Live Feed

11/04/2024

07:21

Monday's Political Agenda: Ziobro Faces Investigative Committee

At 10:00 AM, the Pegasus investigative committee is scheduled to question former Prosecutor General and Minister of Justice, Zbigniew Ziobro. This is another attempt to question him – it remains unknown whether the leader of Suwerenna Polska will appear on Wiejska Street this time.


07:49

Czarnek is being considered, but a final decision has not been made." Bocheński on PiS's Potential Presidential Candidates
- Law and Justice is already in the final chapter of choosing a candidate for the office of President of the Republic of Poland; there are several names in play. Przemysław Czarnek is a very charismatic politician, a politician associated with numerous brilliant speeches on the right wing; he is a person being considered in this context, but a final decision has not yet been made - Tobiasz Bocheński said in an interview with Dominika Wielowieyska on "Poranek TOK FM". - A discussion is underway regarding what this candidate should be like and who exactly it should be, and a compromise needs to be worked out regarding this, and this compromise does not exist at this moment - he continued. Bocheński, Nawrocki, Morawiecki? - As far as I know, yes [I am in the group of potential candidates] [...]. It is difficult for me to comment [that Karol Nawrocki is reportedly Jarosław Kaczyński's favorite] considering that I have certain knowledge that should not be disclosed - he further stated. - From what I know and from the statements of Mr. Prime Minister Kaczyński, Mr. Prime Minister Kaczyński clearly stated that Mr. Prime Minister Morawiecki would be a candidate for prime minister if Law and Justice had a majority, but when it comes to presidential elections, he is not being considered at this moment - he added.

07:54

Bocheński on Paweł S:

He was never a member of PiS, so I think this matter is overestimated.
- I haven't met anyone who is concerned about this, despite my conversations. This gentleman was never a member of Law and Justice, so I think this matter is overestimated - said Tobiasz Bocheński in TOK FM, when asked about Paweł S., the creator of the Red is Bad brand, and the testimony he might give.

08:05

Tusk's Deliberate Move, Polarizing Action. Bocheński on 'Bringing Up' the Smolensk Topic
- I have reservations about a situation where a commission, which is political and appointed by politicians to assess other politicians, establishes a binding truth - stated Tobiasz Bocheński on TOK FM. - I believe that the fact that this topic [Smolensk] is being brought up now is a deliberate move by Donald Tusk to resurface an issue that divides, an issue that is highly emotional [...]. Today, the bringing up of this matter by Mr. Kosiniak-Kamysz and Mr. Tomczyk is an evident action aimed at polarization and playing on this issue to stir social emotions - he continued.

08:12

Siemoniak on Błaszczak's Words:

An Exceptionally Unwise Statement, a Mentality Straight Out of the PRL.
"An exceptionally unwise statement, because it is Poles who decide who governs in Warsaw, not, with all due respect and friendship, Americans," stated Tomasz Siemoniak in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on Polsat News' "Graffiti." "So, a mentality straight out of the PRL, that was my immediate thought after that statement. It's not what's happening in other capitals that decides what will happen in Warsaw, so I think that in this case, it was an exceptionally unwise statement in every respect," he continued.

08:19

Siemoniak:

Tusk Has Personal Ties with Trump

- Donald Tusk has personal ties with Donald Trump, they have met many times and truly, if in any industry one were to rely on the fact that someone once said something about someone, especially since the internet never forgets, then no one would talk to anyone at all, so strong is the foundation of their relationship that it doesn't matter much who wins – stated Tomasz Siemoniak on Polsat News' "Graffiti".

- Of course, for the world, for the USA, it will have huge consequences who wins, but our task, as Polish politicians, as Polish rulers, is to establish the best possible relations with the USA – he continued.


08:35

Sikorski:

I'm Astonished Błaszczak Thinks the Polish Government Doesn't Depend on Poles, but on Foreign Decisions
- What astonished me is that Mr. Błaszczak believes the Polish government does not depend on the votes of Polish voters, the Polish Sejm, but rather on some foreign decisions. I thought PiS was a sovereignist party. They love to fight for sovereignty against Europe, which doesn't threaten us, yet they are ready to surrender to an election verdict in another country - said Radosław Sikorski in an interview with Dominika Wielowieyska on Poranek TOK FM.

