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09/26/2024

07:38

Thursday's Political Agenda: Sejm to Debate Flood Special Bill and Extraordinary Flood Committee, Kierwiński Appointed as Plenipotentiary

The Sejm will resume its proceedings at 9:00 AM with questions on current affairs, followed at 11:15 AM by a current information session – at the request of Konfederacja – concerning government administration's omissions in the construction and modernization of flood protection infrastructure, as well as the actions and omissions of government administration and its subordinate services in connection with the flood.

At 12:45 PM, the first reading of the government's special flood bill will commence – a bill amending specific solutions related to flood damage removal and certain other acts. Alongside this, MPs will also consider the bill proposed by PiS regarding financial support for flood victims.

At 3:30 PM, the first reading of the government's bill to amend certain acts to support entrepreneurs employing Territorial Defense Forces soldiers or Active Reserve soldiers is scheduled.

Further down the agenda, a short voting block is planned, beginning at 5:00 PM and lasting fifteen minutes. MPs will address, among other things, the draft resolution presented by the Sejm Presidium regarding the establishment and composition of the Extraordinary Committee for Flood Prevention Activities and Flood Damage Removal.

The remainder of the agenda primarily consists of second readings: the government's draft amendment to certain acts concerning the establishment of uniformed profile units and facilitating the return to service in the Police and Border Guard (5:15 PM), the government's draft amendment to the act on the provision of economic information and economic data exchange (6:30 PM), an MP's draft resolution on establishing the Day of Remembrance of Victims of the Annihilation of People with Mental Disorders in the territories of occupied Poland during World War II (7:45 PM), and the government's bill ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (8:30 PM).

At 9:00 AM, the Foreign Affairs Committee will convene to opine on ambassadorial candidates to the UAE, Singapore, Panama, and 7 countries of additional accreditation. Meanwhile, at 3:00 PM, the Pegasus parliamentary committee will consider evidential motions in a closed session.

At 2:00 PM, in the Presidential Palace, President Andrzej Duda will make changes to the composition of the Council of Ministers – this concerns the appointment of Marcin Kierwiński as the government's plenipotentiary for the reconstruction of flood-affected areas. An address by the head of state is anticipated.

A press conference by the Minister of Agriculture, Czesław Siekierski, is scheduled for 12:20 PM in Poznań, following a meeting of the agriculture ministers from the Visegrad Group countries, Bulgaria, and Romania.

At 8:30 AM, a press conference will be held in front of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister by Rafał Bochenek and Przemysław Czarnek. Subsequently, at 11:00 AM in the Sejm, a press conference by Piotr Gliński, Joanna Lichocka, and Dominika Chorosińska will begin, and at 12:00 PM – by Przemysław Czarnek, Mariusz Krystian, and Patryk Wicher.

08:02

Kierwiński:

Flood Reconstruction Will Definitely Take Several Years
- I think that this reconstruction process [after the flood] is definitely a matter of the next few years - said Marcin Kierwiński in "Poranek TOK FM". - I don't want to sketch out scenarios like that [working until the end of the term]; we have to act very quickly, very decisively, the needs there are very, very large - he continued.

08:04

Kierwiński:

I Will Build an Executive Apparatus in the Form of a Team to Work With Me at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister
- I will build such an executive apparatus in the form of a team that will work with me at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister - said Marcin Kierwiński on TOK FM.

08:09

Żukowska on Opposition Speeches:

I Hoped for More Substance, But It Was Political Squabbling.

- To be honest, unfortunately, no, I hoped for more substance, but it was political squabbling. I understand that this is the opposition's right, but it would be worthwhile to look more broadly, not just at how to remove the effects of floods, but how to ensure these effects are smaller. I agree with the Prime Minister, with his thesis that floods happen and will continue to happen, but the question is how large they will be and how significant the consequences will be - stated Anna-Maria Żukowska in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on Polsat News' "Graffiti".

08:11

"If We Rebuild Public Utility Facilities, We Can Simply Do More." Kierwiński on "Rebuilding Plus"
- This is what Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke about at a meeting with voivodes on Saturday, that we are planning a process of rebuilding plus, meaning we want this process to realize everything that can be improved, what can bring new quality to these areas. Incidentally, it's quite natural, if we are rebuilding public utility facilities, it's a moment where we can simply do more - said Marcin Kierwiński on TOK FM.

