Live Feed

05/14/2024

07:48

Tuesday's Political Agenda: Government on Copyright, Duda in Qatar, Wąsik and Emilewicz Before Parliamentary Committee, Committee on Energy Vouchers

At 9:30 AM, a press conference of the Law and Justice party (PiS) will be held in the Sejm with the participation of Waldemar Buda and Paweł Jabłoński.

At 10:00 AM, the parliamentary investigative committee on the visa scandal will hear testimony from Maciej Wąsik, former Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration, followed by former minister Jadwiga Emilewicz.

At 11:00 AM, a government session will commence. The agenda includes a draft amendment to the Copyright and Related Rights Act, as well as a proposal to change the income thresholds for social assistance benefits from January 1, 2025, along with justifications.

At 11:00 AM, the Constitutional Tribunal will consider the constitutionality of the then-Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's orders regarding the preparation of postal voting in 2020.

At 12:00 PM, under the auspices of Sejm Deputy Marshal Monika Wielichowska and Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna, an educational and medical conference titled "Naturally, In Vitro" will take place, focusing on the key clinical, scientific, and psychosocial aspects of the in vitro procedure. Minister Leszczyna and Deputy Minister of Family, Labour, and Social Policy Aleksandra Gajewska will attend the conference.

At 5:00 PM, the Sejm committee on energy, climate, and state assets will review the government's draft law on the temporary limitation of prices for electricity, natural gas, and district heating, as well as on energy vouchers.

President Andrzej Duda begins his visit to the State of Qatar, where at 8:15 AM Polish time, he will meet with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. At 9:05 AM, he will participate in the opening ceremony of the Qatar Economic Forum, and at 9:30 AM, he will attend the "Head of State & Government Spotlight” session.

At 10:20 AM, a meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, will begin, and at 12:00 PM, a meeting with the Minister of Transport and Chairman of the Board of Directors of QTerminals, Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti.

A meeting with representatives of the Polish media is scheduled for 12:40 PM, and at 1:20 PM, a meeting with Polish soldiers from the Polish Military Contingent in Iraq stationed at Al Udeid base.

The final item on the agenda is a formal dinner at 7:00 PM.


08:02

Siewiera on a Series of Fires in Poland: 'This is an Element of Cognitive Warfare'

- This is an element of cognitive warfare. The fact that we don't know whether we are dealing with a natural course of events or with inspiration from services, for example on social media, is an element of cognitive warfare (...) 100,000 fires on Polish territory alone annually, that's 300 fires a day. It's enough for two to be inspired on a sufficiently large scale by special services, and we will start looking around and suspecting every fire as a potential effect of action - stated Jacek Siewiera in the program "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.


08:10

Siewiera on Szmydt: In My Assessment, It Was a Very Long Cooperation

- Due to a non-disclosure clause, I cannot share information, but I can say this: in my assessment, it was a very long situation and cooperation - stated Jacek Siewiera on TVN24's program "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

- This is not a dull topic, because the financing of services, especially external ones, would be an appropriate method of response and prevention, but not internal ones, because those internal ones conduct checks. Running an agency leaves more traces on the other side than on ours - he added.


08:20

Siewiera on Duda-Tusk Meeting: "It Was a Difficult Conversation"
- It was certainly a difficult conversation, as most are between a prime minister and a president - stated Jacek Siewiera on TVN24's program "Rozmowa Piaseckiego".

08:33

Siemoniak on the Series of Fires: We Need to Clarify if These Phenomena Are Connected in Any Way

- It is too early to talk about the causes, investigations are ongoing, experts are involved, and this matter needs to be thoroughly analyzed. Indeed, we have what is at least the impression of a series, because the last few days have brought several large fires. We need to clarify if these phenomena are connected in any way, who is behind these fires, and what the causes are. Each of these cases also has its own history, of course, such as the fire at the landfill in Siemianowice Śląskie, where investigations are ongoing and arrests have been made. This concerns the broadly understood context of illegal waste dumps – stated Tomasz Siemoniak in the program "Sygnały Dnia" on PR1.