08:36

Sikorski on US Elections:

We Are Not Making PiS's Mistakes; Poland Has Both Sides Covered.
- We are not making PiS's mistakes, betting all our chips on Donald Trump, and I was very careful to meet with Trump's people. […] PiS has once again bet on Trump: the Head of the Presidential Cabinet at the convention, now MPs and MEPs are making pilgrimages. So, the government is behaving responsibly, but overall, Poland has both sides covered - said Radosław Sikorski on Poranek TOK FM.

08:38

Siemoniak on Ziobro:

He's Simply Afraid of This Commission.

- He's simply afraid of this commission [Zbigniew Ziobro], he should come and say it. Many politicians have performed well before commissions, Donald Tusk or other individuals have shown that if the truth is on their side, they can defend themselves - stated Tomasz Siemoniak in Polsat News' 'Graffiti'.

- Ziobro should do the same. Ms. Przyłębska's Constitutional Tribunal is so unbelievable that hiding behind its ruling... Let him appear, if his health allows, of course. If he's a man, let him come. It's the Sejm, after all. I don't know why [the Tribunal] is operating - he continued.


08:53

Sikorski:

Harris's Victory Would Likely Mean Continued US Policy on Ukraine. Trump's Policy is an Unknown.
- If the current vice president becomes president, we can rather expect a continuation [of US policy on Ukraine]. I am, of course, also talking with her people […], so here it's rather a continuation. Trump's policy would be an unknown. Colleagues from PiS [Law and Justice party] are betting it will be better, and Donald Trump himself doesn't seem to be fond of Ukraine, given that his first impeachment was related to Ukraine - said Radosław Sikorski on TOK FM's Morning Show.

09:10

Stróżyk:

We Have Strong Suspicions That Some in Poland Pursued Russian Foreign Policy Goals

- The commission has so far issued its first partial report. On Tuesday, I presented it to the Council of Ministers; it is a 60-page, classified report and it contains a number of different connections, a number of names that could be interesting, but unfortunately, at this stage, as I said, or as I stated during the conference, we cannot disclose them – stated Jarosław Stróżyk on the program "Rozmowa Piaseckiego" on TVN24.

- We have strong suspicions that some individuals in Poland were pursuing the goals of Russian foreign policy – he added.


09:12

Stróżyk on the Commission's Progress:

We've Made Less Than 10%

- At this stage, we are truly at the early stages of the commission's work. I stated at a press conference that we had not completed more than 20%. Today, after various discussions over the past few days, I maintain that we have made less than 10%. This is because we have so many new leads, so many new clues, so many new documents shown by people who saw something at some point and are encouraging us to read them – said Jarosław Stróżyk on TVN24.


09:12

Stróżyk:

The way WSI was liquidated is an insult to a state that wants to be strong

- If someone is dismantling my organization, if someone makes a political decision. In our report, we say, we have no pretensions, in quotation marks, about the liquidation of WSI, about the liquidation of the classified collection, but about the manner of its execution. The manner that is an insult to a state that wants to be strong, a state that wants to have power, wants to have additional resources. All of this was an insult – said Jarosław Stróżyk on TVN24.


09:17

Politician's Cooperation with Russian Intelligence, Transfers from Russia for a Political Party, Implementation of Russian Goals? Stróżyk: Such Things Happened

- It seems to me that to say Russia or Belarus influenced any Polish decision, one would need to find either that the politician who made the decision is a collaborator of Russian intelligence, or people in his circle are collaborators of that intelligence or counterintelligence and influence him, or his party receives financial transfers, or for some reason implements Russian goals. In your opinion, did such things happen in Poland? – asked Konrad Piasecki on TVN24.

-Yes, such things happened. I would like to point out that this report, to the extent I can still reveal it, also shows the weakness of Polish special services. A weakness over the years, I would say, indicating certain individuals, indicating certain mechanisms. It is not by accident that I have spoken about the weakening of special services by politicians over the last few decades, and especially, I would say, it so happens that by one political option – replied Jarosław Stróżyk.