08:12

Żukowska:

Claims the government failed are false

- I absolutely [do not agree]. I believe that the claims that the government failed, that there was no agreement between the services, are false claims. I believe it worked well, which shows that the losses, despite the rainfall being much higher, 20% more rain fell than during the great flood of 1997, and yet the losses, and in terms of human casualties, are smaller - stated Anna-Maria Żukowska on Polsat News' "Graffiti".

08:16

Żukowska:

No Beavers in Flooded Areas

- This is interesting, because in these flooded areas, there are no beavers at all. They don't live there. Perhaps he [Donald Tusk] was not familiar with the map of beaver habitat distribution in the country - stated Anna-Maria Żukowska on Polsat News' "Graffiti".

08:18

Kierwiński on Flood Damage Mitigation:

We'll Likely Change the Law on This Matter Several More Times.
- We'll likely change the law on this matter [flood damage mitigation] several more times. The solutions proposed here are intended to be the constitution, facilitating the initial reconstruction period - said Marcin Kierwiński on TOK FM. - I have no doubt that after a thorough assessment of the damages [...] this act will likely need to be modified again - he continued.

08:29

Bosak on the parliamentary debate on floods:

The government, in this torrent of chatter, wanted to hide something.
- The entire [parliamentary debate on floods] lasted about 7 hours. It looked like the government, in this torrent of chatter, wanted to hide something. It seems to me that they have a lot to hide, and the point is precisely to tire out the public so that we stop asking about key facts – said Krzysztof Bosak in the RMF FM “Morning Interview”. - First and foremost, that there were very serious neglects and to this day no one has been held accountable. The Prime Minister is avoiding identifying those responsible for the lack of preparations, for the lack of implementing warning and alarm procedures, for the fact that local communities and local authorities were completely surprised by the approaching flood wave – he continued.

08:34

Paszyk on the Flood Debate:

I Left the Sejm Chamber Dejected.

- I left the Sejm chamber yesterday feeling dejected by the general proceedings, the impression. I think the last thing people affected by the flood today expected was these invectives, this throwing of irrational accusations at each other, and it was distasteful – stated Krzysztof Paszyk on the program "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.

- Meaning, let's have some proportion, 90% of the opposition's speeches yesterday were a political farce, absolutely unacceptable. However, Mr. Editor, when it comes to self-assessment and reflection on the government's actions taken from the very first days and hours, no one who does nothing makes mistakes. Of course, if I could point to something today, and I think we are all aware of this at various levels of authority, it is certainly that we must work on improving procedures, coordination, and information flow. This is, of course, a lesson that we all want to learn and will learn – he continued.

08:35

Paszyk on the 0% Loan:

There is no indication that funds for this program will be lacking.

- Due to the floods, we have postponed the discussion on the final shape of the Polish state’s housing program for a few weeks. My program, prepared by the Ministry of Development and Technology, based on three pillars – support for municipal construction, social construction, and owner-occupied construction – remains on the table. For now, nothing has happened to suggest that funds for the implementation of this program will be lacking – stated Krzysztof Paszyk on TVN24.

- Discussions in this context are a red herring; half of Poles aged 25-35 have no prospects of owning their own apartment. The current housing stock where they can search for apartments are owner-occupied ones. There is a need for a support program, for access, for the purchase of one's own apartment for young Poles, and this is the goal that guides me – he emphasized.

08:35

Paszyk announces swift evaluation of flood destruction:

The assessment of damages will be immediate.

- Yesterday, from the Sejm rostrum, I assured local governments affected by the flood, and individuals who are waiting today to assess whether apartments and houses destroyed by the flood are suitable for renovation or pose a threat and will require demolition, that this will happen immediately. I stand by this declaration – said Krzysztof Paszyk on TVN24.

- Today, the government is proposing a very broad stream of assistance, taking into account the specifics and different types of construction. The aid announced by the Prime Minister, namely 100,000 and 200,000 [PLN], mainly concerns building owners. However, we have a mass of communal, local government, and social housing buildings, including TBS cooperatives, where there will also be dedicated aid and very significant support – he continued.

08:42

Bosak on Staff Meetings:

This Wasn't Management, But an Operation Calculated for Marketing Effects.
- In my assessment, the staff organized by the Prime Minister was primarily a PR-communication-marketing operation. The Prime Minister should have gone to the designated crisis management post, which is certainly not a room in a provincial office where all the cameras can be set up - said Krzysztof Bosak in the "Morning Interview" on RMF FM. - However, taking out the most important ministers and heads of services to sit for many hours in front of cameras is a detachment from real management. Let's not fool ourselves that this was management. This was communication with society calculated for marketing effects - he assessed.

