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07:35

Monday's Political Agenda: Błaszczak and Szczucki's Morning Conference, PiS Team on Judge Dismissals, Investigative Committee Hearings

At 10:00 AM in the Sejm, a press conference will be held by the chairman of the PiS parliamentary club, Mariusz Błaszczak, and MP Krzysztof Szczucki.

At 1:00 PM in the Sejm, a meeting of the Parliamentary Team for Counteracting Lawlessness "Secure Poland" will take place regarding – as stated by the organizers – "the actions of the Minister of Justice threatening the independence of judges and courts in connection with the illegal dismissal of presidents of Warsaw courts, with the participation of representatives of judges and judicial associations."

At 11:00 AM, the investigative committee for the so-called visa scandal will question the former head of ABW, Krzysztof Wacławek. At 1:00 PM, the session will continue in a non-public mode – at that time, in addition to Wacławek, the committee will question the former head of AW, Piotr Krawczyk.

08:05

Mastalerek:

Poland Must Be Prepared to Cooperate with Both a Republican and a Democratic President

- I think we accepted it yesterday in the same way we would have accepted it before [Joe Biden's decision]. We listen to the words, all those who cooperate with President Duda, to the words of our leader, who has said many times, both in closed meetings and publicly, that it is not Poles who vote, that we have no influence over it, and perhaps Poland must be prepared to cooperate with both a Republican and a Democratic president, and that is how Andrzej Duda operates – stated Marcin Mastalerek in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on Polsat News's "Graffiti".

08:06

Mastalerek on PO Politicians' Statements:

Unfortunately, We Have Insults to Republicans.

I believe that everyone in Poland should listen to these voices, especially PO politicians, and they should act in a way that allows them to cooperate with both Republican and Democratic presidents. Unfortunately, this is not happening. Unfortunately, we have insults to Republicans, insults to Donald Tusk. In recent days, very close associates of Prime Minister Tusk have been imitating his attacks on Republicans. One of Prime Minister Tusk's close associates said about Donald Trump that he is simply a bad person. Former President Komorowski, also associated with PO, says that Trump is the worst president for Poland. How does Platforma [Civic Platform] imagine future cooperation? - stated Marcin Mastalerek on Polsat News' "Graffiti" program.

08:08

Leszczyna:

Chief Sanitary Inspector Has a Plan to Reach Parents Who Haven't Vaccinated Their Children

- On Friday, I met with Minister Grzesiowski, who is the Chief Sanitary Inspector. The Minister has a plan to reach parents who have not vaccinated their children, but note – not to impose fines on them, but to explain to them how important vaccination is for their children's health, for our population's health – said Izabela Leszczyna in an interview with Agata Adamek on TVN24's "Jeden na jeden" (One on One). - We discussed, among other things, the electronic vaccination card with the GIS, and the Centre for e-Health will be working on such a system – she added.

08:08

Mastalerek on changing presidential candidates:

I could jokingly reply that PO or Polish politics are trendsetters.

- I could jokingly reply that PO or Polish politics are trendsetters, because such a situation happened here in 2020, with the change from Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska to Rafał Trzaskowski at the very end of the election campaign, so I wasn't surprised. Especially since the pressure on Joe Biden was gigantic - stated Marcin Mastalerek in “Graffiti” on Polsat News.

08:17

President Duda Can Play Two Pianos at Once. Mastalerek on the Polish-American Alliance

- I know that President Duda can play two pianos at once. He was able to cooperate excellently with President Obama, then Trump, President Biden, and he will cooperate just as well with the next candidate, because President Duda believes that the strategic Polish-American alliance is a matter of Polish national interest - stated Marcin Mastalerek on Polsat News's "Graffiti".

