Live Feed

04/11/2024

07:28

Thursday's Political Agenda: Sejm Debates Abortion Bills, Tusk Meets European Leaders, Sienkiewicz Press Conference, Duda at Vilnius Summit

Today in Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk will meet with the heads of government of Estonia and Luxembourg and participate in the Strategic Agenda. At 3:45 PM, the head of the Polish government will welcome Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister (KPRM). This will be followed by meetings between the two prime ministers and their delegations, after which a press conference with Tusk and Kallas is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

At 5:30 PM, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden will arrive at the KPRM, and the head of the Polish government will then meet with him. At 6:17 PM, in the Palace on the Isle in Łazienki Park, a meeting with the media is planned for Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President of the European Council Charles Michel. At 6:25 PM, a meeting between the two leaders will take place, followed at 6:40 PM by the reception of the heads of government of Estonia, Greece, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Spain. Subsequently, at 7:00 PM, everyone will participate in a working dinner.

The Sejm will resume its proceedings at 9:00 AM with a session for questions on current matters, and at 11:15 AM, at the request of the Lewica parliamentary club, it will hear a current information report on the state of civil defense system preparations for protection against the consequences of a potential armed conflict. Following this, at 12:45 PM, the Sejm will address four bills concerning abortion – two authored by Lewica and one each submitted by Civic Coalition (KO) and Third Way. The discussion on these bills will be joint and will last until 7:00 PM.

At 9:30 AM, a press conference will be held by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, concerning changes in cultural institutions.

At 9:45 AM in the Sejm, a press conference titled '50 million PLN – that's the Polish abortion debt' will take place, with the participation of, among others, the Minister of Family, Labor, and Social Policy, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, the Minister for Equality, Katarzyna Kotula, and Anna-Maria Żukowska.

At 11:30 AM, in front of the building of the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw, a press conference will be held by the Team for the Accountability of PiS Governments, with the participation of, among others, Katarzyna Kierzek-Koperska, Karolina Pawliczak, and Roman Giertych. The topic: filing a notification of suspected criminal offenses by Zbigniew Ziobro and Mateusz Morawiecki.

President Andrzej Duda will participate in the 9th Summit and Business Forum of the Three Seas Initiative in Vilnius. A press conference will be held at 4:00 PM Polish time.


08:02

Pomaska:

Prosecutor's Office Launches Investigation into Earnings at Orlen
For over a year, as Members of Parliament, we have been dealing with the issue of circumventing the statutory pay cap. I must tell you that just last night I received notification from the prosecutor's office about the launch of an investigation concerning the circumvention of the pay cap and budget-related laws precisely at Orlen. This will concern the earnings of both Daniel Obajtek and all members of the management board and supervisory board. Incidentally, Obajtek is not responsible, because it was not he who decided, but the Supervisory Board and Minister Sasin – stated Agnieszka Pomaska on TVN24. - Daniel Obajtek earned over a million zlotys too much at Orlen, and I assume he will have to return that money because an investigation has been launched by the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw, an investigation that was politicized during its time – she continued.

08:13

Pomaska:

I am highly critical of the idea of a referendum on abortion

- I will vote yes so that the liberalization of abortion law becomes a fact in Poland as quickly as possible. I am highly critical [of the idea of a referendum] not only due to the time it would take, because we know it would drag on, but also because I do not want the rights of my children, our children, Polish women to be decided by those who will never encounter the problem of deciding about their own health and life – stated Agnieszka Pomaska on TVN24.


08:55

Kierwiński:

I hope today the abortion projects will go to the extraordinary committee for work

- I hope that today four projects [regarding abortion] will go to the extraordinary committee for work and urgent, but substantive work will begin in the committee. There is always that fraction of a percent of uncertainty during a vote. I think they will all go to the committee, and I would really encourage all my colleagues to ensure this happens, as these are very serious topics – stated Marcin Kierwiński on TOK FM.


08:55

Kierwiński:

The Best Configuration is Prime Minister Tusk and President Trzaskowski

- I think there are many commentators who want to plan the future of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, perhaps without realizing that Prime Minister Donald Tusk programs his own political future. I am convinced that the best configuration is Prime Minister Donald Tusk, President Rafał Trzaskowski – said Marcin Kierwiński in TOK FM.


