-- 300LIVE: PRIME MINISTER DEBATES WITH WOLFGANG SCHÄUBLE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2018/06/25/

-- KACZYŃSKI WINS COURT CASE AGAINST SIKORSKI: “The judge noted that Jarosław Kaczyński had the right to criticize 'politically, privately, and socially' because... 'he is the brother of the deceased president.' By giving these interviews ('which must be analyzed in their entirety'), Kaczyński acted – in the court's opinion – in the public interest.” http://warszawa.wyborcza.pl/warszawa/7,54420,23591600,sad-kaczynski-nie-musi-przepraszac-sikorskiego-za-slowa-o-zdradzie.html

-- IN THE CBOS TRUST POLL, JAKI HAS 37%, TRZASKOWSKI 18%. DISTRUST: 23% JAKI, 21% TRZASKOWSKI. UNKNOWN: TRZASKOWSKI 40%, JAKI 25%.

-- MORAWIECKI SECOND IN TRUST RANKING, AFTER THE PRESIDENT AND CLEARLY AHEAD OF KUKIZ.

-- SCHETYNA LEADS THE DISTRUST RANKING WITH 47%, FOLLOWED BY KACZYŃSKI WITH 42%.

-- MAŁGORZATA WASSERMANN ADMITS SHE SEES MANY GOOD THINGS IN CRACOW - in an interview with Gazeta Krakowska: “Many things I don't like, many I would do better. I dislike the literal concretization of the city, I dislike the chaotic, haphazard construction, building upon building, issuing permits without any reflection – without parking spaces and additional access roads to housing estates. I like the well-maintained, beautiful city center, but not the dirty and littered suburbs. And this is also Krakow. I dislike that we breathe polluted air. This is a problem that every candidate will have to face, but I have the advantage of guaranteeing cooperation between local government and the central government. However, I must say that I also see many very good things in this city. I would be dishonest if I said there weren't any, that Krakow isn't developing.”

-- WASSERMANN SAYS CRITICIZING OTHERS IS NOT HER STYLE OF WORK: “Sometimes one has to respond to an attack. But criticizing others is not my style of work. I have been working in the Sejm for three years. How many criticisms of other politicians will you find in my statements? Very few. I dislike this manner of commenting on everyone and everything, regardless of whether the speaker knows about it or not. The World Cup? Everyone is a football expert and knows better how our team should play. The double life of MP Pięta? It seems everyone, except me, has already commented on that.” https://plus.gazetakrakowska.pl/region/a/malgorzata-wassermann-bede-prezydentem-krakowa,13279322

-- FAKT REPORTS ON WHAT MACIEREWICZ WAS CHECKING AT THE IPN: “He went to the ministry at dawn, returned late. He even used the swimming pool in the middle of the night due to lack of time. And yet – as Fakt has established – Antoni Macierewicz (70 years old), while head of the Ministry of National Defense, found time to appear in the reading room of the Institute of National Remembrance and review files of… spies caught by foreign intelligence services a quarter of a century ago. This happened precisely when Tomasz Piątek's book, describing the ties of his circle with one of these individuals, was being published.” https://www.fakt.pl/wydarzenia/polityka/antoni-macierewicz-czytal-w-ipn-szpiegowskie-teczki-agentow/hx509dh

-- KACZYŃSKI DID NOT AGREE TO OBAJTEK AS MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE - Piotr Zaremba in PTT: “Behind the scenes of this minor success for Morawiecki lay also his defeat. He wanted Daniel Obajtek, currently the CEO of Orlen, but two years ago the head of the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture, to become the new Minister of Agriculture. The idea was reportedly that Obajtek, more closely associated with Beata Szydło, would leave his current position, allowing the Prime Minister to place his own man at the helm of the large and important Orlen.”

-- ZAREMBA ON THE FATE OF TCHÓRZEWSKI: “This shows that Morawiecki's control over his own government is not complete, and party order is of significant importance. Every change must be negotiated with the leader. Now the Prime Minister is targeting Krzysztof Tchórzewski, the Minister of Energy, who hinders his control over certain companies. Although the Prime Minister has already removed strategic fuel companies like Orlen and Lotos from the minister's purview and personally oversees them. Tchórzewski is another veteran of PC [Porozumienie Centrum - Centre Agreement], a Sejm member from as far back as 1991-1993. Like many others during the AWS [Akcja Wyborcza Solidarność – Electoral Action of Solidarity], he betrayed the party leader but was forgiven.”

-- ACCORDING TO ZAREMBA, MORAWIECKI HAS IMPROVED GOVERNANCE QUALITY: “Morawiecki has achieved the least so far in improving the quality of governance. This means he is a co-creator of the government's undoubted successes, such as improved tax collection, good results from state-owned companies staffed by political appointees, and the absence of a financial catastrophe despite a generous social and family policy.”