08:47

Żukowska:

The Left Will Make a Janusz Korwin-Mikke-style Stand on Health Contribution Reduction

- The situation in healthcare has always been difficult and remains difficult. Therefore, we should not worsen it, but improve it. Hence, the Left's proposal for a health tax that would bring money into the budget, not take it away, as proposed by Trzecia Droga or Ryszard Petru, because that would reduce revenues to the budget and the National Health Fund, which is very dangerous - stated Anna-Maria Żukowska on Polsat News' 'Graffiti'.


- Because if there is already a problem with financing these additional benefits, excess services, then we absolutely cannot agree, and we certainly do not agree, and here we will absolutely make a Janusz Korwin-Mikke-style stand on the reduction of the health contribution, apart from the matter we agreed to, which is the issue of not calculating the health contribution on the sale of fixed assets - said the Left MP.

08:48

Żukowska on government reconstruction:

If it were to happen, it would likely be after the presidential elections.

- No, I haven't heard [about the idea of government reconstruction on October 15th]. I think if it were to happen, it would likely be rather after the presidential elections. Certainly not from our side [Lewica does not expect changes] - stated Anna-Maria Żukowska in "Graffiti" on Polsat News.

08:51

Bochenek on Tusk:

He Came Out Satisfied to the Podium, Praising the Actions of Subordinate Institutions, While We All Know He Failed.
- Yesterday, we did not hear from our Prime Minister [...] that any negligence had occurred, that he admitted that something may have failed, something went wrong. Prime Minister Donald Tusk came out satisfied to the podium, even praising the actions of his subordinate institutions, while we all know perfectly well that he failed - said Rafał Bochenek at a press conference. - As the Prime Minister of the Polish government, he failed because for many days, before this great storm, this great catastrophe [...] Donald Tusk, just days before the flood, already had reliable, very factual, and concrete information from the European Commission. The Czechs were also informing our services about a very serious threat, not to mention governmental institutions - he continued. - On Friday, at a press conference in Lower Silesia, Donald Tusk, despite this information, warnings of the 3rd degree [...] said: ladies and gentlemen, the forecasts are not alarming, do not panic. Calming, misinforming, and de facto deceiving citizens about the scale of the threat - he went on to say.

08:54

Bosak:

We Have Information from Flooded Cities that Obituaries Exceed the Government's Stated Number of Victims
- If the government intends to revise the number of victims upwards, it should do so as quickly as possible, because by delaying, it undermines the credibility of state institutions. Yesterday I spoke with the Austrian ambassador. In Austria, 7 people died as a result of the floods. I don't believe that the same number died in Poland, because the extent of the floods in Poland was much greater - said Krzysztof Bosak in the "Morning Interview" on RMF FM. As he stated: - I know that in state institutions in Poland, people lie on command. There is a culture of lying that we inherited from the PRL, it is simply a culture of hierarchical lying. - We have information from the most affected cities that in individual cities, the victims – according to the people living there, based on information they have from friends – have had obituaries appear, pasted on walls, poles. The number of these obituaries is greater than the number of victims stated by the government - said the Deputy Marshal of the Sejm.

09:03

Czarnek to Tusk:

You Have Reasons to Panic, Because Criminal Liability Hangs Over You,
- We have great respect for the services and always have. The problem is that the state from the 13th of December coalition, yesterday, for several hours, in a truly masterfully organized manner, tried to defend, albeit ineptly, Mr. Donald Tusk and his aides from criminal liability for the greatest neglects in the history of this state in several decades – said Przemysław Czarnek at a press conference. - Donald Tusk [...] had information here in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister on September 10th, September 11th, September 12th, in order to tell people on September 13th: the forecasts are not overly alarming, there is no reason for panic. Mr. Donald Tusk, you have reasons to panic, because criminal liability hangs over you, and this yesterday's multi-hour spectacle, which was meant to cover up your responsibility, unfortunately failed – he continued.

10:16

Government Submits Amendment to Special Flood Act

The amendment includes, among other things:

- For entrepreneurs, new support in the form of an intervention benefit;

- An additional paid leave of up to 20 days for flood victims, which can be used to remove flood consequences. The employer will be able to receive reimbursement for the costs of remuneration during this leave – up to the average salary.

11:12

Kosiniak-Kamysz:

Military Actions in Response to Floods Do Not Harm the 'Safe Podlasie' Operation
- The 'Safe Podlasie' operation is proceeding without disruption, and the actions of the armed forces in connection with the flood do not cause any detriment to the 'Safe Podlasie' operation. Soldiers assigned to this operation, 17,000 soldiers in total, with approximately 5,300 soldiers directly involved today - said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at a press conference following a briefing with the staff and soldiers participating in the 'Safe Podlasie' operation.

