-- ZANDBERG ON NOT WANTING TO BE SCHETYNA'S YOUNGER, SMILING VASSAL - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2018/12/27/

-- WAŁĘSA'S WORDS ABOUT PUTIN IN AN INTERVIEW FOR PRO-KREMLIN SPUTNIK: "Putin is a wise man, but he doesn't receive arguments like Yeltsin received from me." https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/427100-walesa-chwali-putinanam-blizej-do-moskwy-niz-nowego-jorku

-- ABP. GĄDECKI'S WORDS TO POLSAT NEWS ABOUT FR. JANKOWSKI: "Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki compared the film 'Kler' to the Nazi propaganda film 'The Eternal Jew,' which aimed to incite hatred towards Jews in Germany. Regarding the pedophilia accusations against Fr. Henryk Jankowski, he stated it was 'a combination of many circumstances that should not be mixed.' http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,24309999,abp-gadecki-kler-jak-hitlerowski-zyd-suess-a-sprawa-ks.html

-- WPOLITYCE ON NEWSWEEK JOURNALIST CEZARY MICHALSKI ADVISING SCHETYNA: "Who does Grzegorz Schetyna cooperate with as the leader of PO? Who advises him? Some names are not surprising, but there are also significant surprises. As we read in an analysis by Polityka Insight, which is difficult to accuse of being favorable to the ruling camp, the PO leader uses the advice of... 'Newsweek' publicist Cezary Michalski 'on strategic matters!' https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/427165-to-zaskoczenie-publicysta-newsweeka-doradca-schetyny

-- PRESIDENTIAL MINISTER PAWEŁ MUCHA ON INTRODUCING LAY JUDGES - states in DGP: "We are open to discussing the introduction of lay judges. We support a broader consensus on this matter, as there are some question marks regarding whether it can be introduced without amending the constitution or what the role of the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) should be in this process. The President is receptive to suggestions for legal changes. He initiated legislative changes to the Code of Commercial Companies proposed by the Adam Smith Centre to facilitate shareholder meetings. We are considering a bill that would strengthen the family's position through various targeted changes. There are many ideas, and we are aware that what can be done during this term should be submitted to the Sejm probably by the end of March. We are currently reviewing various projects in this regard. However, no project has been submitted to the Chancellery of the President from the judicial community."

-- MUCHA CUTS SHORT SPECULATION ABOUT EARLY ELECTIONS: "According to my information, no talks or consultations are underway regarding the constitutional possibilities of calling early elections. Not to mention that there are no legal possibilities for this today. I would not draw far-reaching conclusions from the fact that since the adoption of the law has been postponed to January, it is evidence of a plan for early elections. This is speculation." https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/polityka/artykuly/588002,prawo-tseu-sn-sad-tk-prezydent-pis-polityka-andrzej-duda.html

-- GW ON PRZYŁĘBSKA DELAYING THE REVIEW OF THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE DE-UBELIZATION ACT: "Nearly 40,000 former officers whose pensions were cut as a result of the de-ubbelization act are still waiting for a court verdict. This is because the President of the Constitutional Tribunal, Julia Przyłębska, does not intend to schedule a session for their case." http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,24310537,przylebska-odwleka-dezubekizacje-a-na-wyrok-czeka-40-tys-ludzi.html

-- GW ON THE FRONT PAGE ABOUT THE ASTOUNDING CAREERS AT THE NBP: "The central bank does not want to confirm the qualifications of Martyna Wojciechowska and Kamila Sukiennik, President Glapiński's closest collaborators. Wojciechowska earns around PLN 65,000 a month! And Sukiennik may have found herself in an important financial institution against an EU directive." http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,24310564,dworki-adama-glapinskiego-zadziwiajace-kariery-w-narodowym.html

-- PROF. RYCHARD ON PIS LOSING ITS ABILITY TO CREATE NARRATIVES - states in GW: "PiS is losing its ability to create and control political narratives before our eyes. This is very dangerous for the government before the elections – losing control over its own image. – The traditional electorate of the 'traditional' PiS is shrinking. Our society is becoming more educated – despite all reservations about the quality of this education. It is relatively less poor, more secularized, and very strongly pro-European. This means that the PiS electorate in its current form will be smaller and smaller. In my opinion, this is a probable prospect, although I don't know if it will be fast. But the electorate will probably change faster than PiS itself." http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,24309322,prof-andrzej-rychard-tradycyjny-elektorat-tradycyjnego-pis.html