-- MORAWIECKI IS NO LONGER SEEN AS A TRANSITIONAL FIGURE - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: “Undoubtedly, Morawiecki, despite all the extremely sharp criticism, is no longer perceived as a transitional figure. Grzegorz Sroczyński presented him on the Gazeta.pl portal as a politician matching Donald Tusk in dexterity, albeit mainly in marketing. And not long ago, his gaffes were collected, and it was said that Kaczyński was dissatisfied with him. And while most of the slogans attributed to Morawiecki by the Gazeta.pl journalist – convincing Poles that there's no money because predecessors stole, focusing on the provinces, or the idea of replacing transformation with consumption – appeared during Beata Szydło's premiership. But the new Prime Minister has proven adept at juggling them, that's true.” http://www.polskatimes.pl/opinie/komentarze/a/premier-morawiecki-chcial-obajtka-kulisy-odwolania-ministra-jurgiela,13286302/2/

-- KACZYŃSKI IS REMOVING OLD COMRADES, THE 'MONASTERY' IS NO LONGER UNTOUCHABLE - Iwona Szpala in GW: “– For the 'monks' of PiS, it's an empire, that's what Kaczyński taught them. It's still a strong environment, but mentally old and slow. And Kaczyński has started rebuilding the party for the 2019 elections. Those who don't fit into the new PiS will say goodbye to the front ranks. The 'monks' are on this list – says a PiS politician, an opponent of the 'PC monastery.' As a consolation, Jasiński has become an advisor at Orlen under Obajtek. But earlier, the 'monk' Tchórzewski abandoned him when he purged the supervisory board of the fuel giant, which favored the previous CEO. – Tchórzewski had to do it, otherwise he would have been sacked – explains our PiS source. But that still wasn't enough. Another political tribute from Tchórzewski was handing over Orlen and Lotos to the Prime Minister's Chancellery. Now Tchórzewski is reportedly at peace. – Well, you can't shoot the whole party – we hear from another PiS politician. http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,23589571,kaczynski-wycina-starych-druhow-czlonkowie-zakonu-pc-przestali.html

-- EITHER IMMIGRANTS OR SANCTIONS - front page of GPC.

-- SYLWESTER TUŁAJAEW IN GPC ON KORNASIEWICZ'S INVOLVEMENT IN GETBACK MANAGEMENT: “The total opposition is trying to convince us that the GetBack affair is a PiS affair. Absolute nonsense. The whole situation looks like a form of conspiracy by people who have held power over a part of the financial market for years. In Ms. Kornasiewicz's case, it's interesting why she suddenly resigned from all her positions in GetBack without giving any reasons. It's worth asking about that. Where is the responsibility for being on the board of a publicly traded company? I am convinced that this thread will also be thoroughly investigated.”

-- TUŁAJAEW ON THE ICELANDIC SCENARIO FOR FINANCIAL MARKETS: “We should also remember the 'Icelandic scenario.' In 2015, 26 financiers in that country ended up in prison for various abuses. Since then, the financial market in Iceland has been running like clockwork. Hence the question: doesn't Poland need such a shock?” https://gpcodziennie.pl/92473-aferagetbackuzniezwykleciekawyminazwiskamiwtle.html

-- JAROSŁAW WAŁĘSA ON DEVELOPERS IN GDAŃSK - speaks to local GW: “When I look at the significant number of spatial development plans being submitted before the City Council elections, I think we need to examine what they are intended to serve. If we look at the dynamically developing districts of Gdańsk, especially in the south – I live in Jasień myself – one might get the impression that the only criterion for developers is the desire to cram as many units as possible into the smallest possible area. This is not a good recipe for pleasant and comfortable living in Gdańsk. I would like spatial development plans to reflect the needs of current and future residents. So that there are recreational spaces, parks, more greenery. The point is for residents to have a good quality of life in their districts, which is currently being limited by overly intensive construction.”

-- WAŁĘSA ON NOT ATTACKING PEOPLE WITH POLITICS IN THE SUMMER: “I am pleased to say that all the important issues I was involved with – as vice-chairman of the fisheries committee, head of the trade exchange team – have already been resolved. At this point, I can say with a clear conscience that I have fulfilled everything I set out to do 100%, and I can dedicate myself to the campaign. I'm in a good position because my daughter was born, so I've taken some voluntary 'paternity leave.' I'm staying home and will be in Gdańsk until the end of August. This will be the holiday period; I won't be bombarding people with politics when they want to relax.” http://trojmiasto.wyborcza.pl/trojmiasto/7,35612,23585254,jaroslaw-walesa-woli-budowac-zlobki-niz-muzeum-nie-chce-debaty.html

-- KACZYŃSKI PACIFIES COMPETITORS FROM THE RIGHT - DOMINIKA WIELOWIEYSKA ON THE ELECTORAL ORDINANCE FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - writes in GW: “Jarosław Kaczyński gains a lot from this amendment: first and foremost, he pacifies nationalist circles and those around Janusz Korwin-Mikke or Marek Jurek. He also pacifies Paweł Kukiz's grouping, rightly counting on the fact that eurosceptic voters, fearing a wasted vote, will shift their support to PiS. This is a practical implementation of the principle 'to our right, only a wall.' After such a defeat, Kukiz's formation, already shaken by internal disputes, may not recover. Furthermore, the change ensures discipline within his own formation. Neither Jarosław Gowin, nor Zbigniew Ziobro, nor Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, spurred on by a disgruntled Antoni Macierewicz and claiming the right to shape the lists for the European Parliament, will be able to challenge him anymore.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,23590283,pis-zmienia-ordynacje-w-wyborach-do-parlamentu-europejskiego.html

