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10/28/2024

07:42

Monday's Political Agenda: PiS Politicians' Conferences, Karnowski Before the Investigative Committee

At 9:00 AM, the Pegasus investigative committee will question Jacek Karnowski.

A media briefing is scheduled for 10:00 AM with MPs Anita Czerwińska, Agnieszka Ścigaj, Dominika Chorosińska, along with MP Mateusz Morawiecki and MEP Waldemar Buda.

At 11:30 AM, a press conference will be held by PiS MEP Marlena Maląg and PiS MP Janusz Kowalski.

At 12:30 PM, a press conference will take place with PiS MPs Anna Gembicka and Michał Moskal.

At 4:45 PM, a press conference will be held at the European Parliament's office in Poland, featuring, among others, MEP Jagna Marczułajtis-Walczak. The topic: Social policy during Poland's upcoming EU presidency.


08:06

Kierwiński on the coalition’s common candidate:

It would be very good, but it’s unlikely.
It would be very good, but it is unlikely. No, it would be good if all coalition parties supported the strongest candidate, the candidate who gives the greatest chance of victory, but it seems unlikely to me today, unfortunately - stated Marcin Kierwiński in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on Radio Zet.

So the strategy that each coalition party fields its own candidate, and in the second round we support whoever makes it to the second round, is fully justified - he continued.

It would be best if the candidate with the greatest chance of victory had the support of all parties forming the coalition. Such a candidate, with a high probability, as polls show, is the KO candidate. If other coalition partners want to support him, it would be best, but it depends on them - he added.

08:08

Horała on PiS Primaries:

There’s No Time to Organize Them Now.
“Primaries – generally, I think they’re a good idea, and the political camp in Poland that first conducts them well will be a big winner because it activates voters, attracts media attention, and so on. But there is absolutely no time now to organize them in this manner,” said Marcin Horała in an interview with Konrad Piasecki on TVN24. “There is no [time] because, for example, first one would have to register several hundred thousand, or ideally several million, PiS voters. Primaries among members alone make no sense,” he continued.

08:12

Kierwiński:

It's More Likely a Calculation to Solve Internal Problems within the Third Way

- I don't think that was the calculation [the PSL playing Radosław Sikorski]. It's more likely a calculation to solve internal problems, including internal problems within the Third Way - stated Marcin Kierwiński on Radio Zet.

- It has that with high probability, Marshal Hołownia will run today. This is not surprising, the Marshal has been declaring this for many months, and polls nevertheless show that the KO candidate has a better chance of entering the second round - he continued.


08:13

Horała:

If the primaries had taken place, Czarnek would have certainly won them
- My impression is that this was a way to choose a specific candidate, without directly naming that candidate as "the one," but implying who might win the primaries – so, the primaries. I think Przemysław Czarnek would have certainly won primaries organized in this way - said Marcin Horała on TVN24's "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" (Piasecki's Conversation).

08:14

Kierwiński on Tusk's Plans:

He Wants to Lead the Democratic Camp to Victory in the Next Elections.

- I am convinced that Donald Tusk wants to be Prime Minister until the end of this term, he wants to lead the democratic camp to victory in the next parliamentary elections. Today, Donald Tusk is the only person who can lead the Polish government, because he is the only politician who has the strength to reconcile these various coalition parties - stated Marcin Kierwiński on Radio Zet.


08:22

Horała on Czarnek's Meeting with Voters:

It Was Like a Beatles Concert.
- I would add a few more qualities [of Przemysław Czarnek]: unquestionable intellectual formation, as well as immense diligence, a huge talent for direct contact with people. I observed this when Przemysław Czarnek was in Gdynia. It was almost like a Beatles concert in the hall. I feared that there might be some excesses, it was difficult to leave the enthusiastic crowd - said Marcin Horała in "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.

08:24

"No Decision Has Been Made Yet." Kierwiński on "Two Excellent Civic Coalition Candidates"

- This decision will be made, this decision has not been made yet. It hasn't been made yet, on December 7th, you will learn the decision of the party leader and the statutory bodies of PO - stated Marcin Kierwiński on Radio Zet.

- The decision must be made by both leader Tusk and the statutory bodies of PO, KO, so this decision has not been made. There are two excellent candidates, but you won't get anything more out of me on this matter - he continued.


08:28

Kierwiński on the Party of Together’s Decision:

You can be either on the democratic side or on PiS’s side.

