-- THE PRIME MINISTER IS AT THE TOUR DE POLOGNE TODAY! 18:00 finish line for the children's race - PM's visit 18:15 tour of the PM's Museum and Czesław Lang 18:40 award ceremony for the Kinder+ Sport Mini Tour de Pologne Cup race 19:15 presentation of the ORLEN RACE OF NATIONS on stage with Race Director Czesław Lang 19:15 award ceremony for the first stage of the TdP cyclists. -- ACCORDING TO 300POLITYKA INFORMATION, THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT WILL BE the announcement with the PM of the Nations' Race, which will take place in October. This will be an international cycling competition for national teams, "something like the old 'Peace Race'. -- ACCORDING TO A 300POLITYKA CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE CLOSE TO THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT, this is another initiative by the Prime Minister, following strong support for the Ekstraklasa and the round table on football, showing that the Prime Minister places much more emphasis on supporting sports than his predecessors.

-- TOUR DE POLOGNE DRIVES CITIES FORWARD - GW: “Thanks to the TdP, we managed to break the stereotypical image of Silesia. – For many years in Poland, Upper Silesia was associated with everything but greenery. In the coverage of the TdP, it suddenly turned out that it is simply beautiful there and that Silesia has a lot to offer tourists. The rest of the country also learned that Upper Silesia is not just Katowice. And if not for the promotion associated with the TdP, a small municipality would not be able to afford an image campaign on national television and reach abroad with its message,” he adds.

http://wyborcza.pl/7,155287,23732618,miasta-zyskuja-przy-kolarzach-i-rowerach-trzeba-wymyslec-cos.html

-- AS PROMISED, AMONG OTHERS, ELECTRONIC LOCKERS FOR RUNNERS: “The candidate of the United Right for the mayor of Warsaw, Patryk Jaki, proposed on Saturday to create 250 packages for runners, which will include electronic lockers, drinking fountains, and warm-up areas.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/406611-jaki-przedstawia-propozycje-dla-biegaczy

-- OŁDAKOWSKI REMEMBERS ŚCIBIOR-RYLSKI: “After the war, he led the fight for the commemoration of the Warsaw Uprising, he was in the initiative group for the Warsaw Uprising Museum as the chairman of the Union of Warsaw Insurgents. I remember we met with President Lech Kaczyński on this matter, we visited the general at the union's headquarters on Długa Street when we were preparing for the museum's opening.” https://www.rmf24.pl/raporty/raport-rocznica-powstania-warszawskiego/fakty/news-oldakowski-gen-scibor-rylski-przekazywal-etos-braterstwa-i-s,nId,2614914

-- THE TOTAL OPPOSITION IS HARD TO ACCEPT - MONIKA JARUZELSKA IN A CONVERSATION WITH MAZUREK in DGP: “Thinking in terms of a total opposition is unacceptable to me. It's hard for me not to appreciate PiS's social moves.

-- Everyone says that.

-- And I'll say more. I don't like these 'lemming-like' – as you would probably call them – mockeries of 500 plus. I am glad that thanks to this money, more people went to the seaside, that children who previously couldn't go on vacation now have such an opportunity. Just like children in the PRL did, because there were organized summer camps then.”

-- MAZUREK TO JARUZELSKA ABOUT HER VIEWS AND OLEKSY: “You have common-sense, somewhat old-fashioned views, seasoned with a modern big-city sauce, like our late acquaintance Józef Oleksy…

-- That's how we met, and I wrote about it in the book. You and your friend were drinking with Oleksy at the Lotos restaurant.”

-- I DON'T FIT IN WITH THE RADICAL LEFT - JARUZELSKA TO MAZUREK: “In any case, you have such views...

