He Underwent Self-Reflection.
- Czarnek on Morawiecki
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09/24/2024
07:45
Tuesday's Political Agenda: Government on Flood Situation and Special Legislation, Duda's Address at UN General Assembly Session
The government will convene for a session at 12:00. The agenda primarily includes a report on the flood situation and a draft amendment to the act on special solutions related to the removal of flood consequences.
Ministers will also address a draft amendment to certain acts aimed at supporting entrepreneurs employing Territorial Defence Force soldiers or Active Reserve soldiers.
Following this, Prime Minister Donald Tusk is scheduled to travel to Wrocław to present the changes. "Right now, work is underway with the participation of relevant ministers on legislative changes that will facilitate our reconstruction process, and we will try to present by Tuesday evening in Wrocław what we have convinced various partners of. On Wednesday morning, we would also have the opportunity to meet there, on-site, before we deliver information on the flood situation in the Sejm late in the afternoon," stated the head of government.
President Andrzej Duda is continuing his visit to the USA, where at 14:00 Polish time he will participate in the welcoming ceremony for heads of state and government by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and at 15:00 – in the opening of the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
At 15:30, he will meet with the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al–Hamad, at 16:30 – with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, and at 17:30 – with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. At 18:30, he will participate in a working breakfast with members of the Business Council for International Understanding.
At 22:00, the president will meet with Jewish communities, and at 23:00 – he will participate in the conference "The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Program”. During the night, the president will deliver a speech during the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
08:24
Pełczyńska-Nałęcz on Flood Victim Aid:
We Want to Redirect Several Billion Euros.
A very large portion of European funds is to be redirected to aid flood victims; this amounts to several billion zlotys, representing truly substantial resources. This redirection is tied to very specific procedures determined by Poland's cooperation with the European Commission. Our intention within this special act is to introduce solutions that will shorten this process – stated Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz in the program "Graffiti" on Polsat News.
What needs to be done? Primarily, we need to shorten the process of going through all consultations via the path in the Council of Ministers. We need to ensure that decisions are, of course, made by the Council of Ministers, but without such a protracted decision-making path. Naturally, consultations are also necessary in the public sphere; this is important – she added.
08:25
Pełczyńska-Nałęcz on Redirecting Funds from the 0% Mortgage to Flood Relief:
A Great Solution.
- My view on the 0% mortgage is already widely known; I believe there is simply no need for such housing policy, as it is anti-housing in terms of affordability, and of course, redirecting those funds would have been a great solution for post-flood reconstruction and resilience. I hear and fully support Minister Domański’s decision that funds initially allocated in the current 2024 budget, potentially for the 0% mortgage had the law passed, but it did not, Minister Domański plans to redirect them to reconstruction. I think this is a very good solution – Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz told Polsat News.
- Yes [I will persuade Minister Domański], absolutely. In this post-flood situation, [redirecting funds from next year’s budget from the 0% mortgage to flood victims] such a policy truly makes no sense anymore – she emphasized.
08:48
Extensive Material. Grabiec on the Special Act
- We are working on one document, one project, that will concern many fields. There are several dozen provisions being amended, and along with the justification, the act is almost 200 pages long, so it is extensive material - stated Jan Grabiec on TVP Info.
- Primarily, we are dealing with an expansion of aid and new forms of assistance. For instance, what the Prime Minister has already mentioned, the issue of the Bank Guarantee Fund paying mortgage installments for flood victims when their apartments have been destroyed. These solutions require statutory changes, but also simplification of aid concerning renovations and reconstruction of apartments - he continued.
08:49
Free Fuel from Orlen for Farmers Aiding Flood Victims? Kołodziejczak: We're in the Final Stretch
- We are in the final stretch with Orlen to establish that farmers who bring aid to farmers in areas affected by this major problem [flooding], who bring straw, hay, silage, or feed, or seed material, will receive free fuel from Orlen – said Michał Kołodziejczak in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Gość Radia ZET".