- Today, they are effectively saying they don't know if they will support this government, so where are they positioning themselves? Because in Poland, you can be either on the democratic side or on PiS’s side. This is obvious to me - stated Marcin Kierwiński on Radio Zet.

- I don't quite understand the leader Zandberg. I have the impression that he is a politician who would always like to be in opposition, often in opposition to himself - he continued.


08:29

Horała:

Czarnek is a very good candidate, but with significant risk in the second round
- I actually believe that the media image here [in the case of Przemysław Czarnek] has been crafted extremely effectively. A presidential campaign is not the time to undo such deeply entrenched perceptions… - stated Marcin Horała in the 'Piasecki's Conversation' on TVN24. - I believe he is a very good candidate, but with significant risk in the second round - he emphasized.

08:37

Horała:

Nawrocki? That would be a very good candidacy
- I believe that would be a very good candidacy - said Marcin Horała in "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24, when asked about Karol Nawrocki. - It's true, it is some risk factor [that he hasn't undergone any electoral test so far], but risk is also an opportunity. […] Every politician from PiS tested in battle, […] each of us […] for many years was properly maligned in various media and has certain memes, negative images, ingrained - he continued. - And Karol Nawrocki, as a person somewhat outside of politics, apolitical his whole life – that is also a certain image of a president that many Poles would prefer, for him to be a bit removed from the main disputes - he added.

08:39

Kierwiński:

Sikorski is considering running as our candidate
Yes, I think Radosław Sikorski is considering running as our candidate, and we will make that decision. Whether it will be Rafał Trzaskowski or Radosław Sikorski. We will decide on December 7 - stated Marcin Kierwiński on Radio Zet.

08:50

Horała:

I've Never Met Szopa, I Won't Defend Him
- The case of the head of RARS is as follows: when the Polish RARS was asked by the EU to purchase power generators for Ukraine, and all available ones were bought within the specified timeframe, […] it turned out that Mr. Szopa, due to his contacts in the Far East, was able to organize some more generators. In accordance with the law, in accordance with the procedure that gives the president of RARS such a right, they were purchased. That's all I know about this matter - said Marcin Horała in "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24. - This precautionary measure [arrest of Michał K.] is completely unnecessary. Liberal measures would be absolutely sufficient here. But I am not their lawyer. As for Mr. Szopa, I have never seen him in my life. Besides the fact that I like that brand, […] that's my whole connection - he said. - I will not defend them. The matter should be clarified in a civilized manner. The current prosecution does not provide this attribute of civilization and rule of law, adherence to elementary principles. According to my knowledge - yes [the prosecution controlled by Zbigniew Ziobro provided such attributes] - he assessed.

09:13

Functioning:

They Stood on Putin's Side." Błaszczak on the Actions of the Committee for the Assessment of the "Smoleńsk Subcommittee's
- They did not analyze the causes of the disaster, they focused on discrediting the Smoleńsk subcommittee - said Mariusz Błaszczak in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on the Radio Plus program "Sedno Sprawy" (The Core of the Matter). - They already know, they are siding with the Russian narrative, with the Putin narrative [...]. I consider all of this to be a political game. Instead of dealing with the development of the Polish army [...], the Ministry of National Defence is busy fighting those who have undertaken to explain the causes of the Smoleńsk tragedy and who have challenged Putin's narrative. Therefore, those who act this way [...] have stood on Putin's side - he continued.

09:16

Who Will Be the Left's Presidential Candidate? Biedroń Names Two
"It's Unlikely." Biedroń on Razem Fielding a Candidate - It's unlikely [that Razem will field a presidential candidate]. I know the potential of the Razem party, and with all due respect, gathering 100,000 signatures will simply be difficult. I wish them well, not that they field a counter-candidate to the Left's candidate, but quite simply, it won't happen, they probably won't gather those 100,000 signatures – stated Robert Biedroń in the program "Graffiti" on Polsat News. - I hope they don't gather them. There should be one, or rather, one candidate for the Left. We on the Left believe it should be either Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk or Magdalena Biejat. We will still have to decide in the coming weeks. Everything indicates that it will be one of these candidates, it's not decided which one, but it seems these two candidates will remain in contention – he continued. Biedroń: The Left Will Announce Its Candidate in Early January - I can declare today that in early January we will announce our candidate – he added.

09:16

Biedroń on the civil partnerships bill:

I spoke with people from the PSL, I think the majority will be found.

