He Underwent Self-Reflection.
- Czarnek on Morawiecki
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09/16/2024
04:48
Monday's Political Agenda: Extraordinary Government Session
At 9:00 AM, an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers will take place at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, in response to the flood situation.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced – following consultations with relevant ministers and services – the preparation of a Council of Ministers regulation to introduce a state of natural disaster.
07:51
Klimczak:
State of Natural Disaster Not Intended to Raise Further Alert
- The state of natural disaster is not intended to raise some additional alert. It primarily aims to send a positive message to residents, local governments, and all institutions involved in rescue and future reconstruction, indicating that it will be easier, and that the state of natural disaster will allow us to simplify and accelerate procedures - said Dariusz Klimczak in "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.
- This state will also help us with not only procedural but also financial facilitations - he continued.
07:57
"He Walked Firmly on the Ground and Was a Realist." Klimczak on Tusk and His Words That Forecasts "Are Not Excessively Alarming"
- From the information provided by meteorologists, these precipitation levels were higher than predicted. The Prime Minister, when expressing that opinion, was certainly walking firmly on the ground and was a realist. However, earlier communications, which stated that the rainfall would not be concentrated only in that part of the country but would spread across a larger portion of the country, perhaps gave the impression that the threat would be less than forecast. It turned out to be higher than predicted - Dariusz Klimczak said on TVN24, when asked about Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Friday statement that the forecasts "are not excessively alarming".
08:11
Budget Review for Flood Victims Announced: Duda to Send Letter to Minister Domański
- Following very intensive discussions in the Presidential Office, by the President’s decision, today [...] I will sign a letter to Minister Domański regarding such a budget review for the purpose of allocating funds from reserves to combat the effects of floods and to assist our citizens. This is an absolute symbol, a gesture of solidarity with those affected by this terrible cataclysm – Małgorzata Paprocka said on TOK FM’s Morning program.
- By the President’s decision, we want to hand over the center in Wisła for green schools, especially for the benefit of small schools, so that children can come and learn in this part of Poland. There is no threat there at the moment, so that swift actions can be taken to dry out schools and prepare the buildings for the next part of the school year – she added.
08:13
Hennig-Kloska on the State of Disaster:
It Helps to Mobilize Additional Funds and Resources.
- Of course, [introducing the state of natural disaster] helps to mobilize additional funds, resources, and instruments both at the national and international level. I will not be able to make it to the Council of Ministers, my deputy will be able to attend. However, people are waiting for help where the greatest catastrophe has occurred – stated Paulina Hennig-Kloska in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on Polsat News’ “Graffiti”.
08:27
Hennig-Kloska:
Time will come to assess mistakes. Today, the most important thing is to save lives and health
- Of course, the time will also come to assess mistakes. Today, the most important thing is to save people's health and lives, restore communication with those in flooded areas, and evacuate, because in reality, there is resistance to evacuation. Nevertheless, I encourage people to listen to the services and consider their recommendations - stated Paulina Hennig-Kloska in "Graffiti" on Polsat News.
08:33
Paprocka:
The President's Visit Will Take Place When It Doesn't Hinder Services' Operations
- Minister Jacek Siewiera will go to the site today, on behalf of the president - Małgorzata Paprocka said on TOK FM Morning.
- I am aware of the voices that have emerged in recent hours. The President is in constant contact via BBN, he spoke with the Commander of the State Fire Service yesterday, and has a full overview of the situation. However, today, in the current situation, all the efforts of the services on the ground, in the most difficult locations, should be devoted to counteracting the floods and assisting the population - she continued.
- This is not the moment today for the president to go and unnecessarily involve the police and fire department in securing the visit. The Prime Minister is there, ministers have been there […], and there have already been many people who needed to be ensured safe presence in that location. The President has decided that this is unnecessary - she explained.
As she emphasized: - Of course, visits are planned for a moment when the situation changes. [...] A visit will take place when the flood wave has passed, at a moment when the president's visit does not hinder the services' operations. That will be the moment, and of course, no one is ruling out such a visit today.