- On Saturday, I spoke with President Fąfara, and yesterday we also discussed this with people delegated from Orlen for this initiative [...] the fuel that will be used to transport these products to farmers will be reimbursed to the farmers [costs] [...] Orlen is establishing the exact operational scheme – he continued.
- I hope that a precise decision will be made today regarding how this fuel will be distributed – he added.
08:55
Kołodziejczak on KRUS and farmer contributions:
We are establishing legislative changes.
- Today KRUS is writing changes to the act, because to be clear, KRUS can currently waive contributions for farmers for, for example, a year, but this period of waived contributions does not later count towards the contribution period for pension payouts, and we must make legislative changes - said Michał Kołodziejczak on Radio ZET.
- Yesterday I spoke with the president of KRUS, with the people supervising KRUS from the Ministry of Agriculture, and we are establishing legislative changes so that the waived period also counts towards the contribution period, so that people later receive full pensions - he continued.
09:01
Kołodziejczak on Tusk and the Flood:
Many People Look Up to Him with Admiration, Including Myself, for How He Manages All of This.
- The Prime Minister made no mistakes on this matter, and he is probably a person, not probably, but definitely a person whom many people look up to with admiration, including myself, for the way he manages all of this, by being on the ground - said Michał Kołodziejczak on Radio ZET, when asked about Prime Minister Donald Tusk's words that "the forecasts are not overly alarming".
09:09
Kołodziejczak on ASF and the Overpopulation of Wild Boars:
I Can Only Ask the Ministry of Climate to Reflect.
- I was recently, for instance, on an economic mission to the Philippines, Malaysia, and previously to Korea, and I feel a great deal of distaste when I have to explain to people in distant Asia why we are asking for regionalization regarding ASF. Regionalization, meaning buying from us only from selected areas, because we are unable to cope, even in the short term, with the overpopulation of wild boars, which are sick and carry ASF, and thus transmit it - said Michał Kołodziejczak on Radio ZET.
- I wonder if the people who are blocking these actions haven't swapped heads with someone or something, and I'm not naming anyone by name here, let's just focus on a serious look at the economy, at business - he continued.
- I can only ask the Ministry of Climate to reflect, to weigh the profits and losses. Even if someone is a lover of wildlife and lush nature, let them not mow their lawn at home, let them not trim trees [...] let them move out, let them live in the wilderness, in the forest, like our ancestors - he went on to say.
09:14
Grabiec:
Embankment Reconstruction and New Reservoir Construction Halted
- Unfortunately, in recent years, the pace of funding for flood protection infrastructure has been very low. The reconstruction of embankments has been halted, and the construction of new reservoirs has been stopped. The government will certainly make decisions on this matter. I don't want to prejudge where each reservoir will be built - stated Jan Grabiec on TVP Info.
09:17
Myrcha on Vehicular Homicide:
The Atmosphere in Poland is Ripe to Try and Change the Regulations in This Regard.
- One can expect it [stricter penalties for road pirates]. We are already initiating a discussion at the interministerial level regarding changes to traffic regulations and how to more effectively combat those who break the law and those who have already broken it, been judged, and deprived of their driving licenses - said Arkadiusz Myrcha in "Bez uników" (No Evasion) on PR3.
- This postulate also does not appear for the first time [introduction of the vehicular homicide category]. We believe it should be discussed very seriously. For our part, we have already conducted internal departmental analyses with this specific act in mind, in order to try and categorize it in the Penal Code. We have analyzed how this situation looks in other countries and how the jurisprudence is shaped - he continued.
- Personally - perhaps I will say this more as a citizen and father of young children - I believe that we should really discuss this very thoroughly at this moment. The atmosphere in Poland is also ripe for us to try and change these regulations from this perspective. However, ultimately, a group of experts, lawyers, judges, and prosecutors must decide here - he continued.