11:18

Pressure on the Border is Increasing in Recent Weeks. Kosiniak-Kamysz Provides the Numbers
- The situation is serious, and this pressure on the border has been increasing in recent weeks and days. After July, which was a calm month, and August, when the number of crossings was not yet that high, September brings an increase in the number of crossings. In these several dozen days of September, up to today, there have been approximately 2,500 attempted border crossings – said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at a press conference following a briefing with the staff and soldiers participating in the "Safe Podlasie" operation. - In the entire year of 2024, we have already dealt with 26,000 attempts to illegally cross the Polish-Belarusian border. This is the same number as in the whole of 2023, and there are still over three months left until the end of this year – he continued. - This year is much more difficult. The pressure on the border and the aggressiveness of groups that have specialized in attacking soldiers and officers is greater than ever. The process of apprehending those who help, the human smugglers, is ongoing. [...] 492 people, to be exact [...] have been caught, detained, and many of them have been placed in pre-trial detention – he added.

11:23

Kosiniak-Kamysz:

The Buffer Zone Was Key. It's a Very Good Decision
- Analyzing the number of border crossings, it appears that introducing the buffer zone was key - said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at a press conference following a briefing with personnel and soldiers participating in the "Safe Podlasie" operation. - This is a very good decision, it has been extended [...] there is great social acceptance, because I think the residents also see its effectiveness - he continued.

13:21

PiS Releases Video Attacking the Prime Minister:

He Downplayed the Threat, He Failed.
- Donald Tusk received direct warnings from IMGW and the European Copernicus system about the impending flood. Despite this, he downplayed the threat and did not prepare southern Poland for the coming cataclysm. He misled people - says the narrator in a video published on PiS's social media. The party accuses the prime minister: - Donald Tusk did not warn Stronie Śląskie. Donald Tusk did not warn Kłodzko. Donald Tusk did not warn Nysa. Because of his negligence, thousands of people lost their entire life's possessions. We still don't know how many people lost their lives, were injured, and how many are missing. - Donald Tusk and his government failed - it was concluded.

14:26

Sejm Discusses Flood Special Act. Siemoniak: These are Quick Solutions, We are Working on More

‘I would like to assure the high chamber that these solutions are quick solutions, what is needed at this moment, the tools that the government and local administration need. We are working on further legal solutions that will draw conclusions from flood events. We are working on the 'Reconstruction Plus' program, meaning all those actions that will lead to the rapid reconstruction of what was destroyed as a result of the floods in recent weeks,’ stated Tomasz Siemoniak in the Sejm.

14:30

Duda on Kierwiński:

He Resigned His Seat in the European Parliament to Help People. On Behalf of the Republic of Poland, I Am Grateful for This.
- I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister for appointing Mr. Minister as a member of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister's plenipotentiary for this extremely important and much-needed task at this moment, which is mitigating the effects of the floods and providing assistance to those affected by them – said President Andrzej Duda during the ceremony of appointing Marcin Kierwiński as the government's plenipotentiary for the reconstruction of flood-affected areas. - I also thank Mr. Minister for accepting this nomination. For taking on a very difficult task, for which there is little time and which requires great dedication, expertise, and truly a heart that must be put into helping people – he continued. - I am very grateful that you accepted this nomination, Mr. Minister, because you resigned your mandate in the European Parliament, a mandate from an election, in order to take on this function and help people. On behalf of the Republic of Poland, I am grateful for this. I will say this, I think there would be those who wouldn't have done this – he went on. - Thank you for this, Mr. Minister. This is a serious, pro-state, and pro-citizen attitude – he added.

14:35

Śliwka Criticizes Government on Flood Response:

We Were the First to Submit a Flood Relief Bill.
First and foremost, aid should be prioritized. That's why, on September 17th, we submitted a bill to the Sejm concerning special solutions for financial support for flood victims. We are the only parliamentary club to have submitted such a project. This was over a week earlier than the delayed government bill that Minister Siemoniak just presented. Our project proposes, as a primary measure, over 24,000 PLN in non-repayable emergency assistance for those affected by the flood, with the decision to grant aid to be issued with immediate enforceability. It includes a broad, flexible catalog of eligible expenses for these funds — stated Andrzej Śliwka in the Sejm.