08:46
Paprocka on the Presidential Harvest Festival:
It's a gesture of thanks to Polish farmers, and it was needed.
- What is celebrated at the harvest festival, and to whom is thanks given? At the harvest festival, thanks are given to those people thanks to whom [...] we have bread, and this bread will also be needed today in places where people have lost all their possessions [...]. People prepare for this harvest festival for months. Please remember that the Prime Minister said two days ago that the situation is not that bad - said Małgorzata Paprocka on TOK FM Morning.
- Cancelling a ceremony, to which people prepared from all over Poland arrive, a few hours beforehand, I think would meet with the same criticism. To be honest, it was a gesture of thanks to Polish farmers, Polish creators, and I think it was needed - she stated.
- This does not change the fact that the President expresses immense gratitude to the services that are fighting today, and we are also taking action - she added.
09:03
Błaszczak on Tusk's Words:
It Was Proof of Arrogance.
- In my opinion, Donald Tusk's statement on Friday was proof of his arrogance. He is prime minister for the second time, he should be aware that his words, and he said that the forecasts are not excessively alarming, have demobilized people – stated Mariusz Błaszczak on Radio Zet.
- He was supposed to put, this is his task, the services on alert. I return to this again, they dislike the Territorial Defence Force so much, they voted against the establishment of the Territorial Defence Force. Meanwhile, today the Territorial Defence Force is fulfilling the role of civil defence, they were activated far too late. One must act in a way that anticipates consequences – he added.
09:07
Paprocka on the Act Regarding the Constitutional Tribunal:
A Series of Provisions Raising Very Serious Doubts.
- The discussion about what majority should be used to elect Constitutional Tribunal judges is nothing new. Proposals to increase it, to require a qualified majority, have been made for many years, and this is a solution worth considering - said Małgorzata Paprocka on TOK FM Morning.
- However, this act, actually two acts, contain a series of provisions that raise very serious doubts, and not only for the Presidential Chancellery, but these doubts were indicated already during the works in the Sejm and the Senate. The Senate, with its amendments, ultimately adopted by the Sejm, somewhat poured more oil on the fire - she continued.
- I do not have the possibility today to announce what the president's decision will be in this matter, because it has not yet been made - he added.
09:07
Błaszczak on joint primaries with Confederation:
It would end in defeat.
- Such primaries [with Confederation] would end in defeat, they would end in failure and would lead to us dealing with ourselves on the right, instead of matters that concern people. However, of course, it should be acceptable to the broadly understood right, it should be someone who has a chance of winning - stated Mariusz Błaszczak in Radio Zet.
09:09
Błaszczak Discloses Amount of Donations to PiS
- Data as of Friday indicated 6 million Polish złoty. We are very grateful to all those who are sending their donations to PiS. We will, of course, be in a situation where the competition, i.e., the candidate of the December 13 coalition, will be privileged because they will have more money to conduct their election campaign – said Mariusz Błaszczak on Radio Zet.
11:02
Hołownia Announces Special Sejm Session on Flood Relief
- The Sejm of the Republic is fully ready to cooperate with the government, the Senate, and the President on everything that will be needed to help those who have lost their possessions, to mitigate the effects of the catastrophic flood as quickly as possible - said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference.
- If today not only a regulation introducing a state of natural disaster is issued by the government, but also even an amendment to the law – which we have heard about – concerning flood benefits, a significant increase in this benefit, perhaps some other regulation, then we are ready to proceed with this law without any delay - he declared.
- I have already announced this this morning to the parliamentary group leaders: we cannot exclude, we are ready, that I will convene a special Sejm session for tomorrow, which will deal only with these regulations, and will also deal with information from the government - if there is such an expectation from MPs, and I understand there will be - regarding the flood - the Marshal emphasized.
- If the government adopts these regulations tomorrow, we are ready the next day. We are ready. We are not rushing the government, because we know that this legislation must be sensible, well-prepared. We are simply declaring full cooperation - he assured.