09:27
"A Proposal on the Table": Myrcha on a Public Register of Individuals Banned from Driving
- This is certainly a proposal that is on the table [a nationwide, public register of individuals banned from driving], because it is being raised publicly - said Arkadiusz Myrcha in the program "Bez uników" (No Evasion) on PR3.
- We know that registers are already publicly available in Poland where various individuals can be checked. These include those punished, meaning we are talking about perpetrators of sexual offenses, as well as, for example, indebted individuals […]. It certainly would not be something new in Poland. A discussion will certainly arise: "and since we are doing this for this group of perpetrators, maybe for others as well. Why shouldn't we know that our neighbor from across the fence was convicted, for example, of robbery?" - he continued.
- We must, of course, consider this discussion. But I don't hide it, this postulate should also be taken very seriously into consideration - he added.
11:44
Matysiak on Flood Response Efforts:
There Is Much to Improve for the Future.
- I think that a review of how we helped, what actions were taken, is always necessary to draw conclusions for the future and to be able to react better in situations not necessarily only related to floods, but also to other natural disasters - said Paulina Matysiak in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on the program "Sedno Sprawy" (The Core of the Matter) on Radio Plus.
- I would be cautious here; the word 'audit' is quite fashionable this year. However, it seems to me that the crucial thing is that there will likely be a time to examine the timeframe in which decisions were made, whether they could have been made faster. We know, after all, statements from people who lived in the areas affected by the flood, and people who reported real situations and problems, that there was no contact, no good flow of information, that they didn't know what was happening - she continued.
- I think there is much to improve for the future. We should consider whether certain things could have been done faster, done better, so that residents also simply felt safer, felt taken care of - she went on to say.
11:53
Matysiak on 5 Billion Euros for Flood Reconstruction:
A Political Gesture, No Mention of Additional Funds.
- I assess this as simply a very political gesture, there's no mention of any additional funds here. It would probably have been a much better evaluated outcome if there were. We also have confirmation from our Polish ministers that it's really about funds that we already had, they will simply be reallocated from one budget line to another - said Paulina Matysiak on Radio Plus.
- It's good that this is happening, of course it is, no one will criticize it. However, the needs will likely be even greater - she continued.
12:17
Tusk:
In the coming weeks, every government session will begin with a briefing on the flood situation
- We also want, here at government sessions, for the next few weeks, to start our work with such a staff briefing, related to the flood situation - said Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the public part of the Council of Ministers meeting.
- As you have noticed, the work of the crisis management team, mainly in Wrocław, as well as in other flood-affected towns. Yesterday remotely, today the staff briefing will take place again in Wrocław at 6:00 PM. But my intention is that every government session during this dramatic time of floods and post-flood reconstruction should begin with such a specific report, which should reach people immediately, especially those concerned - he continued.
12:26
Tusk:
We Will Be Able to Mobilize Up to PLN 23 Billion for Flood Relief and Reconstruction
- In the second part of the government meeting, we will be very diligently analyzing and adopting a draft law amending the act on special solutions related to overcoming flood consequences. This is 100 pages of amendments that will improve the existing, currently binding law, and will make assistance easier and more flexible - said Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the public part of the Council of Ministers meeting.
- Regarding the assistance during the flood itself and the program, the plan we are preparing, Odbudowy Plus (Reconstruction Plus), we currently estimate that, including European funds, we will be able to mobilize up to 23 billion zlotys. This does not mean that we will have to spend it all - stated the head of government.
- It was very important for us to ensure funding for assistance, and then for reconstruction, for the coming months and years, because some projects will undoubtedly be multi-year - he added.
12:44
Siemoniak:
Nearly 20,000 Flood-Affected Families Have Received Benefits
- A very important element of the Ministry of Interior and Administration's actions is the allocation of funds and, together with voivodes and local government officials, the disbursement of benefits. As of 8 AM, Mr. Prime Minister, nearly 20,000 families have received such benefits today. The funds allocated for various purposes, jointly with the Minister of Finance, by the Ministry of Interior and Administration, currently amount to 564 million 804 thousand zlotys - said Tomasz Siemoniak during the public part of the Council of Ministers meeting.
