At 12:00 PM in Krakow, the Civic Coalition (KO) will hold its local government convention, featuring participants such as Rafał Trzaskowski, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, Dorota Niedziela, and Aleksander Miszalski.

At 2:00 PM in Krakow, a local government convention will take place with the participation of the Law and Justice (PiS) party leader, Jarosław Kaczyński.

- We must finish what we started on October 15th. No one can remain indifferent to the local government elections, we cannot just go home. Appeal for it, ask, if necessary, beg. It is truly absolutely necessary – stated Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz at the Civic Coalition's (KO) local government convention in Krakow.

- I stand with you on this matter, ready to assist at your every call. I believe you will win these elections, and I believe we will all win. Most importantly, I believe you are the only future mayor of Krakow capable of rescuing this city from its decline. Because this is a decline brought about by developers and the previous mayor's rule, which resembled Caesaropapism. This is an example where even the best mayor, after two decades, ceases to be the best. This rule lasted too long, and a change is needed – not just a change of mayor, but a generational shift – stated Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz at the Civic Coalition (KO) local government convention in Krakow.

- These [local] elections are about ending the life of this brutal, unwise, sometimes fanatically religious government in Poland. Secondly, these elections are for us to rearrange Polish affairs anew, and thirdly, these elections are for the generation of people who will be responsible for Poland for decades to come to enter power, into real power. I wish this to all of you, and to Olek and all the candidates in these elections, hold on tight, fight like lions until the end, all the best, we will win – stated Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz at the Civic Coalition's local government convention in Krakow.

- What is most important to us, ladies and gentlemen, is the significance of these elections, and this is an absolutely invaluable matter. Minister Sienkiewicz spoke about this, our Marshal spoke about this, because these elections are fundamental. We took the first step on October 15th, the most important step, because we are restoring democracy, we are restoring the rule of law in Poland, but at this moment, the second step is equally important, and the next elections will also be important. Because if we want to close the era of populism in Poland, to close the PiS era, we must win the next elections – said Rafał Trzaskowski at the KO local government convention in Krakow.

— We have a huge challenge ahead of us. We truly need energy right now. I know that not everyone everywhere is living the local government campaign today. In Krakow, everyone is, because you have so many candidates that it's hard to be otherwise. However, not everyone is living the local government campaign. The most important thing is that we all repeat this, which is why we appeared here for a few hours: go to the polls on April 7th. These elections are of fundamental importance, and we cannot afford to let [this opportunity slip] when the whole world, truly the whole world, each of us perceives this, admires us, saying: you mobilized, you were the only country able to defeat populists wisely, because so many citizens, both men and women, went to the polls, because young people and women went to the polls, because it was women and young people who won these elections. And if we have felt this strength, this unbelievable strength, of our vote, the possibility of changing reality, we must show it once again — stated Rafał Trzaskowski at the KO local government convention in Krakow.

- Change must be wise; this is not about negating everything Mayor Majchrowski has done. Mayor Majchrowski did many wise things for Krakow, but the truth is, as Bartek Sienkiewicz stated, that after some time, new energy and a completely new perspective are needed. It is entirely natural that a new perspective is required – stated Rafał Trzaskowski at the KO local government convention in Krakow.

- This control is exercised by the media; it is a very important control today. They are not controlled; media pluralism has been, if not eliminated, then radically limited through institutions that they either have long since controlled, like the courts, or are currently illegally taking control of. These institutions that they intend to control are already being brutally attacked now, such as the Constitutional Tribunal (TK) – stated Jarosław Kaczyński during the PiS local government convention in Krakow.

- This inflation was [suppressed] by us, by us I emphasize, because our opponents, who are governing today, claim it's because of them. Here, the spokesperson, who is leading our meeting so dynamically, just told me it's like someone entered into a closer relationship with a lady three months ago, and she has just given birth. Because it was really us who did it, our policy led to it being 2.8%, it seems even Tusk himself boasted about it recently – said Jarosław Kaczyński during the PiS local government convention in Krakow.