11:05
Sasin on the Government's Stance Regarding Floods:
They Slept On This Matter.
- These actions should have been taken a few or a dozen or so days earlier. Just like in the Czech Republic, where the services were preparing, we know this today, for several days, and not to hide behind, as Prime Minister Tusk said, "not overly pessimistic rainfall forecasts." To unnecessarily calm people down, to demobilize people, to demobilize the services. The government slept on this matter, I have no doubts about it - stated Jacek Sasin in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on the program "Sedno sprawy" on Radio Plus.
Sasin: Today, you can face charges in Poland for wanting to protect people
- Today, we are attacked precisely for taking action earlier. Frankly, I am not surprised today by various state bodies, including local governments, that they do not want to act, that they are reluctant to take preemptive action. Preemptive actions, because the atmosphere that this government has created in Poland is such that you can face charges for wanting to act, for wanting to protect people – he continued.
11:36
Hołownia:
Sejm Organizes Aid Collection for Flood Victims
- Since Saturday, we have received many signals from employees of the Sejm Chancellery […], also from MPs, expressing their desire to help. I know that many parliamentary clubs and parties have already announced collections of necessary items in their parliamentary offices, and this is a great and much-needed initiative - said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference.
- However, we, as the parliamentary community, also want to contribute our part, and therefore, starting from 11:00 AM, a collection of donations and items will commence at two locations. One for employees of the Sejm Chancellery and MPs at the parliamentary hotel […]. The second, open to the city, […] if someone finds it more convenient to go to Wiejska Street, a tent will be set up there where items that could be useful to flood victims can also be brought - he announced.
12:55
Tusk on a state of natural disaster:
It is not our intention to limit civil rights.
- In Wrocław, we will provide detailed data [concerning districts covered by the state of natural disaster], because at the last minute one of the districts had to be added to the list, and it will be done through a circular process, as it always requires a decision by the entire government - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.
As the head of government emphasized: - In Wrocław, we will explain precisely what consequences this will have for the local population and for businesses. We will try, as I have persuaded the ministers, to use the tool that a state of emergency provides very cautiously and with necessary delicacy. It is not our intention to limit civil rights beyond any necessity. These are completely exceptional situations.
12:59
Tusk Announces One Billion Zloty for Aid
I have already announced this, I have approached the Minister of Finance, and at this moment we have secured a reserve for the needs of places and people affected by the flood. Currently, one billion zloty. The Minister of Finance has assured me that there will be no shortage of direct and long-term aid – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.
As informed by the head of government, anyone affected by the flood will be able to report to their local commune authorities, where they live and suffered losses, for assistance amounting to 8 thousand + 2 thousand zloty.
13:04
Tusk on Financial Resources:
We Will Extract Everything We Can from the EU.
“I apologize for this wording, but we will extract everything we can from the EU, when it comes to financial resources. We have, I believe, good tools of persuasion and very strong arguments,” stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference.
13:21
Tusk announces joint efforts to secure EU funds:
I will speak with the Prime Ministers of flood-affected countries.
- Today, I will be speaking with the Prime Ministers of flood-affected countries: the Slovak, the Czech, the Austrian. Perhaps later today, I will also be able to connect with the President of Romania. Everywhere there, we are witnessing comparable, similar events. [...] I want us all to be in close contact because we will also jointly encourage the EU to finance the damages caused by the floods – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press briefing.
- Furthermore, there are also special tools. I have received a report on what is possible, both regarding European funds, where a significant amount of money can be allocated, and regarding targeted aid related to natural disasters – he added.
14:14
Government Declares State of Natural Disaster. Ordinance Issued.
In connection with the floods in southwestern Poland, the Council of Ministers has introduced a state of natural disaster in parts of the Lower Silesian, Opole, and Silesian voivodeships. The ordinance has been published in the Journal of Laws.