-- And not like 'Krytyka Polityczna' (Political Critique), because I don't fit in with the radical left? That's true, but for me, it's consistent. You know, my Siberia was the years 1981–1982, when I lived in two worlds that merged into one whole.” http://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/opinie/artykuly/578753,jaruzelska-do-mazurka-nie-podobaja-mi-sie-lemingowskie-kpiny-z-500-plus.html

-- SUCHOCKA WAS A SIGNIFICANTLY MORE INDEPENDENT PRIME MINISTER THAN SZYDŁO - Rafał Matyja in conversation with Eliza Olczyk in RZ: “She was not as strong a prime minister as Tusk, but significantly more independent than Beata Szydło. If only because in that government, no one could order anyone around. Everything had to be agreed upon. And there was always a risk that the government would collapse soon. The source of the risk was the attitude of people sympathetic to President Lech Wałęsa, who were simply hoping for a shift in alliances. I heard such considerations from circles of the ZChN that UD and KLD would soon be pushed out of the government and a right-wing government would be formed with PSL and KPN. Wałęsa was supposedly in favor of this.”

-- MATYJA TELLS OLCZYK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SĄCZ ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS' FORTUNES AND LOW WAGES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR: “First, I found myself outside of current, daily politics. I looked at it from a distance. Second, I found myself in an environment different from secular-liberal Warsaw. Perhaps it's a matter of character and contrarianism, but here, in turn, I was annoyed by the superficial clericalism. And also by the fact that the great fortunes of Sącz entrepreneurs are accompanied by very low average wages in the private sector. Significantly lower than in the public sector. Therefore, the success of companies is largely a derivative of the communication exclusion of this city, the fact that work is very, very cheap, because it is difficult to get to other workplaces. This was accompanied by a paternalistic rhetoric that people should be grateful that they have any job at all. This was also conservatism, but different from the somewhat bookish kind that I thought about in the 1990s.” https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus/308029918-Rafal-Matyja-PiS-sprawil-klopot-prawicy-i-liberalom.html

-- POLITICIANS LIKE GOWIN ARE DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR WHAT CONNECTS THEM TO THE STATIST-NATIONAL RIGHT - PIOTR ZAREMBA in RZ: “Gowin forced it from Kaczyński, demonstrating tactical effectiveness. However, at the cost of relinquishing his own subjectivity in many other areas. His expression during the adoption of the first version of the judicial package should be enough as a comment. He and politicians like him are desperately looking for what connects them to the statist-national right, and such spheres undoubtedly exist, from limiting immigration to defending traditional morality. How long will this marriage last? Makeshift solutions can be the most durable.”

-- ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEBATE ABOUT UJAZDOWSKI, ZAREMBA WRITES ABOUT THE FATE OF CONSERVATIVES HEADING TOWARDS THE ASYMPTOMATIC DIRECTION:“The logic of polarization has stripped many conservatives of some of their views. If they want to be against PiS, they sometimes give up their old firm convictions in many areas, modeling themselves on Western 'asymptomatic' right-wingers, sometimes going even further. Ujazdowski equivocated on these matters after joining the PO camp. He emphasized that the dispute over the shape of the system is more important than the content of politics. But, for example, Rafał Matyja, raised by the Young Poland Movement, is today a supporter of legal same-sex unions, and his shift to the left began even before Kaczyński's greatest triumphs.”

-- ZAREMBA, AMONG OTHERS, ON EDITORS OF “DO RZECZY” FLIRTING WITH RUSSIA: “Of course, there are also circles contesting PiS from conservative positions – from defenders of life demanding stricter anti-abortion legislation, through the parties of Paweł Kukiz and Marek Jurek, nationalists close to the Korwin-libertarians, to the editors of ‘Do Rzeczy’ flirting with Russia. Nevertheless, trips to TVN to complain about Kaczyński often ended in spiritual breakthroughs. There are also grotesque versions. The former PiS MEP, then PJN, Marek Migalski, with the enthusiasm of a teenager discovering that the sky is on fire, declares that entities called nations make no sense.” https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus/308029941-Piotr-Zaremba-Casus-Kazimierza-Ujazdowskiego-czyli-odmienne-swiaty-prawicy.html&template=restricted