08:56

Kierwiński:

Of Course Left-Wing Voters Are Drawn to Civic Coalition; the Left Wing of PO is a Very Interesting Choice for Many Poles
- No, we want to cooperate with the Left. You know, this kind of journalistic language is untrue in the case of Civic Coalition. We have had solid, proven partners for many years. Together we create, for example, Civic Coalition, and these are partners who are treated on equal terms, they have their representation in the parliamentary club, in local governments, and in Prime Minister Donald Tusk's cabinet. We have truly learned this lesson; we take our partners seriously – stated Marcin Kierwiński on TOK FM. - Of course they [Left-wing voters] are drawn [to Civic Coalition] because this left wing of Civic Platform is a very interesting choice for many residents of Poland, but we conduct our own policy in this regard, we have our own strategy. There are areas where we agree with the Left, and there are areas where we have completely different views – he continued.

09:01

Bodnar on Potential Presidential Veto of Abortion Bill: "From Voters' Perspective, It Doesn't Carry That Much Weight"
- I constantly hear this argument in the context of judicial reform bills, for which I am responsible, that the president will veto it anyway [...]. However, from the perspective of voters, it doesn't carry that much weight. That is to say, of course, voters want to see effectiveness and for certain things to be brought to completion, but voters will hold those in power accountable for whether they are doing their job. And if they have promised something, they must simply do their homework and conduct discussions, process bills at an appropriate pace, and see them enacted. Afterwards, the responsibility lies with the president for the decisions that will be made – said Adam Bodnar in an interview with Renata Grochal on the program "Bez Uników" (No Evasions) on Trójka, when asked whether the abortion debate makes sense if the president vetoes a bill liberalizing current regulations.

09:06

Bodnar:

If a doctor, for example, doesn't refer a woman to someone who can indicate where an abortion could be performed, perhaps there should be disciplinary, or even criminal, responsibility.
- If we have a situation where a doctor breaks the existing law, such as not referring a woman to a person who would be able to indicate where an abortion could be performed, perhaps such situations should be subject to disciplinary responsibility, or even in some situations criminal responsibility, though I think most often it will be a matter of disciplinary responsibility - said Adam Bodnar on Trójka.

09:13

Bodnar:

By Friday at the latest, on Monday the public will know the overall scale of Pegasus use in Poland
- If I said that 31 letters went out in the first round, and then subsequent packages, one could say, letters sent to individuals, because there are significantly more of these individuals [...] then I think that by Friday at the latest, on Monday the public will know the overall scale of Pegasus use in Poland - said Adam Bodnar in Trójka.

09:22

Czarzasty:

We Simply Didn't Do Well in These Elections

- We simply didn't do well in these elections. We've thought about the results and are currently analyzing what happened. We are conducting analyses, and on Saturday we have our board meeting where we need to summarize. We are in an election cycle, so Saturday's board meeting will be dedicated to two matters. Firstly, identifying mistakes that cannot be repeated in two months, and secondly, determining what we will do over the next two months - stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty on TOK FM.


09:25

Bodnar:

We are analyzing what happened to the evidence the Smoleńsk Subcommittee did not return. If the law was broken, it could result in charges against Macierewicz
- What interests me most is what was revealed some time ago, that the Smoleńsk Subcommittee received some evidence, some parts of the Tu-154 from the prosecution, which they never returned, despite many written requests over the years [...] Antoni Macierewicz simply did not want to return this evidence, and when some of it was returned, it turned out that it had been destroyed - Adam Bodnar said on Trójka. - Now we are analyzing very carefully what happened to these evidential materials. If this analysis shows that the law was broken due to the non-return of this evidence, then of course it could result in [Macierewicz] being charged - he continued.

09:26

Czarzasty:

We Failed to Find the Key to Engaging the Younger Generation in Elections

- We failed to find the key to engaging the younger generation in elections, because they didn't turn out. These are two problems. Firstly, we didn't inform them about the need to re-register; the whole procedure is complicated and clearly needs simplification. We couldn't do it, I couldn't do it. I think women, who in many situations also didn't vote, had enough of the delays happening today; I think there was discouragement – stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty on TOK FM.