08:34

Siemoniak:

We Want to Investigate Russian Influence, but the New Commission Cannot Be a Prosecutor, Court, and Expert Body All at Once

- We have several variants, and we definitely want to eliminate all unconstitutional aspects from the legislative solution that is currently in effect [the commission for investigating Russian influence]. This is the basis, in the sense that the scope and essence are the same – we want to investigate Russian influence, but it cannot be unconstitutional, it cannot be a prosecutor, a court, and an expert commission all at once. We have a solution ready, as we announced last week after the College of Special Services Affairs, and we want the Council of Ministers to deal with it on May 21st – said Tomasz Siemoniak on PR1.

- [The commission] will consist of experts, no political officials, and it will operate under the supervision of the Minister of Justice. We want to position it in such a way that there will be no talk of any administrative decisions; this was precisely the fatal merging of different orders in the previous solution, where this commission was called the lex Tusk commission, because the intention was very clear: it wasn't about some truth or revealing Russian influence, but about attacking Donald Tusk – he continued.


08:35

Siemoniak:

2004 Should Be the Cut-off Point for the New Commission Investigating Russian Influence

- We believe, and this is a conviction discussed among experts in the Prime Minister's Chancellery and within the services, that 2004, our accession to the EU, should be such a cut-off point – stated Tomasz Siemoniak on PR1.


08:35

Siemoniak:

We are aware that there's no need to create divisions on defense matters

In matters of security, both the Prime Minister and the President emphasize that this cooperation is good. We, both the government and the President, are aware that there is no need to build any divisions on these issues. I can remind you, it's been two months already, but two months ago the President expressed a positive opinion on the appointment of new, specific candidates, new heads of special services. Yesterday, the President referred in his speech to cooperation with me when I was still Minister of Defence in 2015. I take this as a positive sign.


08:45

Czarzasty:

The Best Solution Would Be This: Perfectly Functioning Services for the Future, and a Commission on Russian Influence to Investigate the Past
- Yes - replied Włodzimierz Czarzasty in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Gość Radia ZET", when asked if a commission on Russian influence should be established. - We haven't discussed it yet at our club meeting, I'm stating my opinion, I know different views on this matter, I know Mr. Szymon Hołownia's view, who says no and that services should function well, then there would be no need to establish a commission. And I must tell you, he is right. And I am also right - he continued. - If the services functioned well, and they didn't, then there would be no need to establish this commission. Therefore, the best solution would be this: perfectly functioning services for the future, and the past should be investigated by a commission - he further stated.

08:53

Czarzasty:

We Will Not Support Any "0% Loan" Variants Unless the Government Backs the Construction of Affordable Rental Housing
- We don't like the 0% loan, we've always said so. [...] Firstly, for there to be a 0% loan, someone must have creditworthiness [...]. This is not a program aimed at the younger generation, who are primarily lacking housing. Secondly: the 0% loan increases housing costs. This is not just the opinion of the left, but the opinion of all true specialists in Poland [...]. Housing prices are rising, developers are profiting because they sell at higher prices, and banks are profiting because they raise fees - Włodzimierz Czarzasty said on Radio ZET. - We will not support any variant related to loans if the government does not support our expanded variant concerning the construction of affordable rental housing. There is no other possibility - he continued. - No [it doesn't sound like an ultimatum], it sounds reasonable, and this is the line we also present in the government - he went on to say.

09:05

Czarzasty:

CPK Will Be Built, I Assure You. Isn't This the Right Moment to Start Building Something That Will Prove a Great Initiative in 10 Years?
- CPK will be built, I assure you - said Włodzimierz Czarzasty on Radio ZET. - Now the question is: isn't this the right moment to start building something that in 10 years will prove to be a great initiative, not only in terms of dignity, but also economically, and militarily in its various aspects? [...] With major investments, there are always a lot of negative opinions at the beginning, because of the time, the time perspective, the large costs. But do you know what happens at the end? When they are completed, everyone is happy and proud of them - he continued.