-- IN DGP, PIOTR ZAREMBA ON JAROSŁAW KACZYŃSKI'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS TVP: “The PiS leader does not watch television constantly, most often late at night or in the morning, possibly only systematically in the hospital. He considers propaganda to be useful. He does not believe in the value of journalistic independence. His interventions are rare – it was at his request that the first head of the advertising office, Waldemar Gasper, was dismissed, which, incidentally, was not related to the program. But he can evaluate individual broadcasts by phone, support some journalists. Without his protection, the position of people from ‘Gazeta Polska’ would not be so strong.”

-- KURSKI AND TELEVISION FOR ONE VIEWER - ZAREMBA continues: “He got angry once when, back in 2016, he saw Orientalist Piotr Balcerowicz comparing the situation in Turkey to Polish realities on a morning show. Now Kurski tries to anticipate Kaczyński's reactions – says a TV official from the new setup. It is possible that the head of TVP created the propaganda system mainly to satisfy the leader. But when the former party PR man Kurski sometimes calls news programs to personally dictate the content of the famous tickers that reinforce the message of 'Wiadomości' or TVP Info broadcasts, he sometimes finds it amusing.”

-- ZAREMBA ON THE LANGUAGE OF PAST ERAS IN TVP: “When 'Wiadomości' reports – also on a ticker – that after the Senate blocked the presidential referendum, 'the motion was rejected mainly by PO votes, PiS senators voted in favor or abstained,' one can smile at such cunning. It was precisely the abstaining PiS members, who have a majority in that chamber, that led to the rejection. When, on the same day, I watch a report recommended as a story about how the opposition should work on its program, the smile fades. After a long review of the wonderful initiatives prepared by PiS during the PO government, it's time for a conclusion. 'While PiS worked for Poland and Poles in opposition, Civic Platform is sinking into destruction' – this is language known from past eras. Perhaps the young people making these programs don't have such associations, and all new languages are somewhat similar. One recalls Bronisław Wildstein's reaction to similar agitation: 'Poles are happy, the expert invited to the studio rejoices. Poland is growing stronger, and people live more abundantly. No, that's a Gierek slogan that doesn't come from the TVP Info screen, but everything else is a summary of this station's news service from May 22, 2017, at 10 AM. An older viewer pinches themselves, feeling as if a time machine has transported them 40 years back and they are watching Szczepański's TVP.' This is how a conservative journalist commented on a report about the government's 'Mieszkanie plus' (Apartment Plus) program. The temperature of militancy in some TVN reports matches that of TVP - Zaremba continues: 'President Kurski and his defenders repeat that the reason for this sharp course is the militant line of private anti-PiS media. There is something to it – some TVN reports match the militancy against the government with those anti-opposition ones from TVP, although it is worth noting that the language there is more skillful, not as strongly associated with a past era. But let's set aside the fact that Polsat's reorientation has changed this geography. The fundamental question is: in the name of creating a political counterbalance, can one be exempted from basic standards? And in particular, can the heads of public institutions funded not only by supporters of one party do so?”

-- WOLSKI'S PROGRAM IS SOMETIMES CRITICAL OF RIGHT-WING MISCONCEPTIONS - ZAREMBA continues: “One can mention, for example, the revival of TVP Historia by Piotr Gursztyn and Piotr Legutko. At the beginning of Kurski's rule, cabaret reviews moved to Polsat. After two years, Marcin Wolski, as head of the entertainment agency, brought together the cabaret troupe 'Na koniec świata' (At the End of the World) under the direction of Wawrzyniec Kostrzewski. 'La la Poland' was created, an intelligent and original program, sometimes critical of right-wing misconceptions. Now there is talk of two other cabaret programs starting in the autumn.”