14:39

Duda pledges support for Kierwiński in his new role:

I will do everything in my power to help you.
- The task is indeed very difficult. I can assure you that I, as the President of the Republic of Poland, and also as a person, will do everything in my power from my side to help you. If there are any needs, when you believe my, our support here from the Presidential Chancellery is needed, please signal it, please inform me - said President Andrzej Duda during the ceremony of appointing Marcin Kierwiński as the government plenipotentiary for the reconstruction of flood-affected areas. - I ask that you, Mr. Minister, take into serious consideration, so to speak, assistance from our side as well, should the need arise. Both in the institutional sense, in cooperation with the Minister of National Defence, as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, you can absolutely count on my support, as well as in any other format, be it legislative or otherwise - he continued. - If only solutions are needed that will accelerate the possibilities of assistance, or the search for financial resources in various places, including outside Poland, if there is such a need [...] we are ready to cooperate at any time - he went on to say.

14:46

Tusk:

All of Poland Can See the President, Politicians from Another Political Camp, Absolutely Convinced They Must Be United on This Matter
- I am greatly impressed by the President's words. They sounded like a very resounding appeal to all of us in Poland to, regardless of the past, regardless of what emotions and politics sometimes dictate to people, to be together on the issue of the flood, on the issue of helping those affected by the flood, on the issue of the great, very ambitious, and difficult task of rebuilding flood-affected areas - said Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the ceremony appointing Marcin Kierwiński as the government's plenipotentiary for the reconstruction of flood-affected areas. - For me, it also has a very symbolic dimension, that all of Poland can see the President, politicians from another political camp, who are absolutely convinced that they must be together and united on this matter - he continued.

14:50

Tusk on Kierwiński:

He's the one who called me, saying he was ready.
- I am also full of admiration for Minister Kierwiński's decision; such things are not common in public life. There were various speculations, but I want to say, he's the one who called me, saying he was ready, not persuaded - said Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the ceremony of appointing Marcin Kierwiński as the government's plenipotentiary for the reconstruction of flood-affected areas. - Later I heard comments, Mr. Minister, these are the biggest compliments, you didn't hear them, I heard them addressed to you, how some said: he must have gone mad, Brussels, a mandate, the dream of many politicians across Europe, and here is a decision that is not easy, even for his family - he continued.

15:56

Tusk on Suggestions the Government is Underreporting Flood Victims:

Extremely Disgusting.
- Politicians hoping for a higher death toll from the floods are an extremely disgusting example of the "through corpses to the goal" principle - Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social media.

17:46

Extraordinary Committee for Flood Damage Mitigation Established by the Sejm

The Sejm has established an Extraordinary Committee for Flood Prevention Activities and the Mitigation of Flood Damage from 2024. In the vote on the entirety of the resolution project establishing the aforementioned committee, 425 MPs participated. 424 were in favor, and one person abstained. No one was against it.

The committee's first meeting has been convened for today (October 26th), 15 minutes after the conclusion of the votes.

19:37

Grabiec on Saturday’s Government Meeting:

A Lot of Concrete Things Regarding Budgetary Entries.

- First and foremost, a lot of concrete things will happen regarding budgetary entries, because each of the ministers is working to find billions not only in this year's budget for what we have to do now, but also to ensure that in the coming year these actions are not only continued but also encompass ever-new initiatives – stated Jan Grabiec on TVN24's “Fakty po faktach” (Facts After Facts).

- There is a lot of it, but these are funds for sports facilities, for libraries, and for schools, as well as funds intended for the reconstruction of individual houses and communal and social housing – he continued.

19:44

Grabiec:

Many PiS Politicians Ask Every 15 Minutes How Many Victims There Are, As If Praying for the Number to Be Higher

- This doesn't require much insight. You can find posts on Twitter, for example, from prominent politicians who use such phrases and share this type of information. I've seen several posts concerning allegedly 400 victims being hidden, I don't know by whom – the police, local officials, mayors, whoever. They certainly don't write about that, and very many PiS politicians ask every 15 minutes how many victims there are. It's as if they were praying for that number of victims to be higher - stated Jan Grabiec in TVN24's "Fakty po faktach".

19:47

Grabiec Quotes Morawiecki and Attacks PiS Politicians:

It's About Political Gold.

- It is clearly visible that these people, who prepare this kind of material [like the PiS spot], are not concerned with helping flood victims or clarifying the situation. Instead, as Prime Minister Morawiecki once wrote, it's about political gold, meaning that people's tragedies can be fuel for them politically. The goal here is not, for example, to explain systemic shortcomings or human errors. The goal is to reduce everything to Donald Tusk - stated Jan Grabiec in "Fakty po faktach" on TVN24.

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