. Jan Grabiec, today's government ministers, and MEP Andrzej Halicki. For these detective services, Orlen, by Daniel Obajtek's decision, spent over a million Polish zlotys – on the daily observation of opposition MPs – he continued.
15:20
Tusk:
My Recommendation is That We Could Return to 5% VAT on Food
- We can certainly say today, this is more than our intuition, that inflation should definitely continue to fall in March, it should stabilize at a relatively low level [...] and I wouldn't rule out, but we still need a moment of reflection by the end of the week, that we will leave the issue of VAT on food at the level it was before the inflation surge and we will observe what happens next. My recommendation is this, but the Minister of Finance will still calculate it precisely, that we could return to a 5% VAT rate on food and revert to zero at any time if there are reasons for it - Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a press conference.
15:27
Tusk:
Any Institution Established by PiS That Does Not Serve Poland's Interests Will Be Dissolved
- Any institution established by PiS, be it foundations or funds, that does not yield anything sensible from the perspective of the Polish state's interests, will be dissolved. I do not have a list right now and I do not want to scare anyone, but we will not hesitate for a moment [...]. We will inform you successively - said Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.
15:36
Tusk:
Don't Expect Those Responsible to Pretend to Be Well-Meaning Individuals Cooperating with Us on Restoring the Rule of Law
- We have been aware from the very beginning that restoring the legal order in Poland, re-establishing the principles of the rule of law, would not proceed smoothly. I did not expect enthusiasm or applause from PiS politicians or the President. They, together, brought about a situation where Poland, on a global and European scale, became a state where the principles of the rule of law suffered exceptionally - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.
- Don't expect those responsible to pretend right now to be well-meaning individuals who will cooperate with us in fixing this - he added.
15:40
Tusk:
Some Projects Will Be Vetoed by the President. I Told Him He's Missing an Opportunity to Fix What He Broke Together with PiS.
- Some of these actions will perhaps be symbolic, but it's very important to show that our government, even though it's blocked by a potential presidential veto, has projects and wants to implement them. This is crucial for both citizens and our partners to know that we take our commitments regarding the rule of law seriously. I am also aware that some projects will certainly be vetoed by the president, but I have already told the president that in my opinion, he is missing an opportunity to fix what he broke together with PiS - Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a press conference.
17:24
Tomczyk:
Joint Trip of Tusk and Duda to Meet Biden is an Idea Showing We Speak with One Voice on Security Matters
- The joint trip of Prime Minister Tusk and President Andrzej Duda [to meet Biden] is a really good idea [...]. It's a good idea of Polish diplomacy and the American side, because the decision is mutual on this matter, and it's also an idea that shows that regardless of who governs in Poland, on security matters, at least in the most important issues, we speak with one voice. At least with President Andrzej Duda - said Cezary Tomczyk in an interview with Karolina Lewicka on TOK FM's "Political Interview".
17:30
Tomczyk:
We're Among the World's Best in Military Cyberspace Defense. Credit Goes to Two Governments
- In 2014, we also began building our capabilities in cyberspace on a full scale. Today, I can say this with pride, and it's truly thanks to two governments, which I also think is important to emphasize, including the government I don't have the highest opinion of, that building capabilities in the sphere of cyberspace has been successful. Today, we are among the world's leaders, I believe in the top 10 countries globally, when it comes to the protection of military cyberspace – said Cezary Tomczyk on TOK FM.
18:24
Hołownia:
I've Decided Abortion Bills Will Be Processed in Parliament on April 11, Immediately After the First Round of Elections
- I certainly cannot be accused of blocking the abortion law projects, because I am doing everything to have them processed in the Sejm, meaning the Parliament should seriously consider them. However, we live in a political reality, not an ideal one, and we are in the midst of a very heated election campaign - said Szymon Hołownia in an interview with Agata Adamek on TVN24's "Tak jest".
- I have spent the last few weeks on consultations, discussions, attempts at mediation, and trying to minimize the risk that all the projects currently in the Sejm will be rejected in the first reading as part of this pre-election barrage. That the so-called left will shoot down the projects of those more to the right, and those more to the right will shoot down the projects of those more to the left, and we will be left with fallow land, with scorched earth, just because someone believes that this will make it easier for them or their colleague to become a village head, a mayor, or a councillor - he continued.
- That's why I have made the decision, after all these consultations, all these mediations, and attempts to see if there's any chance such a catastrophe can be avoided, that the abortion law projects will be processed in the Sejm in the near future, but specifically just after the first round of elections, so it will take place in the Sejm on April 11 - announced the Marshal of the Sejm.
The first round of local government elections will take place on April 7. The second round - two weeks later, on April 21.