08:17

Leszczyna on Vaccinations: It's Difficult to Reverse a Trend After Times When the President Said He Wasn't Necessarily Fond of Needles

- In May, together with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Family and Social Policy, we sent information about vaccinations to nurseries, kindergartens, and schools. At the same time, I sent a request to all heads of healthcare facilities to take an interest in vaccinations, conduct additional vaccinations, and information campaigns - said Izabela Leszczyna in TVN24's 'One on One'. - We will be providing information, preparing promotional campaigns. It is truly very difficult to reverse a trend after times when the President of the country says that he isn't necessarily fond of needles - she added.

08:19

'All Local Government Units in Poland Will Benefit.' Domański on Tax Changes

- We want local governments not to have a share in the collected tax, as they do now, but a share in the local tax base. This will make their finances significantly more predictable - said Andrzej Domański on "Poranek TOK FM". - The difference is that changes, for example in tax rates, which the government may introduce, have had a very unfavorable impact on local government finances in the past. [...] All local government units in Poland will benefit from this reform. Absolutely every municipality will receive more funds next year than it would have received if the current system were maintained - he continued.

08:23

Has Poland Lost Herd Immunity to Measles? Leszczyna Explains

- I contacted the consultant for epidemiology, Professor Paradowska-Stankiewicz. The professor prepared an explanation, a note. It cannot be said that Poland has lost its herd immunity [to measles] - said Izabela Leszczyna on TVN24's "One on One". - Due to the varying levels of vaccination in different voivodeships, it is indeed the case that outbreaks of measles occur in certain voivodeships. From the beginning of the year until July 15th, we had over 220 measles cases, of which approximately 100 were in the Masovian voivodeship, and over 70 in the Lower Silesian voivodeship - she added.

08:24

Domański:

We Propose a 25% Increase in Excise Duty on Cigarettes

- The economic availability of cigarettes has significantly increased. In 2015, with an average salary, one could buy 290 packs of cigarettes; now it's 490 packs. Inflation has risen sharply during this time, while excise duty, according to this roadmap, has increased much, much slower. We currently have the second cheapest cigarettes in the entire European Union; only Bulgaria has cheaper ones - stated Andrzej Domański on TOK FM. - The excise duty will, of course, increase differently for various groups of tobacco products. For cigarettes, we propose a 25% increase in excise duty - he continued. - The roadmap for alcohol remains unchanged - he added.

08:29

Domański on Coalition Talks Regarding Health Contribution:

I Hope It's a Matter of the Coming Weeks.

- The final solution [regarding the health contribution] has not yet been worked out. I met with Minister Konieczny from Lewica last week, and this week I would like to meet with representatives of Poland 2050 to discuss the direction this joint project should take - said Andrzej Domański on TOK FM. - I would like the changes to the health contribution to come into effect, of course, from January 1, 2025. When will this effect [of coalition talks] be achieved? I hope it's a matter of the coming weeks - he continued.

08:33

Domański:

Defense Spending Pool Will Certainly Be Significantly Larger Next Year Than in 2024

- This was a very, I think, deliberate misleading of public opinion by PiS [by talking about limiting defense expenditures], because these were internal documents, at least as I understand it, of the Ministry of National Defense, where they were discussing how to spend funds next year. However, the entire pool of funds next year, as I said, will certainly be significantly larger than in 2024. Poland will not economize on defense - said Andrzej Domański on TOK FM.

08:35

Leszczyna on Penalties for Not Vaccinating Children:

If I Were to Recommend, I’d Prefer a Fine over a Penalty, But as a Last Resort.

- It [the fine system for non-compliance with vaccination obligations] is ineffective. Of course, if I were to recommend, I’d prefer a fine over a penalty, but mind you – as a last resort and after exhausting a whole range of other instruments we have. Primarily education, persuasion. Truly, parents who don't vaccinate their children are not always anti-vaxxers. It often stems from very different reasons, sometimes from ignorance, from being lost in a world of fake news – said Izabela Leszczyna on TVN24's “Jeden na jeden”.

08:38

Domański Assures People Won't Feel Energy Price Hikes Severely:

We Won't Let That Happen.