10:14

Ziobro Once Again Fails to Appear Before Pegasus Commission
- Today's agenda included the examination of Mr. Zbigniew Ziobro, who [...] has once again failed to appear when summoned by the commission - said Magdalena Sroka during the session of the parliamentary committee investigating Pegasus. - So far, Zbigniew Ziobro has received four summonses. He successfully justified two of them, presenting appropriate medical certificates. […] The commission applied to the National Prosecutor's Office to appoint experts to examine his health condition. After the commission received an opinion from a court-appointed physician, which clearly indicated that Zbigniew Ziobro was able to appear before the commission and answer questions, Zbigniew Ziobro has failed to appear twice more - said the head of the commission.

10:27

Pegasus Committee Seeks Forced Appearance of Ziobro. Three Motions Filed

The Pegasus parliamentary committee has voted on three motions concerning Zbigniew Ziobro:

1) A fine for unjustified non-appearance.

2) An application to the District Court in Warsaw for detention and forced appearance.

3) An application to the Prosecutor General regarding the initiation of proceedings to lift immunity and obtain parliamentary consent for detention and forced appearance.


10:40

Bosak on Trump’s Policies:

It’s One Big Unknown.

- It’s one big unknown. People he would nominate to key defense, security, and foreign policy positions would likely decide - stated Krzysztof Bosak in a conversation with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.

- We know that he wanted to make some kind of arrangement, he believed he had the ability to deter, that he would deter Putin from this aggression. At the moment, there is a war, and in my opinion, none of us knows how this war might end - he continued.


10:40

Bosak:

It's Good for Someone Capable of Talking to Trump to Win in Poland

- It's good for someone capable of talking to Trump to win in Poland. I'm not pointing to any specific party here, because one can be from an ideologically opposing camp, but at a human level, be able to find common ground, show him respect. If we choose someone who is arrogant, strongly left-liberal, and despises Trump, there will be a problem - stated Krzysztof Bosak on Radio Plus.


10:47

Sroka on the Procedure Concerning Ziobro:

We Expect This to Take Several Months.
- We would very much like the courts to function efficiently and for this procedure to proceed smoothly, so that we have a resolution within a few months - said Magdalena Sroka at a press conference, when asked how long the entire procedure would take and when Zbigniew Ziobro would appear before the Pegasus committee. - The politicians of PiS, who for 8 years did everything to secure themselves precisely for such situations and devastated the justice system, devastated state institutions, which is why we expect this to take several months - she continued.

10:50

The End of Summoning Ziobro to Appear Before the Committee? Sroka: We're Waiting for Him to Be Detained and Brought In
- At the moment, we are waiting and will continue to wait for him to be detained and brought in - stated Magdalena Sroka at a press conference, when asked if Zbigniew Ziobro would no longer be summoned before the Pegasus Committee.

11:00

Bosacki:

Ziobro is obfuscating, citing his health at one moment and the so-called Constitutional Tribunal ruling at another
- Mr. Ziobro is obfuscating, citing his health at one moment. I remind you, a court-appointed expert stated that Mr. Ziobro is already in a state of health that absolutely allows him to testify before us. At another moment, Mr. Ziobro cites the so-called ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal - said Marcin Bosacki at a press conference. "The ruling is not binding on the committee or the Sejm" - On behalf of the committee members, I want to tell you that there is no ruling from the Constitutional Tribunal. Firstly, it is a ruling from the so-called tribunal of Mrs. Julia Przyłębska, a social discovery of President Kaczyński. Secondly, it has never been published, and therefore, with all certainty, it is not binding on the committee or the Sejm - he continued.

11:15

Ziobro Sets Condition Regarding the Pegasus Commission:

I Will Gladly Appear Then.
- To the MPs from the now-defunct Pegasus commission, especially those who most loudly proclaimed that 'the Constitution is paramount,' I remind them of its Article 190: 'Rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal have universally binding force and are final' - wrote Zbigniew Ziobro on social media, adding: - I am also sending each of these MPs the ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal issued on September 10, 2024. It states that the resolution to establish their commission was contrary to the fundamental law, therefore the Constitutional Tribunal removed the commission from the legal sphere. - I also inform them about Article 231 of the Penal Code, which is a ready-made charge against the illegal actions of MPs impersonating a commission that does not exist in the legal order - he indicated. - If the Sejm establishes a Pegasus commission without the flaws pointed out in the Constitutional Tribunal's ruling, I will gladly appear to give testimony, as it will demonstrate how much I have done to ensure Poles could feel safer - he emphasized.