09:07

Sikorski on Israeli Ambassador's Words: What's Good for Poland Will Be Decided by the Polish Government, Not Foreign Ambassadors
- The [Israeli] ambassador has the right to express the views or interests of his country, and the way he does it depends on whether he convinces the Polish public opinion to his arguments or not. What is good for Poland will be decided by the Polish government, not foreign ambassadors – said Radosław Sikorski in an interview with Renata Grochal on the program "Bez uników" (Without Evasions) on PR3, referring to criticism of Poland's vote at the UN regarding Palestine's status. - This was not a vote at the UN, along with 142 other countries, against Israel. It was a vote for a two-state solution, consistent with Polish policy of recognizing Palestinian statehood, which we have pursued for over three decades – he continued. - You will agree that it is not easy in Poland to bring about a situation where Deputy Marshal Bosak and Chairwoman Żukowska agree on something. In this matter, they agreed. I think the [Israeli] ambassador needs to get to know us better and realize that we Poles react badly to a patronizing tone – he continued.

09:15

Czarzasty:

PO and the Left Must Rethink Their Actions in Various Municipalities and Districts. Astonishing Alliances with PiS Occur
- I think that Civic Platform and the Left must rethink their actions in various places in municipalities and districts. Astonishing alliances occur at the municipal and district level, both of Platform with PiS, and the Left with PiS, and PSL with PiS - said Włodzimierz Czarzasty on Radio ZET. - I don't know the situation in Włocławek [...] I would recommend to people from my circle and people from Platform: sit down and come to an agreement, because that is more sensible. But there are many different variants, can it be controlled? I don't know, there are simply masses of these districts, thousands of municipalities - he continued.

09:16

Sikorski on Poland's Ambassador to Israel: President Agreed Verbally, Application is Being Processed
- Verbally - yes, the application is being processed - said Radosław Sikorski in the program "Bez uników" (No Evasion) on PR3, when asked if President Andrzej Duda had agreed to Poland's ambassador to Israel.

09:23

Sikorski on Szmydt: This gentleman's views are somewhere between PiS and Confederation, or perhaps closer to Braun. He hates the West, he hates Poland's membership in European and Atlantic structures.
- This gentleman [Tomasz Szmydt] has views somewhere between PiS and Confederation, or perhaps closer to MP Braun. He hates the West, he hates that Poland is in European, Atlantic structures. You must admit that he's not the only one who thinks this way. The question is, how much of this is genuine belief, and how much is commissioned work - said Radosław Sikorski in the program “Bez uników” on PR3. - It seems to me that under the previous government, counterintelligence was more concerned with the opposition than with Russian influence. Reordering is already underway, this attention needs to be redirected - he added.

09:31

Sikorski:

Russia has been waging war against us for many years, only the West refused to acknowledge it, and the previous government disregarded it
- If Russia has agents of influence and spy networks in so many other countries, why wouldn't it have them in Poland? Of course, it's trying and waging a hybrid war against a key NATO country in the region, without which there would be no support for Ukraine. Russia has been waging war against us for many years, only the West refused to acknowledge it, and the previous government disregarded it - said Radosław Sikorski in the program “Bez uników” (No Evasion) on PR3.

10:04

Buda:

Today We Can Say Szmydt Was a Good Colleague of Civic Coalition and Gasiuk-Pihowicz

- The Marshal's Guard informs that on April 29, 2022, Mr. Tomasz Szmydt was at the Sejm on the individual invitation of MP Gasiuk-Pihowicz. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not speculation; the Marshal's Guard responded yesterday, so today we have full clarity that this person functioned in public life, also thanks to his connections with representatives of Civic Coalition. Today we can say he was a good colleague of Civic Coalition, he was a good colleague of MP Gasiuk-Pihowicz – stated Waldemar Buda at a press conference in the Sejm.


10:04

Buda:

We are not afraid of the commission investigating Russian influence, we hope it will act reliably

- We hope that the commission [for investigating Russian influence] will act reliably and will not be an element of the Polish-Polish war, and that it will not act like the current investigative commissions, which, firstly, have explained nothing, and secondly, are winding down because their representatives are going to Brussels. So, we are in favour. However, I am not surprised that the disgust here at Donald Tusk's stance is obvious. First, he blocked the commission, he was against it, and now that he can choose its members himself, he is very eager. But regardless of whether it is in the commission's forum or outside of it, if this commission is unreliable, we will present these types of documents and calmly will reiterate this content, so we are certainly not afraid of it as PiS – said Waldemar Buda at a press conference in the Sejm.