The state of emergency is to remain in effect for 30 days from the date of the ordinance's announcement – i.e., until October 16, 2024.
The ordinance specifies the areas where the state of natural disaster has been introduced:
- in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship: Kamienna Góra, Karkonosze, Kłodzko, Lwówek, Wałbrzych, and Ząbkowice counties, as well as the cities with county rights of Wałbrzych and Jelenia Góra,
- in the Opole Voivodeship: Głubczyce, Nysa, and Prudnik counties, and the Strzeleczki municipality in Krapkowice county,
- in the Silesian Voivodeship: Bielsko, Cieszyn, Pszczyna, and Racibórz counties, and the city with county rights of Bielsko-Biała,
The introduction of the state of disaster involves permitting the application of the following restrictions on freedoms and rights:
- the obligation to vacate or secure residential premises or other rooms,
- an evacuation order within a specified time from designated places, areas, and facilities,
- an order or prohibition of presence in designated places and facilities, and in designated areas,
- an order or prohibition of a specific mode of movement.
14:55
Tusk:
There will be no shortage of funds for aid
- I want to assure you that there will be no shortage of funds for this ad hoc aid and the necessary tools. This is very important to us, both the simplicity, speed, and certainty of financing this aid - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Wrocław.
14:55
Tusk on Looters:
Every Case Will Be Treated as a Crime Deserving the Harshest Punishment.
- I was also approached with a request, I am speaking of a request from the head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration and the Prosecutor General, the Minister of Justice, that I convey an assurance to all flood victims that the police and prosecution will act with absolute speed and use all available tools against looters - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Wrocław.
As the head of government emphasized: - The Prosecutor General assured me, within the framework of existing law, of course, that every such case will be prosecuted relentlessly and will be treated as a crime deserving the highest penalty permitted by law.
14:58
Tusk on an extraordinary Sejm session:
There is no such need at the moment.
- We have prepared regulations that eliminate the need to wait for a Sejm session. I have already thanked the Marshal for his readiness to convene an extraordinary session of the Sejm. There is no such need at the moment - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Wrocław.
15:01
Tusk:
State of Natural Disaster Could Be Extended to More Districts and Municipalities
- Every day, the Minister of Interior and I will be ready to make necessary changes to this regulation - meaning, to supplement it with potential new districts and municipalities, if we deem that the state of natural disaster will facilitate our protective and rescue operations - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a crisis management meeting in Wrocław.
15:01
Tusk on the State of Natural Disaster:
The Situation Remains Dynamic.
We have declared a state of natural disaster for a period of 30 days from the date of the decree, so as of today it applies to the districts of: Kłodzko, Karkonosze, Wałbrzych, Ząbkowice Śląskie, and Kamienna Góra, as well as the cities with district rights: Wałbrzych and Jelenia Góra. We have decided to act flexibly, of course, as the situation is still dynamic in some places, so at the last minute we also included the Lwówek Śląski district. […] In the Opole Voivodeship, these are the districts of: Nysa, Prudnik, and Głubczyce, as well as the municipality of Strzelecka in the Krapkowice district. In the Silesian Voivodeship, these are the districts of: Bielsko, Cieszyn, Pszczyna, and Racibórz, as well as the city with district rights, Bielsko-Biała – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a crisis staff meeting.
15:25
Support for Flood Victims: PiS Presents Draft Legislation
- We have prepared a draft of a special act, [...] which we want to submit at the Sejm session. We are also submitting a request for an additional Sejm session, unfortunately, we heard that it will probably not take place [...] this is a draft act on special solutions related to financial support for those affected by the flood in 2024 - said Mariusz Błaszczak at a press conference.
- This draft contains three essential issues. First, we propose to increase the non-repayable amount of immediate support from PLN 6,000, the current rate, to three times the average wage, i.e., to PLN 25,000. We propose such a provision in the act that it will always be three times the average wage - he continued.