09:32

Czarzasty:

The Conflict Arose Because Hołownia Kept Postponing Deadlines

- The conflict arose because Szymon Hołownia kept postponing deadlines. My statement two months ago was born out of frustration; if he hadn't postponed those deadlines, there would be no issue, because what Szymon thinks about abortion and women's rights, everyone knows, we've heard it many times, that's his business. What we have achieved is at least that all women know what this party structure and its leaders simply think - stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty on TOK FM.


09:33

Bodnar:

I Will Not Run for President. Trzaskowski is KO's Candidate
- I will not run for president. The Civic Coalition's candidate is Mr. Rafał Trzaskowski - Adam Bodnar said on Trójka. - I am repeating what was said today by a person close to the decision-making circles in Civic Platform, in the Civic Coalition, namely Mr. Marcin Kierwiński - he continued.

09:48

Sienkiewicz:

I Received the TVP Registry Entry with Great Satisfaction
I must say that I received the TVP registry entry, decided by a three-judge panel of full judges, with great satisfaction. This is effectively the end of the legal dispute regarding the takeover of television by PiS. Any narratives from this point onwards about illegal actions, about it being done unlawfully, are baseless. The same happened in the prosecutor's office, the same happened in state-owned companies. These are all ongoing processes – stated Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz at a press conference.

09:56

Sienkiewicz:

Today I Dismissed the Directors of the European Solidarity Centre and the Polish Film Institute

- Today I dismissed Ms. Małgorzata Gabin from the position of Director of the European Solidarity Centre. Mr. Wojciech Kozłowski, the current deputy director of this institution, who knows it very well, will be acting in her stead. Regarding the reasons for dismissal, I can only say that there were serious procedural violations, namely the failure to submit legally required reports within the statutory deadline. This also concerns the lack of oversight over units such as the branches in Switzerland and the United States. All of this leads me to believe that further cooperation with Ms. Gabin is not possible - stated Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz at a press conference.

- The same happened with the Polish Film Institute; Mr. Radosław Śmigulski has been dismissed. Ms. Kamila Dorbach, who previously worked at this institution, has been appointed as director in his place. We will initiate a competition for the position of Director of the Polish Film Institute as soon as possible - he added.


10:50

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

We Don't Want to Debate Today Whether Abortion is Good or Bad. We Want to Talk About the Fact That Abortion Exists
- Today, an extremely important debate awaits us, one that millions of women in Poland have been waiting for, not for a month, not for a year, not for the last or the penultimate term, but truly for the last 30 years. We want this debate to be substantive, we want it to be fair and give voice to women who want to make their own decisions. We do not want to debate today whether abortion is bad or abortion is good. We want to talk today about the fact that abortion exists, that every day some woman needs an abortion – said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk at a press conference in the Sejm.

- Abortion today is often a matter of wallet size, of whether someone has the money to go abroad. It is often a matter of contacts, information, knowledge of where to call, how social organizations work. Clearly, women are resourceful, Polish women are resourceful, they know how to cope, where to seek help, but must half, more than half of Polish society, in the 21st century, in the very heart of Europe, really have to scheme, have to wonder how to cope to circumvent state oppression? In our opinion, in the opinion of Lewica, no, it's high time to end the hypocrisy – she continued.

10:50

Sienkiewicz:

I am Seriously Considering Filing a Motion for the Head of the National Broadcasting Council to Face a State Tribunal
- In my opinion, the chairman of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT), by not disbursing funds [from the license fee] because his political colleagues do not govern the media there – and this is the reason, let's not pretend it's something else – is drastically breaking the law. There is a notification to the prosecutor's office filed in this matter, the liquidator of Polish Television is acting on this issue, and I am seriously considering approaching the parliament with a motion for a State Tribunal for Mr. Świrski, because I believe this crosses all lines – stated Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz at a press conference. - These are not Mr. Świrski's funds, these are not PiS's funds. These are funds designated for the media, and it is none of Mr. Świrski's business who currently governs these media, or exercises oversight over them. […] If this continues, I will want to submit such a motion – he continued.

11:25

Błaszczak:

Several MPs Elected from KO List Did Not Oppose the Migration Pact. The Pact is a Catastrophe for Poland

- In our assessment, the migration pact poses a threat, a catastrophe for Poland, if it is adopted further in the ongoing process. Therefore, I want to strongly emphasize that PiS parliamentarians have always opposed the migration pact. When I myself became Minister of the Interior and Administration in the autumn of 2015, I blocked the acceptance of migrants. The previous PO-PSL government agreed to something akin to a migration pact, meaning the acceptance of migrants - stated Mariusz Błaszczak in the Sejm.