11:12

Brudziński:

I would like to believe that Polish services were very close to tracking Szmydt down
- It is probably obvious [that Tomasz Szmydt collaborated with foreign intelligence] [...] however, he was evacuated, so I believe, I would like to believe that Polish services were very close to tracking Szmydt down, and hence the decision about his evacuation – said Joachim Brudziński on Radio Wnet. - He was a truly very attractive source of information for Russian intelligence, and no intelligence service [...] wastes such resources, so they would not evacuate him, they would not allow him to be evacuated, if there were no threat to him here – he continued.

11:24

Brudziński:

Szmydt Embodies the Judiciary That Claims to Be an Exceptional Caste
- On the one hand, it is obvious that the issue of access to secret and strictly secret information can be an element of certain political games, and judges must have an element of independence in this regard. It cannot be that judges can be subjected to various types of pressure or actions by officials of one service or another, but on the other hand, it also cannot be the case, as happened with Szmydt and continues to happen with other judges, that Polish law in no way allows for verification control, counterintelligence control over judges – said Joachim Brudziński in Radio Wnet. - This passing of Szmydt around like a hot potato, saying 'he's more from PiS,' 'more from Civic Platform,' ladies and gentlemen, Szmydt is the quintessence of the environment that calls itself an exceptional caste, meaning the judicial environment, and this is the environment that we, as Law and Justice, wanted to reform. Unfortunately, due to the madness of the total opposition, the judiciary itself, and Brussels, we did not succeed, but when we return to power, we will certainly take up this gauntlet – he continued.

11:33

Brudziński:

They're Trying to Label Us as Eurosceptic. We Believe the EU is a Very Good Project, Provided it Remains a Creation of Sovereign States
- They're trying to label us as a Eurosceptic party, and they're even babbling something about a Polexit. Well, no, we believe it is good, valuable, and beneficial for Poland that we are in the European Union and we consider the European Union a very good project, under one condition: that it remains a project as it was conceived in the ideas and thoughts of the founding fathers, meaning a creation of sovereign, national, independent states - said Joachim Brudziński on Radio Wnet.

11:44

Brudziński:

We Supported Solutions Conventionally Called the Green Deal, But Only Regarding Support for Polish and European Agriculture
- We advocated for solutions that we conventionally [...] referred to as the Green Deal, but solely and exclusively in relation to support for Polish agriculture and European agriculture regarding postulates such as the 'Farm to Fork' strategy, animal welfare issues [...] or matters related to ecological farming [...] this is what we called the Green Deal - said Joachim Brudziński on Radio Wnet.

13:00

Duda in Doha: Our Serious Approach to Security is Appreciated Here

- Our serious approach to security, our investment in the army, the fact that we are spending over 4% of GDP, that we are modernizing the Polish army, and how dynamically our economy is developing is appreciated here. This has been emphasized many times and it truly makes a huge impression. The dynamic development of Poland over the past few years is highlighted at every step - stated President Andrzej Duda at a press briefing in Doha.


13:03

Duda:

The topics discussed here align with our actions to implement security policy in our part of Europe

- We are participating in an important economic event in this part of the world, the Middle East, which is attracting the attention of states in the region, but not only. Guests from all over the world are present, including from the Far East, for instance, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, with whom I spoke today (...) The topics discussed here align with our actions to implement security policy in our part of Europe - stated President Andrzej Duda at a press briefing in Doha.

- I discussed today with the Emir of Qatar, among other things, with whom we have very strong economic ties, as next year will mark 10 years since Qatar began supplying LNG gas to Poland, to our gas terminal in Świnoujście; we will celebrate a decade of deliveries. Qatar is currently our most significant partner for LNG gas supply, alongside American companies that also deliver this gas to Poland - he added.


13:46

Tusk:

For Now, No Reason to Believe Recent Fires Were Caused by External Forces
I can say that at the moment, none of these fires from the last several dozen hours, over the weekend, from Monday, provide any reason to believe they were the result of external forces, but this in no way diminishes the threat of potential sabotage and diversion – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

13:49

Tusk:

Polish State Thwarted Prepared Attempts at Direct Action, Including Sabotage and Arson

- In the last dozen or so weeks, thanks to cooperation with allies, the Polish state has prevented and thwarted prepared attempts at such direct actions, including sabotage and arson. The matter is very serious, this state of heightened readiness is absolutely necessary due to the war and the increasing activity of services, as well as the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.