11:18

Morawiecki:

Those who collaborated with Russians should investigate Russian influence in Poland

- People who collaborated with Russians are to investigate Russian influence in Poland. Logical, absolutely unsuspicious, and professional. The standards of this government in their full glory - wrote Mateusz Morawiecki on social media.


14:20

Tusk Meets with Luxembourg's Prime Minister

In the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Donald Tusk met with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden.


15:32

Scheuring-Wielgus:

Razem's Departure from The Left Has Cleared the Air

- I think it has finally cleared the situation on The Left's side. We in New The Left will have elections next year, elections for new authorities on The Left, and I hope that this situation with the departure of the Razem party, four individuals from The Left's parliamentary club, has cleared the situation, and I am very happy about it – stated Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus in the program "Gość Poranka" on TVP Info.

- I am also happy that excellent parliamentarians and senators such as Magdalena Biejat, Dorota Olko, Joanna Wicha, and Anka Górska have remained in The Left's parliamentary club. I am truly happy about this because they are excellent and substantive individuals – she continued.

- The Razem party has left our club and will, I don't know, have its own circle, from what I've heard in the Sejm, and I wish them all the best. I also don't harbor any great anger towards them about it – she went on.

- I was angry when they were in our club and tried to impose their critical tone towards the ruling party, and I must remind you that they ran on the lists of the democratic opposition, and it was a shock to all of us when they didn't want to join the government and take responsibility – she added.


15:34

Scheuring-Wielgus on the Bill to Decriminalize Abortion:

If Necessary, We Will Submit This Bill a Fourth and Fifth Time.
We on the Left will not falter in our steps, regardless of whether this decriminalization bill passes or not. If it doesn't pass, it will, of course, be a bad signal for us Polish women, and we will submit it for the third, fourth, and fifth time – said Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus on TVP Info. - Just as it was in Argentina, when Argentine women repeatedly submitted bills liberalizing abortion law up to 9 times. The problem is approximately 15 politicians from the Third Way [TD] who still do not understand that Poland has the most restrictive [abortion] law besides Malta and these issues need to be rectified; people want this – she continued.

19:09

Petru on forcibly bringing Ziobro before the commission:

I would expect effectiveness from the judiciary.

- I believe that the state must act. Either the commission is valid, or it is not. I would remind you that the ruling of Mrs. Przyłębska's tribunal has not been published. Others have testified before the commission – stated Ryszard Petru in an interview with Beata Lubecka on Radio Zet.

- I believe that Mr. Ziobro must be brought in by force; enough of this playing games with the Polish state. I would remind you that he suggested we are suckers. It was he who spoke of weaklings, hence the need to bring him in as soon as possible. The fact that he doesn't want to appear suggests that he feels guilty. He knows he has a lot [on his conscience] – he continued.

- I would expect effectiveness from the judiciary and state authorities, for him to be brought to testify before the commission as soon as possible, and it seems to me that this is enough; not showing up 4 times is definitely too much – he added.


19:12

Petru on Including Polish Defence Spending in the Excessive Deficit Procedure:

I Agree with the EC's Position.

- As a rule, I am in favour of a situation where there is no deficit at all, but we have an exceptional situation. When it comes to armaments, we have to spend more, and we are spending more. Therefore, these are truly exceptional expenses. Of course, this still has an impact on inflation, growth, and the cost of servicing debt, but in this case, I agree with the European Commission's position [on including Polish defence spending in the excessive deficit procedure] – stated Ryszard Petru on Radio Zet.


19:15

in State Treasury Companies:

This is Unacceptable." Petru on PSL's "Antics

- This is, in a way, unacceptable. We are part of the Third Way, but we certainly did not agree with our colleagues from the PSL on this type of antics. I am currently leading the bill that is intended to limit the politicization of State Treasury companies, for instance, by establishing a special committee that will select independent individuals, and all of this must be transparent. Furthermore, their salaries are to be published – Ryszard Petru said on Radio Zet.