- A segment of society, those more susceptible to media, including online, narratives, has been convinced that Poland is a dictatorship. This was instilled from the moment we took power; we had barely done anything, and yet they already declared it a dictatorship - stated Jarosław Kaczyński during the PiS local government convention in Krakow.

- Where, ladies and gentlemen, is what is arguably their most important announcement. Regarding social issues, those concerning citizens' wallets, for those who could count, 60,000 monthly, and for those who couldn't count, 72,000. Because some said 6,000 monthly, which is 72,000 annually, and others said 60,000, which is then 5,000 annually. So the art of counting isn't particularly strong here either. Where is this announcement? Well, one could say it's in the clouds, but there are plenty of such announcements. Where are Tusk's 100 specifics? Well, apart from the fight against the opposition, you could have recently seen how that fight looks. In short, this government must be told no – stated Jarosław Kaczyński during the PiS local government convention in Krakow.

Sejm and Senate sessions, health topics in Rafał Trzaskowski's campaign, Artur Soboń's re-examination by the postal voting investigation committee, and the government's consideration of the so-called contribution holidays bill – these are just some of the political topics for the coming days. This week also marks the continuation of the local government election campaign – three weeks remain until the first round of elections.

Trzaskowski on Health with Leszczyna. In the coming week, incumbent mayor Rafał Trzaskowski will focus on health issues. On Monday, a joint press conference will be held in Warsaw with the participation of Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna.

Soboń Before the Investigation Committee Again. On Monday, the investigation committee on postal voting will re-examine Artur Soboń, former Deputy Minister of State Assets, followed by a confrontation between witnesses – Artur Soboń and former Vice-President of the Management Board of Poczta Polska, Grzegorz Kurdziel.

Government on Contribution Holidays. On Tuesday, the government will consider the draft bill on so-called contribution holidays for entrepreneurs. According to the proposal, micro-entrepreneurs will be able to take advantage of a one-time exemption from paying social insurance contributions, the Labour Fund, and the Solidarity Fund in any given month of the year – the contributions will be financed by the state budget.

Further Hearings Before the Investigation Committee. On Tuesday, the investigation committee on postal voting will hear Wiktor Klimiuk, former member of the political cabinet of the Minister of Interior and Administration and former member of the Supervisory Board of Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych (Polish Security Printing Works), followed by Piotr Ciompa, former member of the Supervisory Board of Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych S.A. Meanwhile, the investigation committee on the visa scandal will hear Maciej Kowalski, Councillor at the Polish Embassy in Dakar and Consul of the Republic of Poland in Tunis, and Lech Antoni Kołakowski, Member of Parliament, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Sejm Session. On Wednesday and Thursday, MPs will convene for a two-day session. The current agenda includes, among other things, a project sponsored by Monika Rosa regarding the granting of regional language status to the Silesian ethnolect and changes to the composition of the Joint Commission of the Government and National and Ethnic Minorities, as well as a project by Konfederacja proposing to raise the tax-free amount for everyone to the equivalent of twelve times the minimum wage, but not less than PLN 60,000.

Senate. The upper house will also convene on Wednesday and Thursday. The agenda includes the consideration of two laws, including one concerning Poland's consent to suspend the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.

Constitutional Tribunal on Postal Voting. On Tuesday, a hearing at the Constitutional Tribunal concerning the constitutionality of former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's directives related to the preparation of postal voting in 2020, based on "anti-COVID" regulations, is scheduled to take place – this hearing has been postponed previously.

Duda in Slovenia. From Tuesday to Thursday, President Andrzej Duda, accompanied by his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda, will be in Slovenia. The exact schedule of the visit has not yet been published. Additionally, on Monday, Fra` John Dunlap, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, will pay an official visit and meet with President Andrzej Duda.

European Council Summit. On Thursday and Friday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk will participate in the European Council meeting. EU leaders will meet in Brussels to discuss the war in Ukraine, as well as security and defence, and the situation in the Middle East.

Photo: *Sejm*