- We won't let that happen. We will talk to the Minister of Climate, the Minister of Industry, and all parties responsible for energy policy in Poland. We will discuss the actions we will take to keep bills in Poland at an acceptable level - said Andrzej Domański on TOK FM, responding to announcements from PiS that people would feel energy price hikes very strongly.

08:46

Domański on Housing Subsidies and Rent Assistance:

The Most Important Thing is Improving the Supply Side.

- For me, the most important thing is to implement the coalition agreement and, above all, to improve the supply side. That's why we are discussing new tools; this is naturally within Minister Paszyk's purview - said Andrzej Domański on TOK FM, when asked about the PLN 600 subsidy for apartment rentals. - We are in discussion with Minister Paszyk. We have submitted some comments to this project; that is our role, to point out where, in our opinion, a specific project can be improved. Regarding financing for particular groups [...] we also see some room for modification there - he continued, when asked about the "kredyt na start" (start loan) program. - I am keen on seeing more apartments built in Poland, apartments that are accessible to Poles, not just the wealthiest and not just in big cities. Therefore, we will support social housing construction programs, we will also support local governments in their housing policies, and we will implement projects that increase the supply of housing on the market - he went on to say.

08:50

Mastalerek:

A Right-Wing Candidate Would Need to Win the Presidential Election for Internal Processes to Occur in the PSL

- The only chance for any kind of change would be the presidential election. A right-wing candidate would have to win the presidential election for certain internal processes to occur within the PSL, which could ultimately result in a change of coalition, but even so, the probability is not very high - stated Marcin Mastalerek in "Graffiti" on Polsat News.

- I don't think MP Wipler meant for this to happen here and now. If you ask me whether it's possible in this Sejm, of course it is, but not here and now, and earliest after the presidential election. Moreover, the condition for this would be a victory for the PiS candidate, and even then it's not very probable. It is possible, but as of today, unlikely - he continued.

08:51

Ban on Nighttime Alcohol Sales at Gas Stations. Leszczyna on When the Government Will Address the Bill

- Regarding alcohol at gas stations, or rather the lack of [sales of] alcohol at night at gas stations [...], I am convinced that in August the government will be able to address this bill. The bill is ready - said Izabela Leszczyna in "Jeden na jeden" on TVN24. - I would also like it to come into effect from the beginning of next year. However, not everything depends on me. I am part of this government and we have several coalition partners - she continued.

08:54

Mastalerek on the Future of PiS:

This Electorate Won't Disappear, That's Pure Delusion.

Of course, I disagree. [The era of PiS] will not end, just as it didn't end in 2010. Whether PiS will still be called PiS or something else, whether it will be represented by one, two parties, or someone will replace PiS, or if PiS will continue to endure, this electorate will not disappear. These are mere delusions that the most hateful part of the PO establishment also lived on before October 15th and December 13th - stated Marcin Mastalerek in "Graffiti" on Polsat News.

09:01

Leszczyna Reveals the Name of the New Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector

I believe we will announce the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector today. I think the Prime Minister has signed my recommendation. [...] I assure you that Mr. Łukasz Pietrzak will be a fantastic Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector. He will stand guard over the interests of patients as well as pharmacists - said Izabela Leszczyna in the "One on One" program on TVN24.

10:04

Fogiel:

Alliance with the USA is a Key Element of Our Security

- As PiS, we indeed have closer relations with the American Republican Party, which stems from the fact that we are a conservative party. Republicans are our associate member within the ECR, so these links are natural, but here we are talking about inter-party politics. From Poland's perspective, one thing is constant: an alliance with the United States, regardless of who the president is, what the administration is like, who holds the majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives, an alliance with the United States is one of the key elements of our security, and we must be prepared, as a country, regardless of who is in power here, to work with either one administration or the other – stated Radosław Fogiel in the program "Gość poranka" on TVP Info.

10:04

Fogiel on PiS's Potential Presidential Candidates:

I Know Nothing About Mastalerz

- A few, perhaps a dozen names could be found. They are all serious, we have a long bench of potential candidates, we have many people who have experience and skills. Such social sensitivity, which is also necessary for a president, but let me preempt the next question – I will not name any name. For now, these are internal discussions, we will go public with this when we have internal certainty that this is the candidate, or candidate – said Radosław Fogiel on TVP Info.