"No Enthusiasm Among Coalition Partners." Petru on the Bill Limiting Arbitrary Appointments to State Treasury Companies

- I can say that there is no enthusiasm among some coalition partners for bringing this bill to fruition, but I am counting on public support here, meaning the greater the public support for the projects we present, the easier they pass in the Sejm – he emphasized.


19:18

Petru Proposes a Solution:

Christmas Eve Off in Exchange for Another Holiday.
The question is at what cost, because the fact is that no one has mentioned those who are making huge profits thanks to this. I am talking about gastronomy, for example, I am also talking about many sectors that normally work on that day, perhaps a little shorter, by two hours, but they work, I am also talking about sales. I am in favour of maintaining 13 days off per year. Let's make Christmas Eve a day off in exchange for another holiday; it could be Epiphany, May 1st Labour Day, or August 15th – said Ryszard Petru on Radio Zet.

19:46

Kukiz:

For the US, We Are a Peripheral State
- Despite our imaginings that the fate of the world depends on us, that we are the center of the universe, we are, for all that, a peripheral state to the United States, and not just to the United States, especially at a time when this burden is shifting to Ukraine in terms of American-Russian relations - said Paweł Kukiz in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Gość Wydarzeń" (Guest of Events) on Polsat News.

19:51

Kukiz on Błaszczak's Statement:

Childishness, Irresponsible Words.
- I apologize for my honesty, but this is simply childishness, and furthermore, irresponsible words, because as I said, we are not the center of the universe. We should weigh our words, especially in such a tense global situation - said Paweł Kukiz in Polsat News, when asked about Mariusz Błaszczak's words that after Donald Trump's victory, Prime Minister Donald Tusk should resign. - This childishness was not only presented by Mr. Błaszczak, because Donald Tusk also many times in his tweets made biting remarks, or gave various jibes to Donald Trump - he continued.

19:54

Sikorski on US Elections:

I'm Very Careful Not to Repeat the Previous Government's Mistake.
- Thank you for this invitation to interfere in the internal politics of our great ally. Of course, Mr. Editor, you know that I am not allowed to answer such a question - Radosław Sikorski said in an interview with Piotr Marciniak on TVN24's "Fakty po Faktach" (Facts after Facts), when asked who, from the perspective of Poland's interests, he was rooting for in the American race for the presidency. - Besides, I am very careful not to repeat the mistake of the previous government, which bet all its chips on one side, on Donald Trump, and lost. And then, at least initially, had more difficult relations with Joe Biden's administration - he continued.

19:56

Relations with the USA Would Be Difficult in Case of a Harris Victory and a Right-Wing Option in Polish Presidential Elections - Kukiz on Poland-US Relations
- Relations between the American administration [and Polish authorities] would be difficult in the event of Ms. Harris's victory and the victory of a right-wing option in Poland's presidential elections - said Paweł Kukiz on Polsat News. - They are a pragmatic nation, I'm talking about Americans [...] if Donald Tusk here is able to strike various kinds of deals with Donald Trump, then Donald Trump will certainly exploit that - he continued.

19:59

Kukiz on Poland-Ukraine relations:

If we meet their expectations, we should immediately demand a return.
- If we meet their [Ukrainians'] expectations, then immediately upon commencing all these activities, any cooperation, mutual aid, etc., we should skillfully demand a return - said Paweł Kukiz on Polsat News.

20:00

Sikorski:

It's untrue that we don't maintain contact with Trump
- This is some kind of absurdity. I thought PiS was a sovereignist party. They constantly defend us from the EU, which doesn't threaten us, they fight for sovereignty, and yet what – is the government in Poland to change not because there were elections or the coalition in the Sejm changed, but because some elections were decided one way or another in another country? - said Radosław Sikorski in "Fakty po Faktach" on TVN24. - Besides, the minister [Mariusz Błaszczak] told an untruth, claiming that we do not maintain contact with Donald Trump – he emphasized.