- This bill is very well prepared, it is very well justified, and this is not about some kind of waiting-room product. I don't want to wait for pseudo-union products anymore. I want Poland to finally have the same standard as the rest of Europe – stated Robert Biedroń on Polsat News.

- Several million people in Poland are waiting for this type of solution. The state exists to make people's lives easier, not to trip them up like some PSL politicians. But I must also say that I've had several conversations with colleagues from the PSL, and it doesn't look as bad as the former Minister of Agriculture paints it, so I think the majority will be found - he continued.


09:17

Biedroń on Razem Leaving the Left Alliance Club:

Not a Farewell, but a 'See You Later.'

- I think that today it's not really a farewell, but more of a 'see you later,' a 'goodbye.' I hope that's the formula. I understand that our colleagues from Razem have made a decision that will lead them to comment on reality more than to influence it. Waiting for an ideal, dreamed-of world where there's money for everything, where all problems are solved in an instant, but reality, unfortunately, is politically more complicated – said Robert Biedroń on Polsat News.

- I believe that today this chapter is closed. I wish Razem, which is now separate, all the best. I hope we meet on election lists and run together again, because that is good for Poland, because Poland needs the Left. If it weren't for the Left, all these things would lie dormant – he continued.


09:19

Błaszczak:

Next Year's Budget Draft is Tailored for Presidential Elections, It Will Change After the Vote
- On paper, it looks very nice, 186 billion zloty, but unfortunately, everything indicates that it's only on paper. Solely on paper. The draft budget for the coming year is an election project, tailored for the presidential elections, so it will be changed after the presidential elections - said Mariusz Błaszczak on Radio Plus, when asked about defense spending from the state budget for the next year.

09:22

Błaszczak on the potential presentation of PiS's presidential candidate on November 11th:

This is not a final deadline.
- This is not a final deadline, but symbols in politics are important - said Mariusz Błaszczak on Radio Plus, when asked if November 11th is the final deadline for presenting the presidential candidate. - A decision on this matter has not been made - he continued.

10:34

Karnowski on the Use of Pegasus:

There Has Been No Greater Wickedness in the History of Democracy.
- I believe there has been no greater wickedness in the history of democracy, not just in Poland, than the use of Pegasus. The Watergate affair was a trifle in comparison to the fact that one could eavesdrop on the chief of staff and members of the election staff, or members of the Senate Pact - said Jacek Karnowski during his hearing before the Pegasus inquiry committee. - This was no longer an eavesdropping device installed in a single room where they met, but rather their real-time monitoring. I'm not even mentioning all the medical secrets, attorney-client privileges, and the like - he continued.

11:18

Morawiecki:

The Current Prime Minister is Capable of Much, as Even the Cheapest Stores are Experiencing Soaring Prices

- This year, a year of high prices, can be summarized in this way. They abolished the shields, shields that protected millions of Polish families, millions of Polish households. These shields are no longer in place. They have fundamentally increased food prices by abolishing the zero VAT on food, and finally let loose and stimulated the rise in prices of energy, gas, heating, as well as waste disposal fees. This is all that affects every Polish family, affects all Poles. This must be stopped immediately – stated Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference.

- They say inflation is 5%, Mr. Prime Minister, ruling coalition, go out to the stores, see how much products cost today, and how much they cost a year ago. In Biedronka, a basket of the same products, checked and verified, is about 26% higher, in Lidl about 25% higher than last year. Well, it must be said that the current prime minister is capable of a lot, because even in the cheapest stores, gigantic price increases have appeared – he continued.


11:20

Morawiecki on Tusk:

Under His Watch, Even Hot Water from the Tap Becomes a Luxury.

- We are facing a truly dramatic situation. Instead of posing for photos in some domestic settings, Mr. Prime Minister, go down south. People there are crying, people there are desperate, thousands of people have no roof over their heads, hospitals are not rebuilt, schools are not renovated. I expect real, immediate assistance, not 2,000 zlotys, as Kierwiński says, which is a laughable amount. I expect real, immediate assistance – stated Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference.

- Dear Mr. Prime Minister, this is unfortunately how we must start associating this man, under whose watch even hot water from the tap unfortunately becomes a luxury, because the prices of water and hot water have dramatically increased, meaning even hot water from the tap is becoming a scarce commodity from this perspective – he added.


11:21

Morawiecki on PiS presidential candidate:

We've decided to postpone the decision by 2-3 weeks.