12:45
"Planned Until the End of the Year." Kosiniak-Kamysz on Operation "Phoenix"
- Operation "Phoenix" commenced yesterday at 12 PM, and is planned to last until the end of this year. If it needs to be extended, we will of course extend it. Soldiers will be present in areas threatened by and affected by floods until the consequences of the floods are removed. We estimate the cost of Operation "Phoenix" to be around 175 million [złoty], the number of deployed soldiers will be no less than 5,000, and at this moment, 26,000 have been assigned to the operation – stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during the public part of the Council of Ministers' session.
13:02
Germany and Turkey Offer Aid in Flood Recovery. Tusk: Good Deeds Return, We Will Utilize the Help
- We have received significant signals, very numerous signals, from our allies in NATO and partners in the EU. The latest ones are coming from Turkey and the Federal Republic of Germany. They particularly want to send engineering teams to rebuild roads and bridges. This is an expression of the solidarity that Poland has always shown to countries in need - stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during the public part of the Council of Ministers meeting.
- From the very beginning of the operation, Czech troops, pilots, and ground personnel have been with us. We are helping the Czechs; our sappers assessed the situation near Ostrava. Czech pilots, along with ground crew, are assisting in very important missions, such as reinforcing dikes and dropping big bags - the Minister of National Defence continued.
- Good deeds return in various situations and forms. We helped the Turks; we recently built a hospital there, if I remember correctly. We helped the Swedes not long ago, and the Greeks with forest fires. Today, the Swedes are sending us dehumidifiers, the Turks want to build a bridge, and the Germans want to build bridges. We will certainly take advantage of these offers of help wherever it is useful - Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared.
13:11
Tusk Announces Government Meeting on 2025 Budget Amendments. A Date Has Been Set
- On Saturday, we will have a formal meeting concerning changes to the budget for next year. If this information causes anyone displeasure, I am also very sorry, but we are operating under these conditions - Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated during the public part of the Council of Ministers meeting.
- On Saturday, I will also want to receive further reports from you in an informal capacity. In any case, we will meet in the afternoon - he informed.
13:30
Sejm to Hear Government Information on Flood-Affected Area Actions. Date Set.
- Following today's morning consultations with the Marshal of the Sejm, the time for the government's information regarding actions in flood-affected areas has been set for tomorrow at 6:00 PM - Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced during the public part of the Council of Ministers meeting.
- On Thursday, a debate will be held on the bill amending the act on special solutions related to the removal of flood consequences, meaning the act we will adopt today - he stated.
14:16
Hołownia Announces Additional Day of Sejm Session for Flood Special Act
- This is a proposal that will have to be approved today, if the Sejm Presidium decides so, and then the Convention of Seniors will have to give its opinion. We will be working through the upcoming Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Tuesday, an additional day of the Sejm session, which I will propose today, so that we can thoroughly process and consider this flood act, a amendment to the act, which will come from the government today - stated Szymon Hołownia at a press conference in the Sejm.
14:22
Hołownia Announces the Establishment of a Special Parliamentary Committee:
The Process Will Take Months, Perhaps Even Years.
- In order for us to do this properly, I will propose today the establishment of a special committee in the Sejm for legislation that will help combat the effects of floods. We are all probably aware that when a law of this magnitude, such as the one the government is currently finalizing, reaches the Sejm, it would realistically need to be addressed by all committees - stated Szymon Hołownia at a press conference in the Sejm.
- From what I can see, at practically every upcoming Sejm session that I can envision, there will be some legislation concerning the rebuilding of Poland after the floods, because this process will take months, and perhaps even years - added the Marshal.
14:25
Hołownia Announces Question Limit in Debate:
Don't Make a Political Spectacle Where There's Human Tragedy.