20:07

For Now, There Are Two Candidates. Only Jakubiak Speaks About What is the Essence of Politics for Me. Kukiz on the Presidential Election
- We don't really know who the handsome erudite who also knows 20 languages from the Law and Justice side is, and we don't know who the true, truest democrat fighting in Civic Platform is - Paweł Kukiz said on Polsat News. - As for now, there are practically two candidates, Mr. Mentzen and Mr. Jakubiak. Only Mr. Marek Jakubiak speaks about the postulates that, for me, are simply the essence of all politics, or, as it were, the meaning of my participation in politics, namely about referendums, about the necessity of systemic changes [...] Mr. Mentzen doesn't mention it at all - he continued.

20:07

Sikorski:

Russians are on the offensive, unfortunately they have regained the initiative
- The international situation is very worrying. The Russians are on the offensive, unfortunately they have regained the initiative on the ground - said Radosław Sikorski in TVN24's "Fakty po Faktach" (Facts after Facts). - Ukraine has won at sea, but on land, perhaps it's not so visible, perhaps everyone has gotten used to it, but truly the quantity of these glide bombs, these hunts for people in Kherson by Russian drones, these – unfortunately – advances, slow, at the cost of gigantic losses for the Russian army [...], unfortunately mean that Ukraine is under great pressure – he continued.

20:18

Sikorski:

When I speak at the UN Security Council, it resonates. From the position of president, it can be done even more effectively
- The added value of the presidential office is that the president - if he has something to say - is listened to both domestically and abroad. I will humbly say that when I speak at the UN Security Council, it resonates, meaning the Polish point of view from the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs is heard worldwide. From the position of president, it can be done even more effectively - said Radosław Sikorski in "Fakty po Faktach" on TVN24. - It seems to me that the government needs a partner who would fulfill its constitutional role, that is, to represent Poland and implement Polish foreign policy, rather than being a rival to the government in its creation - he pointed out. - A president who would be listened to worldwide can do a lot of good for Poland - he assessed.

20:21

Sroka on Błaszczak’s Words:

And if Kamala Harris Wins, Will Duda Resign?

- And if Kamala Harris wins, will President Duda resign and give up the presidential seat? During the last election, when Joe Biden won, did the PiS government resign? These are, of course, the words of [Mariusz Błaszczak], which should not be uttered by a serious politician – stated Magdalena Sroka on TVN24’s “Kropka nad i” (Dot on the i).


20:27

Sroka:

Ziobro Still Thinks He's in Government and Can Do Anything

- Did he win anything this way? I don't think so. Zbigniew Ziobro still thinks he is in the government, that he rules and can do anything. Well, Mr. Minister, that is not the case. The time when you ruled has ended, today is the time for reckoning – stated Magdalena Sroka on TVN24's "Kropka nad i".


20:28

Sroka:

Ziobro's Fear Has Eyes Today

- Fear today has the eyes of Zbigniew Ziobro, but ultimately he will face justice, and it will happen sooner rather than later - stated Magdalena Sroka in TVN24's "Kropka nad i".


20:32

Trela Announces Interrogations of Wąsik and Kamiński

- We can probably say this very decisively and unequivocally today. The next ones to be interrogated at the appropriate moment, and not long from now, will be Messrs. Wąsik and Kamiński, because it was they who actually directly orchestrated the use of the illegal Pegasus - stated Tomasz Trela on TVN24's "Kropka nad i".


20:48

Sikorski on His Ability to Attract Voters:

I Know a Study Where My Support Ceiling is Higher.
- And I know a study that says my support ceiling is higher. In that study, we are neck and neck. We in PO are looking for the best candidate for these difficult times, someone who will win - said Radosław Sikorski in TVN24's "Fakty po Faktach" (Facts After Facts), commenting on a poll that showed Rafał Trzaskowski has a greater ability to attract undecided voters. - This is the key question – who has greater coalition-building ability. Not in the party sense, but in attracting new voters, those who voted for someone else in the first round. I propose that the Left rather supports my Europeanism, which I have proven. For PSL, the fact that I am a boy from the Bydgoszcz neighborhood, I live in the countryside, and we cooperated well within the EPP group [...] is some kind of guarantee - he said. - But I also receive expressions of sympathy from circles around Konfederacja, where there is a lot of this libertarian, Polish business. This study also suggests that I would even have some appeal in the electorate of today's opposition - the Minister of Foreign Affairs listed.