- We have resigned from the primary election process. That's why we've decided to postpone the decision by another 2-3 weeks, primarily because we have commissioned additional research. This is another series of studies on candidates, each of whom, it seems, could truly contend for the presidency. We want to choose the very best one, so that there are no unpleasant surprises in May. In other words, to put it briefly, so that our opponent does not win these presidential elections, because then this Tusk system will be completed – said Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference.


12:47

Sikorski on Civic Coalition’s Presidential Candidate:

We Will Conduct In-Depth Research and Make a Decision.

- I agree with what Donald Tusk wrote on this matter, and today, I will remind you, there was a statement on Radio Zet by the Secretary General of Civic Platform regarding the procedure by which we will make a decision. And it seems only reasonable to me, namely that in the second half of November we will conduct in-depth research and based on that, we will make a decision - stated Radosław Sikorski at a press briefing in the Netherlands.


19:48

Żukowska:

My Party Has Already Decided We Will Field Our Own Presidential Candidate
- If someone genuinely seriously wanted to propose such plans [a joint coalition presidential candidate], they wouldn't do it at their party convention, through the media - said Anna-Maria Żukowska in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on Polsat News' "Gość Wydarzeń". - There have been no such talks, there is no such topic. My party has already made a decision [...], that we will field our own presidential candidate - she emphasized.

19:53

When Will We Know the Left's Candidate? Żukowska Sets a Date
- At the turn of December and January, meaning at the turn of the year. I think it will be the National Council that decides this - said Anna-Maria Żukowska in "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News, responding to the question of when the Left will choose its presidential candidate.

19:58

Smoliński Compares Fr. Michał O.'s Case to Owsiak and WOŚP:

There's Nothing Wrong with a Foundation President Living off its Funds.
- The fact that a foundation president or founder spends funds from the foundation, or lives off that money, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. We can say the same about Mr. Jerzy Owsiak [...] he and his family live off the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity - said Kazimierz Smoliński in an interview with Piotr Marciniak on "Fakty po Faktach" TVN24, when asked about findings indicating that part of the money received by the Profeto foundation from the Fund for Justice was allocated for the private expenses of Fr. Michał O. - In the '90s, I remember, Donald Tusk founded the "Dar Gdańska" foundation to help harmed children, and he also lived, so to speak, off some of those funds. No one made a fuss about it. Now a fuss is being made because part of the foundation's funds were spent by its president - he continued.

19:58

Żukowska on the Left Candidate:

Minister Dziemianowicz-Bąk Has the Greatest Potential.
- I am not interested [in running for president]. […] Honestly, I don't feel I have the presidential format - Anna-Maria Żukowska said on Polsat News' "Gość Wydarzeń" (Guest of Events). - I believe that Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk has the greatest potential for attracting voters and articulating our message most loudly - she assessed.

20:03

Rosa on the Defense of Fr. Michał O. and Comparing Him to Fr. Popiełuszko:

The Scale of Disgust Has Exceeded the Norm.
- This is simply disgusting, comparing a person who misspent money, participated in an organized criminal group that commissioned and paid for fraudulent invoices, who, as we learn from the media, fictitiously rented a lot to receive money from it, a competition that was rigged - said Monika Rosa on TVN24. - Comparing him to saints, to Father Popiełuszko, that is truly, the scale of disgust has exceeded the norm, and I don't know when you will stop defending him - she continued.

20:04

Żukowska on the Bill for a Work-Free Christmas Eve:

We Will Seek Support Across Various Clubs.
- I want to emphasize, this is not a government project [for a work-free Christmas Eve], but a parliamentary one. We will seek support across various clubs. If we find that support, I believe not only I will be happy, but also the citizens and individuals who will be able to spend this time peacefully with their families, instead of dealing with a somewhat fictitious herring during work - said Anna-Maria Żukowska in "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News. - If we pull together, we will truly achieve this. [...] I want to, I will strive for this, as early as the next Sejm session [...] I will try to get it onto the agenda as quickly as possible - she announced.

20:13

Smoliński on Bodnar Suing Morawiecki:

We Still Live in a Democratic Country and Everyone Has the Right to Defend Themselves.
- If Mr. Bodnar, the prosecutor, the minister, feels offended by such a statement, then he goes to court. Fortunately, we still live in a democratic country and everyone has the right to defend themselves. And it's good, he believes that the law has been violated, he goes to court, the court will determine whether Prime Minister Morawiecki's statement was appropriate or not - said Kazimierz Smoliński on TVN24, when asked about Adam Bodnar suing Mateusz Morawiecki for saying he "has blood on his hands" in the context of the death of a Polish soldier at the border.