- Regarding our candidates [for president] as PiS, I know nothing about that [about Mastalerz as a candidate] – he added.

10:05

Fogiel on the Romanowski Case:

We Are at a Stage of Immense State Disgrace.

Regarding the matter of Mr. MP Romanowski, well, for now, we are unfortunately at a stage of immense disgrace, which the ruling party has inflicted upon us, the Polish state. Not upon themselves, because if Adam Bodnar or this usurper, the National Prosecutor, had personally disgraced themselves, it would be no problem – stated Radosław Fogiel on TVP Info.

10:31

PiS submits draft bill to lower gasoline prices:

Reduced to almost the level Tusk proposed.

- We wanted to present to you a draft bill that we have submitted to the Marshal of the Sejm. This draft concerns changes to the taxation, a reduction in the taxation of gasoline prices. This is a draft prepared for the current time, for the holiday season. It is a project that aims to relieve households from rising energy prices, rising gas prices, and rising food prices - said Mariusz Błaszczak at a press conference. - We are submitting a draft bill, it is an amendment to the Value Added Tax Act and amendments to other acts, which will result in a reduction of the price of a liter of gasoline to almost the level that Donald Tusk proposed last autumn - he continued. - Thanks to the introduction of this act, thanks to its entry into force, gasoline prices would fall by approx. 90 groszy, they would be lower by approx. one zloty. What does this act entail? It reduces VAT on fuels to 8%, it reduces excise duty on fuels, and it abolishes the tax on the retail sale of fuels. These are three relatively simple tools [...] which will immediately, from August 1st, cause a reduction in gasoline prices. This will happen if Szymon Hołownia, the Marshal of the Sejm, brings this bill to the Sejm session that begins tomorrow [...] if the Sejm approves this bill at this session and if the Senate also adopts this bill in July, which it has the possibility to do - said Krzysztof Szczucki.

12:50

Kotula to Giertych: The opponent of women's rights wants to play the role of a "peacemaker" today. Thank you, but we don't need it.

- An opponent of women's rights, who shied away from voting on the partial decriminalization of abortion, wants to play the role of a "peacemaker" today. Thank you, but we don't need it. - wrote Katarzyna Kotula on social media. - We know what is and what is not possible to vote on today, and our proposed bill, after amendments - is something that conservatives, in line with their conscience, could have calmly voted for. Unless, behind the mask of a "democrat" who uses slogans about the rule of law and the constitution as a smoke screen, there hides a religious fundamentalist and an opponent of abortion bans, who is unable to rise in political activity above his past as the leader and founder of the "Młodzież Wszechpolska" (All-Polish Youth). - the Minister for Equality continues. - Mr. Deputy Giertych, you should focus on what you supposedly know best - settling accounts with your ex-colleagues from right-wing governments, and allow us, female politicians who have been dealing with the issue of abortion for years, to calmly do our job. - she stated.

Przeciwnik praw kobiet, który stchórzył w głosowaniu w sprawie częściowej depenalizacji aborcji, chce dziś grać rolę “rozjemcy”. Dziękujemy, ale nie potrzebujemy. Wiemy co jest, a co nie jest , dziś możliwe do przegłosowania, a proponowana przez nas ustawa, po naniesionych…
— Katarzyna Kotula (@KotulaKat) July 22, 2024

15:06

The Left Announces Housing Construction Program Added to Government Legislative Work Schedule:

Promises Made, Promises Kept.

- For a long time [...] we in the Left have been repeating that the most important social and development project is the housing construction program, the construction of affordable rental housing. And today, with pleasure and satisfaction, we announce that this very project has been added to the government's legislative work schedule. And our second success at the European forum is the appointment of a commissioner for housing - said Anna Maria Żukowska at a press conference. - Promises made, promises kept, although there is still a moment until full execution, but in fact we can clearly and explicitly say that very soon, in just a second, this project, which I left at the Ministry of Development and Technology at the end of April, will go to the Council of Ministers - said Krzysztof Kukucki.