- Many, several parliamentarians elected from the KO list did not oppose the migration pact in yesterday's vote. What's more, Donald Tusk's coalition partners, meaning those who form the coalition of December 13th, their parliamentarians voted "yes". Consequently, we will demand specific information on this matter in the Polish Sejm - he continued.


11:27

Błaszczak:

If Tusk Insists on Accepting Migrants, We Suggest They Be Housed in Wilanów or Wrocław's Jagodno District

- I assure you that local governments, those run by PiS, will not agree to accept migrants. We have such a suggestion. If Donald Tusk insists on accepting migrants anyway, we propose finding places for them in the Wilanów town in Warsaw, because I understand that Rafał Trzaskowski will be very open to such a proposal, or in the Wrocław district of Jagodno, where PO enjoyed such strong support in the parliamentary elections - stated Mariusz Błaszczak in the Sejm.


12:18

Czarnek:

I hope the entire PiS club votes to throw all four abortion bills in the bin
- We have never had party discipline on this matter. I hope the entire club votes to throw all four bills [concerning abortion] in the bin. There is only one Constitution - Przemysław Czarnek told journalists in the Sejm. - We do not threaten our MPs with expulsion from the party. If someone votes differently, they vote differently, but I hope that either everyone, or an overwhelming majority, will vote to throw all four bills in the bin - he continued.

13:12

Żukowska:

Why Do Women Have Abortions? Because They Want To. Because It's Their Decision, It Concerns Their Bodies
- Why do women have abortions? Because they want to. Because it's their decision, it concerns their bodies. A fetus cannot be transplanted into another body. If someone believes that the father should have influence over these decisions, of course, in loving relationships, conversation is necessary, but it is the woman who decides, who bears all the consequences associated with pregnancy - stated Anna-Maria Żukowska in the Sejm.

13:13

Żukowska:

Older gentlemen in suits won't tell women what to do with themselves

- Older gentlemen in suits will not tell women what to do with themselves. With themselves. There is no such thing as being able to remove a fetus and it will be somewhere else, it will not concern the woman. It is an integral part of her body at that moment. We are talking about life, let's talk about the lives of women, how this life is destroyed because the husband of a woman who had an abortion, had the right to do so, goes to prison. Is that normal? - stated Anna-Maria Żukowska in the Sejm.


13:54

Wielichowska:

Women's rights are not negotiated, not put to a referendum
- The assertion that an abortion ban solves the problem of unwanted pregnancies is like throwing an unpaid bill into the trash, as if to make the obligation disappear, or like closing our eyes and thinking we've become invisible. One could also claim that water from the tap isn't wet, or that Copernicus was wrong and it's actually the sun that revolves around the Earth. However, these things don't change facts. Abortion was, is, and always will be - stated Monika Wielichowska during a Sejm session. - Abortion is not a matter of opinion, abortion is not a matter of worldview. Today we are discussing women's rights, but women's rights are simply not negotiated, women's rights are not written into any coalition agreement, women's rights are not put to a referendum. Human rights are enshrined in the Constitution - she continued. - The current law in Poland forces women to perform heroic acts. Today in Poland, pregnancies are managed by prosecutors, politicians, and priests. Today, pregnancies in Poland are managed by ideology, superstition, and religion - she went on to say.

14:13

Rosa:

Today We Are Addressing Whether the Polish State Will Finally Take Responsibility for Millions of Women in Poland
- None of us, regardless of our conscience, faith, or lack thereof, can decide for women. It is not our consciences, not our faith, not our convictions that play the most important role here. But rather the will, the decision, the conviction of each individual woman who has a positive pregnancy test result before her, who has her own history, her own experiences, who has her own reasons. It is not our role to ask women about these reasons. Today, we are not concerned with what each of you thinks, what you believe, but with whether the Polish state will finally take responsibility for millions of women in Poland, care for their safety, their health, and their future - stated Monika Rosa in the Sejm. - Today, we present to you a bill that gives Polish women free choice, that clearly states that every pregnant person will be able to receive a benefit in the form of abortion up to the 12th week. In accordance with the latest medical knowledge and according to their own will, a bill that states that after the 12th week, abortion will also be possible under three clearly defined conditions - she added.