Financial Compensation for Victims Without Limits
- The second extremely important provision is the increase in the amount related to financial compensation for victims. Today, it is up to PLN 200,000 for houses and up to PLN 100,000 for utility buildings. We propose a mechanism to cover the full costs related to the losses, of course, based on expert opinions - Błaszczak continued.
- The third solution concerns ensuring that, at the state's expense, flood victims, members of volunteer fire brigades, and volunteers receive leave, precisely as a form of compensation for the effort put into saving the lives and property of those affected - he added.
15:31
Błaszczak:
There are attempts to force societal solidarity, but it's just a cover
- There are attempts to force societal, all-political solidarity, but ladies and gentlemen, in our assessment, in our conviction, this is just a cover intended to mask the indolence and lack of competence on the part of the rulers – said Mariusz Błaszczak at a press conference.
- We heard from the current prime minister that the forecasts are not excessively alarming; that was on Friday. We have reached a time when, if the leader Tusk says that they are not excessively alarming, then even if they are alarming, the state apparatus does not function, because it would have to deny the leader's words – he continued.
15:35
Kmita on Hennig-Kloska's proposal:
We are outraged.
- A great many local government officials, but also us parliamentarians, are outraged by the fact that Minister Hennig-Kloska is proposing low-interest loans to local governments, not aid for rebuilding roads and sewage systems. These local governments will not be able to bear this enormous burden on their own - Łukasz Kmita said at a press conference.
- Today, the government speaks only and exclusively about issues concerning loans at 2.5%. This is not how a good steward operates - he continued.
15:38
Tusk:
I will speak with the Head of the European Commission regarding aid mechanism for flood-stricken countries
- I will have a phone call shortly - a very brief one - with the Prime Minister of Slovakia. I will request another break, also fifteen minutes, at 5:00 PM - I will speak with the Head of the European Commission regarding the aid mechanism for countries affected by floods - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a crisis management team meeting in Wrocław.
17:26
Domański:
We Are Introducing a 0% VAT Rate for Donations of Goods and Services Provided to Flood Victims
- We are introducing a 0% VAT rate for donations of goods and services provided as aid to those affected by floods - informed Andrzej Domański.
As the Minister of Finance wrote: - A 0% rate will apply to donations made from September 12 to December 31, 2024, through Public Benefit Organizations, local governments, healthcare entities, and RARS. The draft regulation has been sent for urgent inter-ministerial consultations today.
Wprowadzamy stawkę 0% VAT dla darowizn towarów i usług przekazanych w ramach pomocy poszkodowanym wskutek powodzi. 0% stawką objęte będą darowizny przekazane od 12 września do 31 grudnia 2024 za pośrednictwem Organizacji Pożytku Publicznego, samorządów, podmiotów leczniczych i…
— Andrzej Domański (@Domanski_Andrz) September 16, 2024
18:06
President Cuts Office Expenses, Allocates PLN 3 Million to Flood Victims
- In solidarity with those affected by the floods, we have decided to reduce the planned expenses of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland (KPRP) and transfer the funds to the disposal of the Minister of Finance to combat the effects of the destructive element - President Andrzej Duda announced on social media.
As reported on the Chancellery of the President's website: - Following an urgent review of expenditures within the section 01 – Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland and an assessment of the possibilities for reduction, while ensuring the smooth functioning of the office and the potential for deferral of investment tasks, a decision has been made to freeze funds in the budget amounting to PLN 3,098,000, effective until the end of the budget year. It was specified that the cuts concern expenditures related to "the implementation of projects that can be postponed, changes in scheduling, and inclusion in next year's budget" as well as the employees' bonus fund.W ramach solidarności z Poszkodowanymi w wyniku powodzi, podjęliśmy decyzje o ograniczeniu zaplanowanych wydatków KPRP i przekazaniu pieniędzy do dyspozycji Ministra Finansów na walkę ze skutkami niszczycielskiego żywiołu: https://t.co/kDPElB1XC0
— Andrzej Duda (@AndrzejDuda) September 16, 2024
20:31
Morawiecki:
Once Aid is Delivered, the Time for Reckoning Will Come
- Now, first and foremost, I would like our thoughts, our actions, and our advice to be directed towards those who need help the most. Once that aid is delivered, the time for reckoning will come - said Mateusz Morawiecki on wPolsce24 television.