-- EWA SIEDLECKA ON THE SURPRISING DECISION TO APPOINT A JUDGE UNFAVORABLE TO ZIOBRO AS DISCIPLINARY RULER FOR COMMON COURTS: “Minister-Prosecutor Ziobro has killed two birds with one stone: without losing power, he has created the appearance of handing it over to honest hands. Meanwhile, the punitive hand of the minister-prosecutor will still reach anyone he chooses. Let others be judged under the guise of judicial independence. This is precisely the system of justice – not just disciplinary – that PiS has prepared. They have guaranteed influence over every case that matters to them. No pressure is needed. Having their own people in key positions is enough. A tested tradition from the PRL.” https://siedlecka.blog.polityka.pl/2018/06/23/ziobro-bezstronny-i-wielkoduszny/?nocheck=1

-- TOMASZ BIELECKI SPECULATES ON THE FUTURE OF THE EPP AND MACRON'S NEW GROUP: However, the question of Emmanuel Macron's intentions hangs over the European Parliament. The French President has abandoned plans to create a common group (e.g., under the name Europe en Marche) before the European elections, but according to unofficial information circulating in Brussels, he is seriously considering creating a separate club immediately after the new European Parliament is elected. Macron would select parties programmatically close to this new club from the existing groups – liberals, the European People's Party, the center-left. One can imagine that with the creation of the 'Macron faction,' the problem of the Benelux countries or the Scandinavians with Orbán would be resolved, as they would simply leave the EPP for the new club. In turn, the EPP, after such a potential reshuffling of the European Parliament, could – together with Orbán – move further to the right, which would essentially fulfill the Hungarian's pledge to steer the EPP towards authentic 'Christian democracy.' https://oko.press/orban-wyzwaniem-dla-europejskich-chadekow-czy-poswieca-swoje-wartosci-by-wygrac-wybory-europejskie/

-- SE REPORTS ON CHECKING PHONE RECORDS WITHIN PiS: “Thursday evening. Key PiS politicians arrive at the party headquarters on Nowogrodzka street, where Jarosław Kaczyński awaits them. Among them are Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (50 years old), Deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydło (55 years old), party vice-chairman Antoni Macierewicz (70 years old). One of the objectives of the meeting? Searching for alleged instigators. – The Chairman is irritated and very angry that various rumors and speculations about his alleged resignation from the party leadership, his health, or mutual intrigues are leaking from PiS and being passed on to journalists. Well, we are looking for a mole in the party, and a way to do that might be to check the phone records of some important PiS politicians – our informant reveals. https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/polityka/czolowi-politycy-wyszli-ze-spotkania-z-prezesem-z-mocno-skwaszonymi-minami-kaczynski-szuka-kreta-w-pis-aa-vHoo-JmUj-joyQ.html

-- WARUFAKIS ON THE NONSENSICALITY OF THE EURO - tells SE: “Poland is precisely an excellent example of how nonsensical the euro is. Your economy is much better integrated with the German economy than the countries of the euro zone. Polish and German industry form a unity. The same cannot be said for Greece or Portugal. You didn't need the euro for that, and the absence of a common currency gives you economic flexibility that a common currency lacks.”

-- THE EURO IS A FAILED EXPERIMENT - Warufakis continues: “It's not a question of whether you are a liberal or not, but whether you are stupid or not. The euro zone is a failed experiment that has brought misfortune even to those who seemed to benefit from the common currency.” https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/polityka/wywiad-janis-warufakis-nie-wchodzcie-do-strefy-euro-aa-kupo-d37b-vbr9.html

-- SIKORSKI MOCKS THE SMOLENSK CATASTROPHE: http://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/polityka/artykuly/576862,sikorski-szkola-orlat-lech-kaczynski-deblin-blasik-katastrofa-smolenska.html

-- COMMENT BY WRITER WOJCIECH ENGELKING ON SIKORSKI'S TWEET: “Terrible scumbaggery, unfortunately.” https://twitter.com/W_Engelking/status/1010584024740519936

-- ACCORDING TO JAKUB MAJMUREK, A WINDOW FOR THE IRISH SCENARIO IS OPENING IN POLAND:“Does all this mean that the secular left can rub its hands with glee? Not entirely. There is no necessary link between the outflow of believers from churches and support for the left. The mere departure of people from the Church does not necessarily change their attitude towards sexual minorities or women's rights. Polish secularization still needs to be given political substance. Growing secularization can just as well be harnessed by forces hostile to egalitarian state policy, focused on hierarchy and competition, and inimical to migration and multiculturalism. The next decade will show who will harness the secularization impulse: the left, a new centrist force in the style of Macron, or some more or less libertarian right.” http://m.newsweek.pl/polska/spoleczenstwo/sekularyzacja-w-polsce-odplyw-ludzi-od-kosciola-a-polityka,artykuly,429135,1.html

-- BIRTHDAYS: Piotr Tomański, Wojciech Mojzesowicz, Janina Sonik.