- On April 11, I hope, there will be more room to talk a bit more calmly, whether there is a possibility between us to establish this extraordinary commission, which, if we were to establish it, it would be good for it to produce reports, for instance, by summer, which we can then subject to further analysis and processing in the Sejm - he continued.
- It is extremely important that we understand today - and I take this responsibility upon myself - that we are talking about women's rights, about the fate of women, about caring for the well-being of women, and not about a current political squabble, which, let's be honest, is also something normal - he stated.
- An election campaign as sharp and as heated as the one we are currently experiencing could destroy all these projects and the hopes that accompany them - he added.
19:02
Hołownia:
Pawłowska's Swearing-in Scheduled for Tomorrow
- The swearing-in will take place if Ms. Pawłowska, the MP, wishes to take it, because of course, that is at her discretion. In any case, we have it scheduled for tomorrow at the very beginning of the session – said Szymon Hołownia on TVN24's "Tak jest".
- We have agreed with Ms. Pawłowska, the MP, on a different location [than the one that belonged to Mariusz Kamiński]. The MP's hall can accommodate 465 people, we have a small reserve in terms of seats. And this location has already been agreed upon – he added.
20:20
Sawicki Asked If He'll Vote for Abortion Law Liberalization: 'No, Absolutely Not'
- No, absolutely not. I've said this many times, my voters have known this view of mine for 30 years, and in no campaign have I ever made promises to anyone that I would be in favor of abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy. I believe that as a democrat, even if it doesn't align with my views, if any of these solutions achieve a majority in a referendum, then I will be bound by the will of the nation and will vote as Poles decide in a referendum – stated Marek Sawicki on the program “Gość 19:30” on TVP Info.
20:28
Sawicki:
I Expect Tusk to Explain to von der Leyen That the Green Deal Must Be Withdrawn
- The Green Deal is an empty ideology pushed by Janusz Wojciechowski, who claimed it was a PiS program that he implemented in the European Commission. Today, all of agricultural Europe is protesting against the Green Deal, so if the commissioner was then able to convince the entire Commission that his concept was right, and he sees today the anger of farmers on this matter, then he should withdraw from it as soon as possible. I also expect Prime Minister Tusk to explain to Ursula von der Leyen that this Green Deal must be withdrawn – stated Marek Sawicki in the program “Gość 19:30” on TVP Info.
20:35
Sawicki:
I am convinced Tusk can negotiate a 'humanitarian fund' with von der Leyen for the next 10 years
- I am convinced that Prime Minister Donald Tusk is capable of negotiating with Ursula von der Leyen for the next 10 years, because this is not a one-year matter, a so-called humanitarian fund at the level of 5-7 billion euros, which will ensure that these 20 million tons of surplus grain are exported annually as humanitarian aid to regions in hungry Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East - stated Marek Sawicki on TVP Info's program "Gość 19:30".
21:31
Zgorzelski on Abortion Bills: It's Good These Issues Won't Be Used in the Election Campaign
- The Marshal did not block it, Madam Editor, he simply announced the date of April 11th, which is the date for the commencement of the debate on these topics. I believe that considering we are living in a specific political reality, as there is an election campaign underway, it is good that these issues will not be used in the election campaign. This is a sovereign decision of the Marshal; the Marshal has the right to do so, it stems from the Sejm's regulations, he made such a decision, I understand, accept, and respect this decision. Recognizing that it is better to discuss this a few weeks later, without the overlay of the election campaign – stated Piotr Zgorzelski in the program "Kropka na i" on TVN24.
- Marshal Szymon Hołownia's proposal, in my opinion, is rational, because they, all these legislative proposals [regarding abortion liberalization] will go to a committee, where they will be processed and a report will be drafted – he added.
21:33
Szczerba:
Obajtek Should Be Held Financially and Criminally Liable for Misusing Orlen Funds for a Private Investigator
- It's unbelievable, I think Daniel Obajtek should also be held financially responsible for using Orlen funds for purposes completely contrary to the company's interests. This money, this million [zlotys] allocated for protection, for this private investigator who provided services for his benefit, should be returned to the company. I hope the new management will address this matter, including criminal liability, because there can be no tolerance for doing political work using state-owned company funds. Just as they did when they siphoned money from Orlen foundations for political events, for political foundations, all of this needs to be accounted for – stated Michał Szczerba on the program "Kropka nad i" on TVN24.
21:34
Szczerba on Visa Scandal Commission: Consuls' Accounts Confirmed Today by Polish Ambassador to India
- It was very important for us that the consuls' accounts were confirmed today by the ambassador, in India, who was there for 6 years. So, Consuls Irzyk and Consul Reszczyk were passing on information, and today the ambassador didn't want to say it officially, but he suggested that he had notified the services and that our services might also have acted in this matter – Michał Szczerba said on TVN24.
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