16:08

Hennig-Kloska:

Regardless of Whether We Reach a Compromise, the Abortion Law Liberalization Bill Will Be Vetoed by the Presidential Palace
- Does anyone in this chamber truly believe that if President Duda didn't sign the "morning-after pill" bill, he would sign a bill liberalizing abortion law? Of course not. Of course, we are aware that regardless of whether we reach a compromise or not, this bill will be vetoed by the Presidential Palace. Secondly, a referendum will provide stable law [...] because it will be much harder for any subsequent government arrangement to challenge a verdict made by the citizens through a referendum - stated Paulina Hennig-Kloska during a Sejm session.

16:37

Szefernaker:

Abortion is Not a Human Right, Life is a Human Right

- As a father, I disagree with the thesis that men should remain silent on the issue of abortion. Firstly, it teaches irresponsibility; this way of thinking absolves men of any responsibility, shifting the full burden onto women. This thinking is against women. As a father, I waited with my wife to hear the heartbeat of our children at 6 weeks of pregnancy. The proposal to terminate a human heartbeat on demand up to 12 weeks is a great misfortune, but it is also a crime. Abortion is not a human right; life is a human right. The right to life is the fundamental human right. It stems from natural law and is enshrined in the Constitution – stated Paweł Szefernaker in the Sejm.

- The great Pole, the late John Paul II, said: if a mother is allowed to kill her own child, what can stop you or me from killing each other – he continued.


17:02

Duda:

We See Growing Interest in Trójmorze Cooperation. It Functions Well, Its Effects Are Visible in Our Countries
- Just a moment ago, we were looking at the discussion table where we all sat and spoke. […] 25 countries, and not just those that are members of the Trójmorze community, and therefore also members of the EU, but also associated countries, led by Ukraine, present here through the highest possible representation, namely President Volodymyr Zelenskyy […]. We are immensely pleased that Japan has also come to our forum of cooperation as a strategic partner. We are very happy that Montenegro has also expressed its will to associate with Trójmorze today - President Andrzej Duda said at a press conference following the 9th Summit of the Trójmorze Initiative in Vilnius. - This visually demonstrates the growing interest in this cooperation. […] This cooperation functions well, it is efficient, its effects are visible in our countries, for example, through infrastructure development - he continued.

17:11

Duda:

Proposal to Raise NATO Defense Spending to 3% of GDP Met with Excellent Understanding in Our Part of Europe
- We are all trying, on the one hand, to support Ukraine and act so that it can defend itself against Russian aggression as efficiently as possible and with the greatest chances for future victory, but on the other hand, also to strengthen our deterrence potential. Hence this proposal, which I put forward not so long ago, also by writing a letter to all NATO community members regarding the decision to increase security, defense spending from 2% [...] to 3% of GDP. Here, in our part of Europe, it is met with excellent understanding, and we will certainly discuss this matter further - said President Andrzej Duda at a press conference after the 9th Summit of the Three Seas Initiative in Vilnius.

17:14

Tusk:

We Have Growing Signs Lukashenka's Regime Wants to Re-use Migration and Pressure on Our Eastern Border
We have growing signs that Lukashenka's regime wants to re-use the issue of migration and pressure on our eastern border with Belarus to achieve political goals, disintegration, destabilization, as well as for its own kind of pseudo-state business. That is why I told the Prime Minister that I will be explaining this evening and all the time, even after the next European reshuffle, and urging all our European partners to treat illegal migration as a real priority and for the entire EU, not just Poland, to recognize the need to defend our territory, protect the border, and control the border as a European priority – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference with the Prime Minister of Estonia.

17:40

Duda:

We Discussed Transferring Soviet-Era Rockets from Our Stockpiles with Zelensky. I Will Discuss This with the Minister of National Defence.
- Today, during a bilateral meeting, we discussed with President Volodymyr Zelensky about a certain stock of Soviet-era rockets that are currently under Polish control, situated in our warehouses, and we discussed their transfer for the air and missile defence capabilities of Ukraine – said President Andrzej Duda at a press conference following the 9th Summit of the Three Seas Initiative in Vilnius. - I will continue this discussion with the Minister of National Defence once I return to Warsaw, I will speak with Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz – he announced.