- I foresee that this debate might be long. I will specifically propose that each parliamentary club gets 15 minutes, but I also want to warn you right away that I will submit a proposal to limit questions in this particular debate, which I am entitled to do. This is because I believe that throughout these 4 days of the session, we should do everything we can, and I will ensure this to the best of my ability, not to create a political spectacle where there is human tragedy - stated Szymon Hołownia at a press conference in the Sejm.
14:54
Hołownia on Świrski:
Criminal Act.
If you [TV Republika journalist] are talking about illegal actions, then an illegal action, for which I hope he will be held accountable, which may even begin in this Sejm, is what Chairman Świrski is doing, blocking funds for public media and starving them, trying to force them into submission. As a party appointee, he knows well how to ensure that there is no media freedom in Poland, or that it is limited, and this is a criminal act - stated Szymon Hołownia at a press conference in the Sejm.
18:57
Szefernaker on the Flood: Actions in the First Hours Were Insufficient. Today They Are Much More Effective
- I do not deny that at this moment the actions taken by the government, especially in a situation where on the one hand we have a smaller threat and a smaller wave than what we had in the first days, and on the other hand today we are talking about, for example, there are twenty-something thousand soldiers in flood-affected areas [...] in the first days there were around 1000-1700 - said Paweł Szefernaker in an interview with Beata Lubecka on the program "Gość Radia ZET".
- In my opinion, knowing the work of the ministry and the services, the actions taken in the first hours, meaning the deployment of appropriate services and resources, were insufficient - he continued.
- In my opinion, today, indeed, in a situation where the wave is much smaller, in a situation where a lot of time has passed, and when we have many more services on site, these actions are much more effective than in the first days - he went on to say.
19:02
Szefernaker:
Broadcasting Crisis Management Teams Did Not Strengthen Services
- In my opinion, live broadcasting of crisis management teams did not effectively contribute to strengthening the services - said Paweł Szefernaker on Radio ZET.
- I spoke with employees of the voivodeship offices, which were under my command for many years. [...] I know examples of people who simply fell ill overnight and did not return to work because they were afraid of being involved in the work of a team that was being broadcast live - he continued.
19:08
Tusk During the Crisis Staff Meeting:
Certainly, this is some turning point, at least in Lower Silesia.
Practically everywhere the water is receding, indeed, so according to the forecasts we prepared, by September 26th, Thursday, these drops will be significant, although in few places will we go below the alarm level. But here, I can quietly and without exaggeration, congratulate President Sutryk, not only for his personal effort but for the fact that according to this very reliable forecast, which you measure and predict every few hours, probably tonight at midnight, the water in Wrocław will be below the alarm level for the first time in many days. It is too early to declare the end of the flood threat in Wrocław, the pressure on the levees is present here, but certainly, this is some turning point, at least in Lower Silesia - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the crisis staff meeting.
19:10
"They Proved Themselves in a Critical Situation in an Unambiguously Positive Way'. Tusk Praises the Territorial Defence Force (WOT)
It seems that this is a moment when it must be said very clearly - the WOT have proved themselves in a critical situation in an unambiguously positive way, and it is good that the state will take on the task of encouraging, motivating, including employers, to develop the WOT and make them increasingly effective – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a crisis staff meeting.
19:16
Tusk on Saturday's Government Meeting:
We Will Be Adopting a New Version of the Budget in a Sense.
- Tomorrow we will meet at 8 AM, on Saturday the government will be deliberating in Warsaw, we will be adopting a new version of the budget in a sense, for obvious reasons I am speaking here about the necessary expenditures related to repairing the effects of the floods. We will also want to make the first presentation of both the losses and, above all, how to emerge from this crisis in many places and what projects we are preparing – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the crisis management team meeting.