13:52

Tusk Announces Additional Funds to Strengthen ABW and AW

- First and foremost, I must reverse decisions that have significantly weakened, for example, the ABW. As you know, then-Prime Minister Szydło decided to liquidate 10 ABW branches in 10 voivodeships. I don't want to judge now, I won't engage in politics, what the reasons were. I know what the consequences were, and the ABW leadership has no doubt that this greatly weakened the capabilities of recognizing and counteracting such threats. We have therefore decided to reinstate the branches - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

- I have decided to allocate from my own reserve, meaning the Prime Minister's reserve, but we will also be looking for these funds so as not to increase the deficit, and we will allocate PLN 100 million to strengthen the ABW and AW - he continued.


13:56

Tusk:

Russian Actions Will Intensify

- I want you to have clarity, which my partners in Europe already have, that Russian actions will intensify. And that this will require concentration from us, whether it's, well, we have thousands of security employees, workplaces, factories, critical infrastructure. Today, you too are, as it were, on the front lines of defending the homeland - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press briefing.


13:56

Tusk:

The Polish-Belarusian Border Wall Isn't Meeting Expectations, It Will Be Strengthened
- We witnessed a very significant promotion of these actions at the Polish-Belarusian border over the years, but today we must state it clearly: this barrier is not meeting our expectations. The Border Guard and the army unequivocally turned to me during my visit to the Polish-Belarusian border regarding the need to strengthen this barrier, and this is the minimum plan. Technically, the barrier will be strengthened so that it's no longer possible to bend the rods with a simple car jack and cross to the Polish side - said Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

14:00

Tusk:

Hundreds of Border Crossing Attempts Daily. These Aren't Refugees; 80% are Groups of Young, Aggressive Men
- The situation at the border is difficult; there are hundreds of attempts to breach this border every day. These are not refugees, increasingly they are not migrants, poor families seeking help. In 80 out of 100 cases, we are dealing with organized groups of young men, aged 18-30, in those age categories, very aggressive - Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated at a press conference.

14:00

Tusk:

The Migration Pact in its Current Form Was Negotiated Under Morawiecki's Government. My Minister Voted Against It

- The Migration Pact in the form in which it was adopted, I want to say very clearly, Poland, a minister representing my government, voted against the Migration Pact, and Poland's stance has been clear from the outset. The Migration Pact in its current form was negotiated during the Morawiecki government - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press briefing.


14:02

Tusk:

Poland will be a beneficiary of the migration pact. We will not pay for anything, we will not have to accept any migrants.

- Poland will be a beneficiary of the migration pact. We will not pay for anything, we will not have to accept any migrants from other directions, the EU will not impose any migrant quotas on us, while Poland will effectively enforce financial support from the EU in connection with becoming a host country for hundreds of thousands of migrants, mainly from Ukraine - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press briefing.


14:11

Tusk on Glapiński's Trial Before the State Tribunal: I Hope It Gains Momentum
- The speculation that has appeared in some media, that the softer tone and such a fawning tone in President Glapiński's statements and his meeting with the Minister of Finance have not changed my assessment and the very serious reasons for which the motion for a State Tribunal was filed, also the procedure will certainly begin, it is not my intention for it to drag on in time, I hope it will gain momentum – Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a press conference.

14:22

Tusk:

I Don't Want Any Conflict at the Top of Power. No Disputes Over Chairs, Over Airplanes

- I don't want any conflict at the top of power. No disputes over chairs, over airplanes, forget it. That is truly the last thing, and it is neither in Poland's interest nor my government's. I would like the president to help, if he can - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press briefing.


14:22

Tusk:

The President Cites the Competence Act, and I Noted to the President that Competences Matter More

- The President is citing the competence act, and I have pointed out to the President that competences are more important than the act, which was prepared during the PiS era and which clearly attempts to circumvent the Constitution and, in a sense, change a fragment of the state's system - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.