20:17

Christmas Eve Off Work. Żukowska Accuses Petru of "Bloodthirsty Anti-Clericalism"
- I would like to see these calculations [that Ryszard Petru cites], because they assume that it is a normal working day – and it is not. Because even if shops or workplaces are open, they are not open for 8 hours, like on a normal working day. They are open for shorter periods – said Anna-Maria Żukowska in “Gość Wydarzeń” on Polsat News. - It's not that if someone didn't manage to do their Christmas gift shopping on Christmas Eve, they won't do it earlier. They will have to do it earlier, so the economy won't lose, because they will have to buy those gifts anyway, or herring for the table – she argued. - I am not convinced that Mr. Ryszard Petru can be convinced here. [...] He does not represent his club. I haven't heard such an objection raised, for example, by Szymon Hołownia, who is probably a more significant figure in this grouping – she noted. - It seems to me that Mr. Ryszard Petru is a bit zealous in his conviction, in some kind of bloodthirsty anti-clericalism. [...] He wrote to me today that this is a religious holiday. Christmas Eve is not a religious holiday, it is Christmas itself – she continued.

20:27

Żukowska:

The Door to The Left Club Will Always Be Open for the Together Party
- We changed our path. [...] But it can be different. In the previous term, the Polish Socialist Party, which was a member of the Left club, also decided to leave the club and form a circle. It ended with them returning before the parliamentary elections, deciding to run together with us, and today the PPS has its own minister - said Anna-Maria Żukowska in "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News. - So I am not ruling anything out, I don't want to say what will happen in the future, because it can simply be different. So I am not closing any doors. [...] As the club leader, I say "goodbye", I don't say "farewell". These doors to the Left club will always be open for the Together party - she emphasized.

20:33

Żukowska:

Regardless of Who from the Coalition Reaches the Second Round, Everyone Has a Duty to Support Them
- Regardless of who enters the second round from the October 15th Coalition – whether it's the candidate from The Left, the PSL, or Civic Platform – everyone, in my opinion, has a duty to support that person in this second round. [...] This is about the possibility of governing the country. If someone from outside our group wins, God forbid, they will simply block all possible changes – said Anna-Maria Żukowska on Polsat News' "Gość Wydarzeń".

20:56

Czarzasty Comments on Kosiniak-Kamysz's Words About a Single Coalition Candidate:

Hołownia Should Sit by the River and Cry.

- I think Mr. Hołownia should sit by the river and cry. Because, you see, until yesterday, when Mr. Kosiniak, my colleague Władek, said it would be best if there was one candidate and it was Hołownia, I understood it – stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty on the program "Kropka nad i" on TVN24.

- Two brothers fighting on the battlefield, standing next to each other, one supporting the other, but the day before yesterday one of the brothers got lost, and the other cried. I think they need to sort this out – he continued.


21:01

Czarzasty on Fr. Michał O. and Paweł Sz:

Two Scammers Got Rich Using State Funds.
If all of this is confirmed, and I believe it will be, then it must be called by its simple name. Two scammers [Paweł Sz. and Fr. Michał O.], using the opportunities provided by their prominent friends in the government, of various kinds, and using state money, enriched themselves. It's easy to buy cheap and sell dear – stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty on Polsat News. - Such things must be stated clearly because it affects people. Father O. gave PLN 152,000 to his mother, PLN 100,000 to his father. Every son should give, if he has it, but his own. For PLN 3.5 million, he bought socks for trading, because as we know, Father O. is a priest for the purpose of trading socks. He gave PLN 5 million for television studies, because as we know, every good priest usually sets up a television studio for himself – he continued.

21:02

Czarzasty:

President Will Be Convicted by the State Tribunal Sooner or Later

- President Duda will be convicted by the State Tribunal sooner or later. I am speaking very concretely about this. Such a majority will be found sooner or later. They have to speak like that, ladies and gentlemen, because it is their legend of functioning, it is their power; if they were to say that all the things they talk about are lies. If they were to say that all those people who enriched themselves at the expense of state money are thieves, they would not have their myth, their founding myth. They are defending a Poland that does not exist, a Poland of thieves – Włodzimierz Czarzasty said on Polsat News.