15:15

Żukowska on Giertych's proposal:

A compromise isn't a man coming out and announcing what rights he'll grant women.

- Member of Parliament Roman Giertych is suspended from his membership in the Civic Coalition Club, therefore he has no possibility to submit his own projects - said Anna Maria Żukowska at a press conference. - If the Civic Coalition Club presents such a project, then we can consider whether this is a good method for talking to Polish women at all, because all projects submitted so far have been widely consulted socially and were created in cooperation with women who have had abortions, who are having abortions, or who need abortions. Therefore, for a man, who just a week and a half ago voted against women's rights, to arbitrarily come out with a proposal that he will now grant these rights to women, is highly inappropriate - she continued. - This is not a proposal at all, it hasn't been agreed with anyone. I spoke today with representatives of the Civic Coalition Club [...]. Compromise is a word I detest, and a compromise certainly doesn't involve a man coming out and announcing what rights he will grant women to decide about their bodies - she went on to say.

17:40

Sikorski at the Foreign Affairs Council Meeting in Brussels:

Defending Pediatric Oncology Hospitals is Not Escalation.

This was our first meeting since the barbaric attack on a pediatric oncology hospital. Consequently, I appealed to my fellow ministers to lift national restrictions on the use of long-range weapons, so that Ukraine can prevent such attacks in the future by striking the aircraft launching cruise missiles and the airfields from which they take off. It seems to me that this would be entirely self-defense, which is legal under international law. Defending pediatric oncology hospitals is not escalation – stated Radosław Sikorski at a press briefing.

18:03

Wipler:

I'm Talking to PSL Politicians, They Are Very Dissatisfied with the Ruling Arrangement They Are In

- I'm not counting on anything, but I can absolutely imagine it [a new political arrangement in the current Sejm], because when I talk to PSL politicians, they are very dissatisfied with the ruling arrangement they are in. They have been given many problems to solve […], they need partners who support them, not like at the moment when Left or Civic Coalition politicians stand at demonstrations in front of PSL offices, when these offices are doused with various kinds of filth and PSL politicians are criticized in a very vulgar manner. This is not the kind of partnership they were hoping for - said Przemysław Wipler in an interview with Przemysław Szubartowicz in the "Popołudniowa rozmowa" (Afternoon Conversation) on PR24.

18:41

Wipler:

If the PSL wants to, they can switch tracks. They don't have to enter a coalition with PiS.

- Up to a certain point, yes [it's a flexing of muscles within the coalition], but in a situation where various legislative, institutional, and personal ideas are blocked internally by Donald Tusk and his inner circle, and we know that this is the case. It was like this with various actions by the Minister of Development, currently MEP Hetman, it is like this now with other PSL ministers – said Przemysław Wipler in the "Popołudniowa rozmowa" (Afternoon Conversation) on PR24. - They, when you sit and talk with them, they complain about it and say that at some point someone forgets who the real deciding factor is here. If the PSL wants to, they can switch tracks, they can do it very easily. What I think has been blocking them is entering directly into a coalition with PiS, and they don't have to do that at all – he continued.

18:49

Wipler:

Removing Bodnar and Radical Left-Wing Politicians from the Coalition is a Change for the Better for Poland

- Politics is transactional in its essence; only hypocrites pretend otherwise. For us, the transaction involves removing Bodnar, removing all these radical left-wing female and male politicians from the government coalition, and this is a change that is better for Poland. Zero progressive agenda ideas on a moral/cultural level, maintaining the status quo in other matters, solving state problems as they arise, in a non-ideological manner. If we are to make any good changes to the system, be it tax-related or in other dimensions, let's do it and discuss it. The end of such a total Polish-Polish war - said Przemysław Wipler in the "Popołudniowa rozmowa" (Afternoon Conversation) on PR24.