14:27

Tusk:

I Will Appoint a Government Commission to Prepare a Report in Two Months on Who, Where, Why, and For How Much Yielded to Russian Influence
- I do not want anyone to have the slightest impression that I would like to do what my predecessors did, that there will be some investigative committees, parliamentary ones, like this, television, cameras. We need to clarify as quickly as possible, and we will clarify, and it will not be in front of cameras. This clarification will see the light of day after the elections so that it is not perceived as some election campaign. We must immediately clarify why, in relation to individuals about whom we know that some Russian influence took place, and they held very important positions in the Polish administration under Morawiecki, and proceedings were initiated against them, investigations were started, clarifications were made under Morawiecki, and then these matters were suddenly buried - said Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference. - Marshal Hołownia may not have understood my intentions, perhaps he already has too many committees and troubles associated with them. Therefore, I wish to reassure the President as well, who was also worried, for example, about the composition of the commission. We will not be putting on a show. So there will be no parliamentary commission. I will appoint a government commission, it will be given a two-month deadline, and within two months it will prepare a report, which will indicate exactly who, where, why, for how much, if such a circumstance existed, yielded to such influences, who directly carried out orders from Russia or Belarus, and above all, who made decisions to bury these matters - he continued. - I wish to reassure the Marshal and the President, there will be no politics here, I will not involve political parties in this, there will be no MPs there, there will be experts, officials, representatives of services, the Prosecutor General. We will want to analyze all available papers as quickly as possible, no spectacle, a report, and then the elimination from public life of all those involved, plus referrals to the prosecution or the reopening of investigations into all those about whom there will be no doubt that they are acting under the influence of Russian or Belarusian services - he went on to say.

14:32

Tusk:

I Would Very Much Like the Prosecution to Act Faster

- I had hoped that after 5 months of our government, it would be more or less clear that decisions on who gets arrested are not made at government cabinet meetings. It really seems to me that I know a lot and I also have many patriotic and personal reasons to wish for swift decisions from the prosecution, and for some people to truly pay a high price, including freedom, for what they did. But as long as I am Prime Minister, I will not allow politicians or ministers to make decisions. I would very much like the prosecution to act faster. Don't be angry, but do you know what happened with this prosecution for 8 years? - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.

- Do you really think that today we have thousands of prosecutors at our disposal, starting from the national level, who dreamed of nothing more than bringing their recent colleagues or patrons to criminal responsibility. Unfortunately, at the moment I have the tools that we inherited from our predecessors and we are in an unprecedented situation. We want the justice system, built over 8 years by Ziobro and Kaczyński, for this justice system, with the changes that were possible, but you know they were limited, the president defends this Ziobro-Kaczyński apparatus of coercion and political oppression as if it were independence, so I am not surprised, I am sometimes irritated, but I am not surprised that it is going slower than we would like, but it is progressing - he continued.


16:13

Błaszczak:

If Tusk Says Poland Will Benefit from the Migration Pact, Why Did Poland's Representative Oppose It Today?
- Today, a decision was made by the Council of the EU, adopting the migration pact, which is very bad for the security of Poland and Europe. This is a Trojan horse brought into Europe; it is a situation that will certainly result in a decrease in the level of security in the EU - said Mariusz Błaszczak at a press conference in the Sejm. - Today, after years of PiS rule, Poland is a safe country. After the introduction of the migration pact, Poland will cease to be a safe country because we realize that this ideological project – because the migration pact is an ideological project – means bringing over 4 million migrants from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe annually - he continued. - Today, we could hear that Donald Tusk believes the migration pact will not be respected in our country. He even promises he will not respect it. […] When Tusk says that Poland will be a beneficiary of the migration pact, we ask why Poland's representative opposed this pact today. Because if Poland is to be a beneficiary, why are they opposing the pact? I am talking about these absurdities to show that Poland is governed by an irresponsible person - he stated. - This process must be stopped. It can be stopped if the architecture of the European Parliament changes after the elections on June 9th. We assure you that PiS candidates will not yield to the pressure from the European mainstream in Brussels and Berlin, which is trying to exert pressure to open the EU and its member states to accepting migrants - he pointed out.