18:51

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

The Third Way Project Awakens Our Deep Disagreement. We Will Convince Third Way MPs to Liberalize Abortion
- The Third Way project is, in fact, a project to return to the abortion ban from '93, and this is a project that awakens our deep disagreement. However, parliamentary debate and parliamentary work also involve allowing space for conversation. I hope it will conclude with these projects being referred to a special committee, and within the work of that committee, we will convince our colleagues, including those from the Third Way, and I am referring here, of course, to the MPs of The Left parliamentary club as well as MPs from the Civic Coalition, that the direction of liberalization should be the dominant one - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk in an interview with Beata Lubecka on the program "Gość Radia ZET".

18:52

Tusk:

Poland's EU Presidency Will Focus on Security in Multiple Dimensions, Including Illegal Migration
- I am very pleased that it is here in Warsaw, and not by chance in Warsaw, that a meeting is taking place, which is confirmed on the EU's strategic agenda, meaning Europe's political program for the coming years. Warsaw is a special place from the perspective of all of Europe. This is determined both by Poland's position and by the particular situation the entire continent finds itself in. And here in Poland, we are closest to the events that have led us to a special, historical situation, and therefore it is not by chance that we will be discussing the priorities that Charles Michel mentioned right here in Warsaw – stated Donald Tusk at a press briefing in Warsaw. - The word "security" is the key here. Poland's presidency will also work towards security in several dimensions. I want to emphasize strongly that I will discuss this with our partners today, and during Poland's presidency, we will also work on this: security related to illegal migration – he continued.

18:53

Tusk:

Europe Must Become the World's Strongest Political Entity, as it Has All the Capabilities
- Europe must become the world's strongest political entity, because it has all the capabilities for it. Economically, financially, technologically, in terms of population, we are larger and stronger than the United States and Russia combined. There is no reason to have complexes. There is no reason why Europe should have to wait for someone's help. Europe is built to defend itself and also others effectively, on its own account - stated Donald Tusk at a press briefing in Warsaw. - I will always remain true to the transatlantic idea, but I would like all of Europe to believe that it can truly be a power commensurate with its numbers, its money, its population. This is possible - he continued.

18:57

Tusk:

Poland Feels the Impact of Aggressive Kremlin and Belarusian Policy Combined with Illegal Migration
- Today, in Poland, we are experiencing what it truly means to combine aggressive, hostile policy from the Kremlin and Belarus with a wave of illegal migration. We will also be discussing this today – stated Donald Tusk at a press briefing in Warsaw.

18:58

Dziemianowicz-Bąk on the Resignation from 0% VAT on Food: I Understand the Finance Minister's Decision. If Such Solutions Function Permanently, They are a Gift to Large Corporations
- This was a decision by the Minister of Finance [regarding the resignation from zero VAT on food], which, of course, may raise doubts, but which I understand, because such actions, like lowering VAT on food, are necessary in a difficult economic situation or in a difficult inflationary situation [...] as interventionist measures [...]. If such solutions function permanently, they cease to protect consumers and instead become a gift to retail chains, a gift to large corporations - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk on Radio ZET.

19:03

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

We Have Funds Allocated for Widow's Pension. I Hope We Can Introduce It This Year
- Still in 2024, we have funds allocated in the budget so that at the end of this year, the widow's pension can come into effect as a benefit, its implementation could begin. If the bill, a citizen's initiative that is currently undergoing parliamentary work, is adopted, the Social Insurance Institution will immediately commence work on the IT system that will be able to disburse such a benefit, and I hope [...] that this project will be introduced this year - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk on Radio ZET.

19:11

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

No Final Decision Yet from the Lewica Club on the 'Credit for Start' Program
- Massive, enormous investments in the construction of affordable rental housing. This is Lewica's contribution to coalition projects concerning housing policy. It may happen [that Lewica will support the 'Credit for Start', so-called 0%, and the rest of the government will support Lewica's proposal on building rental housing], there is no final decision yet from the Lewica club on the 'Credit for Start' program, but that's what a coalition is about: sometimes you have to support a project that, in our assessment, is not going in the right direction, in order to gain support for a project that is our flagship demand. I hope that in the course of coalition cooperation, we will be able to convince our coalition partners that the better way to resolve the housing crisis is through the construction of social housing - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk on Radio ZET.