20:10
Siewiera:
Could the Effects of This Flood Have Been Completely Avoided? Absolutely Not
- Could the effects of this flood have been avoided completely? That's the first, biggest question. The answer is: absolutely not. […] It can only be compared to the flood of 1997. […] In 1997 and now, in 2024, the rainfall that occurred in some places was from 400 to even 500 liters per square meter […], which is half a ton of water – said Jacek Siewiera in an interview with Grzegorz Kajdanowicz on TVN24's „Fakty po Faktach”.
- This scale of natural disaster could not have been prevented with the infrastructure we have. The question is, if we had those thirteen planned reservoirs, could it have been prevented? In my assessment, although this is a very early assessment – also not – he stated.
20:21
Siewiera:
7 Fatalities from Flood, One Person Missing
- Without a doubt, much needs improvement in the preparation phase. There are issues that will be clarified for many months to come, data will be collected. Even from the government side, we hear that much could have been done better - said Jacek Siewiera in "Fakty po Faktach" on TVN24, adding that he rates the preparation as satisfactory.
- However, when it comes to the rescue operation and the involvement of services in that area - I rate this operation as good plus. And five minus, when it comes to removing the immediate consequences of the flood - he assessed.
- We are talking about the involvement of services, thanks to which we are now talking about 7 deaths directly caused by the natural disaster, one person is being searched for - this is the situation according to my most current knowledge - he informed.
As he emphasized: - In 1997, it was eight times more - 56 people. With the same scale, we can directly say that this is the effect of the rescue services' actions.
20:28
Nowacka Responds to Szydło:
Serious Politics Focuses on Helping Citizens, Not Beavers.
- Serious politics today is focused on the security of citizens and on helping them rebuild their lost assets, their lives, their sense of security. Do we need to discuss quotes from the former Prime Minister who is dealing with beavers? – stated Barbara Nowacka in the program "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.
- It is the opposition's prerogative to write anything, even about beavers, but it is my prerogative to say that this is not a topic for dissecting Beata Szydło's tweets – she added.
20:28
Nowacka Comments on State Procedures Regarding the Flood:
I Have a Sad Reflection.
- Certainly, deep reflection is required from us on how the state acted, and also an examination of all procedures and mechanisms, not just from the perspective of these few weeks, but from the perspective of how it has worked for many years. I have a sad reflection, because time and again it turns out that there are procedures that we know need to be improved – said Barbara Nowacka on Polsat News.
- I also accept remarks with full responsibility and humility, and I know that we will also have to examine the state of the Polish state and do everything to improve what didn't work in the future, because we are also aware that, especially from the perspective of the people who are there, many things could be improved – she continued.
20:29
Nowacka Provides the Numbers:
An Overwhelming Majority of Schools Restored to Operation.
- Today, 63 institutions were offline, which also demonstrates the immense determination of school principals and teachers, because please remember that a week ago, over 600 institutions were not operational. Therefore, an overwhelming majority have already been restored to operation. Furthermore, very often, even in schools with damaged buildings, classes are conducted in other locations so that children can maintain contact with education and resume their activities – stated Barbara Nowacka on Polsat News.
20:29
Siewiera:
Without the Territorial Defence Force, the Government Would Have Nothing to Do Today
- Who is commanding Operation 'Phoenix' on behalf of the military? Gen. Stańczyk, commander of the Territorial Defence Force. [...] The commander of the forces, without which the government would have nothing to do today, is indeed commanding this operation. So, there are certain merits in the area of the state that should be attributed to the previous government - said Jacek Siewiera on TVN24's "Fakty po Faktach" (Facts after Facts).
20:38
Siewiera Announces Further Presidential Visits to Flood-Affected Areas
- There will be more of these visits. [...] The President, the head of state, unequivocally declares that he will be going to the [flood-affected] areas systematically, in order to stay updated on the completion of the phase of removing the immediate consequences, once cable communication is restored, water, and the supply of medicines and food are back to normal, and once communication is re-established - Jacek Siewiera said on TVN24's "Fakty po Faktach" (Facts after Facts).
- These are essential elements. And the reconstruction process - how it will be carried out will be closely monitored by the President - he added.
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