-- ZAREMBA ON RUMORS ABOUT A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SEAT FOR KURSKI: “So far, rumors have emerged that Jacek Kurski has been promised a European Parliament seat by Kaczyński, and that next year he will be replaced by his old rival Krzysztof Czabański. I treat these as ritualistic noise. If he already knew today that he had a soft landing secured, would he be guessing the wishes from Nowogrodzka so effectively?” http://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/opinie/artykuly/578806,jacek-kurski-jaroslaw-kaczynski-tvp-media-pis-telewizja.html

-- PIS CANNOT WIN THE WAR WITH JUDGES - LUDWIK DORN in GAZETA.PL: “If Andrzej Duda does not issue any decision regarding judges over 65 by mid-September, he will wave the white flag. If, however, he issues any, especially a negative one, it is highly probable that the CJEU will share the doubts of the Supreme Court and – this will be almost certain – in response to the European Commission's prepared motion, will rule that the PiS law on the Supreme Court is incompatible with EU law. And this will open the way for bringing cases against Poland – both before the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights (in connection with final judgments of Polish courts in any case, including civil, family, or commercial matters). With such a predicted development of events, the legal certainty in Poland will be destroyed with all its unhappy political, moral, and economic consequences. The political, legal, and institutional resources available to the European Union in the conflict over judicial independence far exceed those that PiS can use. PiS cannot win this war, and it is unfortunately waging it on Polish soil.” http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,161770,23748734,dorn-cokolwiek-teraz-zrobi-duda-bedzie-dla-niego-zle-pis.html

-- CLAIMS AGAINST THE PRODUCER OF POLITICAL GOODS, NOT THE CONSUMERS - Stanisław Skarżyński on wyborcza.pl: “On the one hand, hard-line neoliberals participate in it, unable to admit that fatal mistakes were made in the 1980s and 1990s, resulting in the disappointment of citizens of the free world. Moreover, those who repeat that 'it couldn't have been otherwise' completely abandon their free-market convictions as soon as they start writing about politics. An example is Witold Gadomski, who complained in 'Magazyn Świąteczny' (Weekend Magazine) about the left, saying that 'they laugh at Trzaskowski, admire Jaki because they despise the elite.' 'What will he sing when PiS wins again?' – Gadomski wonders, although as a free-marketeer, he should, of course, have claims against the producer of political goods for not producing what is needed, not against consumers for not buying something that offends them. Would he complain about people who don't want to buy golden door handles and warn that their lack of imagination will lead to the market hegemony of plastic door handle producers?” http://wyborcza.pl/magazyn/7,124059,23750862,obracac-sie-tak-jak-zawieje-wiatr-czego-jeszcze-uczy-nas.html

-- MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI ON THE RADICALIZATION OF BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE - writes in RZ: “Agreed, all instances of the use of force by state representatives, especially if this force is disproportionate to the threat, should be investigated, as well as emerging signs of surveillance of protest organizers. But at the same time, I have the impression that the opposition side is extremely forgiving of these new hooligan-vandalistic forms of protest. When I pointed this out a few days ago on a TOK FM broadcast, a columnist from a left-wing weekly replied with disarming sincerity that it's hard to be surprised, since people feel desperate in the face of such ruthless authority. And as with the recent vandalism of church building facades, we could not expect even the slightest reprimand for the vandals from the left-liberal side. Instead, we kept hearing that the bishops are to blame themselves because they support the civic bill proposing a ban on abortion for eugenic reasons. And since they are true to their religion – it's not surprising that the 'girls' started writing offensive slogans. The narrative is therefore: since the bishops are so terrible, all methods are permissible in the fight against them. The same applies to the opposition: it's not time to worry about the radicalization and primitivization of anti-government protests, when PiS is consistently implementing its changes in the Supreme Court. It's not time to spare the roses when the forests are burning.” https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus/308029915-Michal-Szuldrzynski-Przekroczono-granice-przyzwoitosci.html