16:22

PiS Seeks to Challenge Migration Pact Before the ECJ
- The migration pact is a very bad and dangerous solution, but it is also a solution that is incompatible with EU law. Incompatible with specific decisions made by the European Council in June 2018. That was the summit in Brussels where Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki negotiated an extremely important principle – the principle of voluntariness – said Paweł Jabłoński at a press conference in the Sejm. - Point six of the conclusions clearly states that all decisions regarding relocation, resettlement of illegal migrants, and control centers, all of this is to be done on a voluntary basis. These solutions adopted today by the Council of the EU are inconsistent with these principles, with this principle of voluntariness, which means that EU law has been violated – he continued. - Today, the tool that the PiS government is leaving behind […], this is a tool to file a complaint with the ECJ. We expect the government of Donald Tusk to begin preparations today to file this complaint. We will be watching them closely on this matter – he emphasized.

18:34

Hennig-Kloska on the Commission for Russian Influence: We Don't Need Theatre; Whether It's Services or Experts on the Commission, Effectiveness is Key
- I have always believed that Russian and Belarusian agents must be effectively removed from Poland and their influence must be reduced. I would very much like to know why for years we were made dependent on imported fossil fuels, including from Russia, instead of developing renewable energy sources - said Paulina Hennig-Kloska in RMF FM's "Popołudniowa rozmowa" (Afternoon Conversation). - This, of course, depends on its form. Will it be for the purpose of clarification, or to be a spectacle. [...] We don't need theatre, we need effective action. Whether it's services or experts sitting on the commission under the Prime Minister, the issue is effectiveness. We truly need to gain control over what is happening in our country, to eliminate foreign services from our surroundings, after years of doubts that have been growing around this issue, in such difficult times where we have a war beyond our eastern border - she continued, when asked whether a commission on Russian influence should be established.

18:42

Hennig-Kloska on Electricity Bill Hikes: 30% in the Worst-Case Scenario, But We're Still Seeking Ways to Lower It
- The maximum price for electricity will be PLN 500 per MWh, this is the maximum price that will cover everyone, in order to ensure price acceptability and stability for all - said Paulina Hennig-Kloska on RMF FM. - For those who used the lowest price, today the price of energy will increase by approximately 90 groszy per kWh. How much the bill will increase is a dozen or so percent. We are currently still looking for ways to deal with distribution costs, which also weigh on the bill. [...] This is absolutely in the twenty-something to 30% range in the worst-case scenario possible, but we are still looking for ways to lower this level, as much depends on the decisions of URE, the decisions of the Ministry of State Assets, and the companies subordinate to it - she continued.

18:50

Hennig-Kloska:

We are finishing processing applications for the My Electricity 5.0 program, and after completion, we will launch the next "6.0" program.
- We are finishing processing applications [under the My Electricity program] 5.0, which we found a very large number of unexamined in the National Fund for Environmental Protection. We will finish processing applications for "5.0" and will launch the next program "6.0" - said Paulina Hennig-Kloska on RMF FM. - It is impossible to promise money that does not exist, as the previous government did. We are finishing up; there are probably about 40,000 applications left to process under the previous edition - she continued.

20:52

Kobosko:

Migration is a Real Problem and a Real Challenge for the EU

- [Migration] is a real problem, it is a real challenge. Simply stating that the migration pact is bad does not lead to any solution, not even the slightest solution to an increasingly pressing problem that will escalate for years to come – stated Michał Kobosko on the program 'Guest of the Events' on Polsat News.


20:52

Bielan on the Migration Pact: It's a Terribly Bad Solution for the Entire EU and for Poland

- It is a terribly bad solution for the entire European Union and for Poland, and I will explain why. For the entire EU because it will fuel smuggling, dominated mainly by organized crime supplying, to put it crudely, these illegal migrants, primarily through the southern route across the Mediterranean. For Poland, because it means hundreds, I repeat, hundreds of thousands of migrants on our territory – said Adam Bielan in the program "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.

- It could have been blocked at the first summit, where Poland was represented by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He was in a great hurry to be Poland's representative there, by the way. Let's recall, he was appointed on December 13th, and the European Council summit took place on December 14th and 15th, and at that time Prime Minister Tusk could have vetoed it. Unfortunately, he did not. On December 20th, this migration pact was adopted in the so-called trilogue, which includes the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission, and from that moment on, the pact was unstoppable – he continued.