20:23

Domański:

Our Government is Fulfilling its Electoral Promises Step by Step

- There are definitely funds for development purposes. Our government is fulfilling its electoral promises step by step. We have increased teachers' salaries by 30%, and the so-called budgetary sphere by 20%. Importantly for me, we have found funds for the in vitro program, 0.5 billion PLN, thanks to which thousands, tens of thousands of Polish couples will be able to take advantage of this opportunity to become parents - stated Andrzej Domański on TVP Info.

20:31

Domański:

Only in Bulgaria are cigarettes cheaper in the EU

- We will fight [the grey economy] ruthlessly. We currently have the second cheapest cigarettes in the EU. Only in Bulgaria are they cheaper, and the National Revenue Administration (KAS) will take decisive action to ensure this grey economy does not grow - stated Andrzej Domański on TVP Info.

20:32

Domański:

The 60,000 Zloty Tax-Free Amount Remains Our Goal

- The tax-free amount at the level of 60,000 zlotys remains our goal, and we are of course pursuing this goal. Prime Minister Tusk has tasked me with presenting a project to implement this postulate, and I will present such a project to the Prime Minister - stated Andrzej Domański on TVP Info.

20:34

Domański:

The Charms of Governing in a Coalition Mean Not Everything Can Be Done at Once

- We are governing in a coalition, and we realize that some of the postulates we had in our program must, in a way, be refined along with the voices of our coalition partners. Besides, this is an element that probably all coalition partners complain about: that their program, with which they went into the elections, is not fully implemented. Such are the charms of governing in a coalition that not everything can be done at once - stated Andrzej Domański on TVP Info.

20:42

Domański:

We are taking action to lower prices at gas stations

- We are taking action to lower prices at gas stations. Whether this will happen within a month, six months, or a year, it's difficult for me to say at this moment - stated Andrzej Domański on TVP Info.

20:59

Sasin on Kosiniak-Kamysz's Squandered Opportunity:

He Held a Golden Horn in His Hand.

– Today, PSL's agency within this coalition is indeed negligible. I don't see any particular influence of PSL on the policy of this coalition, the December 13th coalition, today. And I can say this: Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz had a golden horn in his hand, he had a golden horn in his hand, because he went into these elections together, by the way, with Szymon Hołownia, under the banner of the Third Way. Under the slogan that they would build something between PiS and PO. Instead, they have become an appendage, an annex to Donald Tusk. If I may say so, it's a path that can truly be called not very interesting, the path that PSL has taken – stated Jacek Sasin in the program "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.

– If PSL truly thought about Poland and thought about not being anyone's vassal, but rather about implementing a program that would be good for Poland. For instance, the program for building large investments, carrying out major strategic investments for Poland, such as the nuclear power plant, the CPK. It is within PSL's power for Poland to develop. Today, in these political realities, PSL is not only not utilizing this chance, but is following Tusk, following a program that harms Poland – he continued.

21:00

Sasin Appeals to Confederation and PSL:

I Hope They Understand Someday.

- This is, I think, a good memento for Confederation, for PiS as well, but I can say this, we have a clear conscience in this regard, because for many months we have been proposing a coalition of Polish affairs. We are speaking to Confederation, we are speaking to PSL, we don't have to, so to speak, pursue a policy that does not serve Poland, as it is being pursued today, we can move forward together and, so to speak, I hope that PSL will one day understand this. I hope that Confederation will at some point recognize that it is worth talking to PiS and worth talking about a common coalition, because only together can we defeat this coalition that is ruling Poland today – said Jacek Sasin in Polsat News.

21:00

Sasin on Ardanowski's departure:

Anyone who divides the right is not acting in Poland's interest.

- I don't think that will happen [Ardanowski will take other PiS members with him], I don't want to delve deeper, so to speak, into the motives or any discussions on the motives that guide him. It's a shame, because I believe that anyone who divides the right today is not acting - stated Jacek Sasin in the program "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.

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