-- THANKS TO THE PRESIDENT, A THOUSAND IMPOSSIBILITIES HAVE BEEN OVERCOME - Paweł Mucha in conversation with Piotr Witwicki in RZ: “To announce that I will meet with someone someday, and to announce the results of our meetings, after that meeting, is a difference. You can arrange a meeting for me with someone, but it will depend on me what the results of that meeting will be. But I wouldn't want the issue of security to dominate the answer to this question. Social law-making and constitutional debate are also important. This is a president who has shown that he keeps his word. Andrzej Duda lowered the retirement age, introduced 500+ with the government. Thanks to his presidency, a thousand impossibilities have been overcome.” https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus/308029926-Pawel-Mucha-Przelomowa-prezydentura-Andrzeja-Dudy.html

-- MATERIAL NEEDS ARE MET, DIGNITY STARTS TO MATTER - Marek Belka in GW: “In developed countries, basic material and social needs have been largely met. No one is hungry, no one is illiterate, there are almost no homeless people. In such a situation, other, spiritual values begin to matter. For example, dignity. They must respect us. And there hasn't been a war for a long time, at least in highly developed countries, because there have been and are wars in the Balkans and the Middle East. In the West, they have forgotten that things can be worse than they are. We also have no fear and threat. Hot water is nothing; we are ready to risk it. This gives rise to extremist, radical, and violent tendencies. The nation, Poland, is important. Historical reconstructions and fairy tales. And a little war – a fun thing. On August 1st, I came across a reconstruction of the Warsaw Uprising. In Kielce! Young girls in berets are parading and killing Germans like there's no tomorrow. How beautifully these insurgents fought. No one was bleeding, no one's guts were spilling out, unlike our soldiers in Iraq, which I saw in a hospital in Baghdad's Green Zone. Oh, these girls and war stories. Territorial defense, let's play, let's shoot.”

-- BELKA CONTINUES ON THE NEED FOR VALUES: “A certain Jew from Trier was clearly wrong. Because when the belly is full, and the legs are fixed by an orthopedist, the need for other values arises. Dignity. In my hometown near Garwolin, one arrives at a village wedding in a Mercedes, but the newlyweds from the neighboring wedding arrive in a Bentley. A conversation about the Union: 'Well, those subsidies from Brussels are small. They could be bigger.' 'But is the Union good or not?' 'Well, it's fine, it can be.' 'And when was the best time for you in the village?' 'The best? During martial law!' 'How so?' 'Because then you, the city folk, came to us on your knees for a pig, and we were the most important then.'” http://wyborcza.pl/magazyn/7,124059,23750818,marek-belka-baza-to-nie-tylko-pelny-brzuch-i-ciepla-woda.html

-- THE YOUNG POLISH GENERATION, THE MOST DYNAMIC AND MOST CULTURED, GOES TO PLAN B, NOT TO THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE - Sylwia Czubkowska in GW: “Can we demand that musicians sing about politics, write about major problems? Of course not. A writer writes about what he wants and what he considers important. But it's a pity that there isn't such commentary from the young scene. Especially since we're not talking about the absolute mainstream, but about creators with certain ambitions – says Tytus Hołdys. And he emphasizes that he didn't want to target Taco Hemingway specifically. – He's a really interesting artist, with a very keen sense of observation. He perfectly sensed and diagnosed what young Poland is living for, the most dynamic and most cultured, from Warsaw, somewhere between Zbawix and Muranów. It's not his fault that this Poland rather goes to Plan B than to the Presidential Palace. That perhaps it's not interested in, not worried about, what is happening in politics.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,156282,23751909,byl-perfect-kazik-dezerter-dzis-nie-ma-komu-protestowac.html

-- ON SUNDAY, IT WILL BE 7 YEARS since Andrzej Lepper was found dead.

-- BIRTHDAYS: Zygmunt Solorz-Żak, Paweł Majcher, Jerzy Wierchowicz, Dariusz Lipiński, SUNDAY: Genowefa Tokarska, Wojciech Brochwicz, Ireneusz Zyska, Krzysztof Burnetko.