19:19

Dziemianowicz-Bąk:

Project to Extend Maternity Leave for Parents of Premature Babies to be Presented Before Mother's Day
- Before Mother's Day, a project to extend maternity leave for parents of premature babies and infants hospitalized after birth will be ready for presentation. This is a personally very important project for me - said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk on Radio ZET. - We, as the ministry, will complete our work on it. The project will be ready, it will see the light of day - she continued.

20:17

Pasławska:

My Colleagues Assured Me That If the Referendum Results in Liberalizing Abortion Law, They Will Pocket Their Views
Yes, I encourage an open discussion. A wise politician listens to various voices, both from the left and the right. Discussion is very much needed today. The value of PSL is freedom of worldview, but nevertheless, my colleagues assured me that if the referendum results in liberalizing abortion law, they will pocket their views and vote according to the referendum's outcome – stated Urszula Pasławska in an interview with Monika Olejnik on the TVN24 program “Kropka nad I”.

20:26

Żukowska:

Poles should vote in presidential elections aware of who will truly sign abortion liberalization laws

- I believe that Polish women and men should vote in the presidential elections with the awareness of who will truly and specifically declare whether they will sign or not sign the laws liberalizing abortion - stated Anna Maria Żukowska on the TVN24 program “Kropka nad I”.


20:30

Żukowska:

We Have a Better Solution, Decriminalization of Assistance in Abortion, This is the First Step

- We have a better solution, decriminalization of assistance in abortion, this is the first step. We finally want to ensure that loved ones are not imprisoned for three years. I understand that a discussion took place today in which you participated, so this discussion was also important for Ms. Pasławska – stated Anna Maria Żukowska on TVN24's program „Kropka nad I”.


20:30

Rosa:

For the First Time in Years, We Truly Have a Real Abortion Debate

- For the first time in many years, we truly have a real debate about abortion. In fact, the time wasn't limited; each club had 20 minutes to present their stance. This is the first such debate in 8 years, as it was a debate also demanded by Polish women who protested in the streets, and by the families of women whose stories ended tragically – stated Monika Rosa on the program "Fakty po faktach" on TVN24.


20:31

Rosa:

There's No Return to the Abortion Compromise for Me, But I'll Vote for the TD Bill Out of Respect for Coalition Partners

- I am not considering such a scenario at all [that some bill won't pass]. That's why the debate was postponed, that's why there was the idea to create a special committee, to nominate members to it, and that's why Szymon Hołownia said we're doing this – so that these discussions in the committee take place, so that there's no situation where any of the bills is rejected. I may disagree with the TD bill; for me, it's too conservative. For me, there is no return to the so-called compromise that was in effect, but I will vote for it out of respect for the coalition partners, for their opinions, and so that we can all discuss these bills harmoniously – said Monika Rosa on TVN24.


20:31

Rosa:

Our Duty is to Draft an Abortion Bill; Decriminalization Will Likely Be the Minimum Plan for Poland

- I believe these works will certainly not be easy. It will be a very large commission […], which is why I think a time limit should be set for this commission, which will then say whether it succeeded or failed. I think it will be a matter of a few months. We also know who is currently in the office of the president and what their stance on abortion law is. However, one way or another, it is our duty to create such a bill, and decriminalization of abortion in Poland will probably be the minimum plan – stated Monika Rosa on TVN24.


21:00

Nowacka:

I am a proponent of liberal abortion laws and disagree with the idea of a referendum, but I am willing to debate it at the committee level
- Of course, I am a proponent of liberal law and I do not agree with the idea of a referendum. However, I am willing to agree to debate it at the committee level - said Barbara Nowacka in an interview with Justyna Dobrosz-Oracz on TVP Info's "Question of the Day".

21:03

Nowacka on Abortion: Leszczyna Did Much to Change the Climate, Even if the Law Didn't Change. No One is Threatening Doctors with Prosecutors Anymore
- I am glad to have Izabela Leszczyna as Minister of Health, who has also done a lot to change the climate, even if the law itself hasn't changed. No one is threatening doctors with prosecutors anymore, no one is trying to control every woman's pregnancy – as Ziobro did – said Barbara Nowacka in TVP Info's 'Question of the Day'.