- Why were the reservoirs in Otmuchów, Dobromierz, and Mietków, which are directly subordinate to Wody Polskie, and therefore the Prime Minister, and in reality, Tusk decides about them, why were they not emptied appropriately on Friday, but instead were filled, is it not because the Prime Minister then uttered those fatal words that the forecasts were not alarming? - he continued.
20:36
Morawiecki on the billion zloty from the government:
If I had proposed such meager aid, I would have been attacked from all sides.
- What billion, what is a billion, I have an understanding as a former Prime Minister of such disasters, enormous, great natural disasters, and I know that if I had proposed such meager aid, I would have already been attacked from all sides - said Mateusz Morawiecki on wPolsce24 television, when asked about the billion zloty from the government in connection with the flood.- What does loans mean? What is one billion zloty? There should be several billion at least allocated for non-repayable grants - he continued.
20:40
"It will require very thorough examination." Morawiecki on Tusk's statement that "the forecasts are not overly alarming"
- What has happened will certainly require a very thorough examination of what Tusk meant, why he said that, but today let's focus on what is most important for people, on mobilizing him, mobilizing the government to [...] help people - said Mateusz Morawiecki on wPolsce24 television, when asked about Prime Minister Donald Tusk's statement that "the forecasts are not overly alarming".
20:44
Morawiecki:
In Two Years of PO Government, Debt Will Grow by 10 Percentage Points
- During my term in government, public debt as a percentage of GDP fell by 3 percentage points, standing below 50%, at 49.5% - said Mateusz Morawiecki on wPolsce24 television.
- Now, in the first year of the Civic Platform's government and in the second, taking these two years cumulatively, debt will grow by 10 percentage points - he continued.
- I can already see that certain instruments I planned to implement in the Ministry of Finance are not being realized. Those instruments that combat tax havens, that combat various types of tax fraud, have been postponed for implementation, I don't know, perhaps indefinitely [...] or to a later period - he added.
20:48
Morawiecki on the CPK Project According to the Current Government's Vision:
Distorted, Stunted, Truncated, and Incomplete.
- On the one hand, Tusk said in June that they would implement the Central Communication Port, but he said it in such a way that this project, I can say, is distorted, stunted, truncated, and incomplete - said Mateusz Morawiecki on wPolsce24 television.
- The current government got scared of the voice of the Polish nation and simply took two steps back, but not in order to implement it - he continued.
21:01
Kosiniak-Kamysz on blasting flood embankments:
No such operation is being conducted.
- No, and this was confirmed by General Kukuła, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, no operation related to the potential blasting of embankments is being prepared or conducted – stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in the program "Kropka nad i" on TVN24.
21:04
Kosiniak-Kamysz announces consequences for looters:
They will be severely punished.
- Let this serve as a warning to all those who dare to commit any shameful, heinous acts of theft, [against] those who have been harmed, those who had to leave their homes, their businesses; they will be severely punished. We will pursue and enforce this very strictly – stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz on TVN24.
- Another line of effort is preparation, and task forces are already being formed within the army for reconstruction, first of all for cleaning up, clearing what has been demolished, destroyed, and then for reconstruction. I have ordered the preparation of residential containers, which are part of the army's resources, rations, and food that is secured for the military will be, and is already being, issued to civilians – he continued.
21:05
Kosiniak-Kamysz Announces Bill for Reconstruction of Flooded Towns
- I think we are facing a special bill concerning reconstruction, after all, there are also historical monuments that have been destroyed, so it will be a multi-faceted reconstruction plan, which will not only cover this week, the next few days, but will cover many, many months. Therefore, the billion zlotys we are talking about is for now, for an immediately activated reserve – said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz on TVN24.
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