-- JAROSŁAW GOWIN SUGGESTS TAX CUTS - IN AN INTERVIEW WITH MARCIN FIJOŁEK ON TELEWIZJA WPOLSCE.PL: "Reducing taxes is something I strongly support. After the New Year, Prime Minister Morawiecki will speak on this matter. We are intensively analyzing the state of public finances, and indeed, there are increasingly frequent voices within the government that after the phase where we transferred large sums to social groups struggling with poverty, perhaps now is the time for the middle class and general tax reductions. Either in terms of labor costs, or in some other area. I don't want to comment on the details, because politics is a team game, and such a message should come from the Prime Minister himself." https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/427054-gowin-dla-wpolscepl-obnizymy-podatki

-- RZ ON THE FRONT PAGE: A SLOWDOWN AWAITS US: "Economic slowdown is inevitable, but most Poles will not feel it for now." https://www.rp.pl/Gospodarka/312269965-Cud-sie-nie-powtorzy.html

-- JANINA SOLSKA ON THE GOVERNMENT SHOOTING ITSELF IN THE FOOT BY BOASTING ABOUT A SUPERFICIAL SURPLUS: "By boasting about the budget surplus, the government is shooting itself in the foot. It is encouraging mass protests from entire groups demanding higher wages."

-- SOLSKA WRITES THAT THE GOVERNMENT CONFUSES PEOPLE AND ENCOURAGES PROTESTS: "Meanwhile, according to economists, when the whole year is summed up, it will turn out that this surplus is simply a smaller hole in the budget. The deficit was planned at PLN 41.5 billion, but it may amount to PLN 15-20 billion. So, there is no reason for euphoria. In reality, our reasons for joy are few. The government is confusing people and encouraging protests. When the economic slowdown becomes a fact, it will turn out that we are completely unprepared for it." https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/rynek/1776702,1,nadwyzka-czyli-mniejsza-dziura.read?src=mt

-- ŁUKASZ ROGOJSZ ON THE INFLATION OF DEMANDS ON THE STATE AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF SUCCESS PROPAGANDA: "Where does the sudden inflation of demands on the authorities come from? It's the effect of the success propaganda consistently pursued since autumn 2015, assuring Poles that – in a simplification, but still – no government has ruled so well, the Polish economy has never been so strong, and they themselves have never lived so well. Sooner or later, such declarations must collide with reality, and often this collision is painful."

-- ROGOJSZ ON PIS GETTING THROUGH CRISES WITH A 3+ GRADE: "How did PiS manage in this difficult situation? Using a school grading scale, one could say a 3+. Although they managed to pass (read: avoid mass protests and a general strike), there is still a lot to improve (problems of some groups, e.g., teachers and farmers, remained unanswered, suggesting that further protests are only a matter of time).

-- POLES FORGIVE PIS MORE THAN THEIR PREDECESSORS BECAUSE IT PURSUES PRO-SOCIAL POLICIES - ROGOJSZ CONTINUES: "To the above, we should add that PiS's strong commitment to leveling social opportunities, caring for the weakest, and consistently pursuing pro-social policies works in its favor. Thanks to this, Poles forgive them much more than their predecessors. Michał Szułdrzyński, deputy editor-in-chief of 'Rzeczpospolita,' described this precisely in his commentary at the beginning of September: 'PiS has made social policy its priority, and despite all the mistakes it makes, despite arrogance, radicalism, incompetence in foreign policy, demolishing state institutions or their extreme politicization, and all other sins, it gives a large part of citizens the conviction in these uncertain times that the state cares about them, that the citizen, especially the poorer one, is not a burden to it, but rather a point of reference. Perhaps it is precisely this feeling that makes them willing to forgive this party for the mistakes it makes, high rewards, or the violation of liberal democratic standards.' http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/56,114884,24289717,2018-czyli-rok-afer-problemow-i-wpadek-ktore-jednak-nie-zaszkodzily.html

-- ACCORDING TO PROF. STANISZKIS, TRZASKOWSKI IS TOO CAUTIOUS: "For me, he should be more assertive, ready to take risks. He is a political scientist, so perhaps he knows too much about these mechanisms. He is too cautious."

-- STANISZKIS DOES NOT BELIEVE IN TUSK'S RETURN - SAID IN A TWEET TO WP: "I don't believe in such returns to politics. Besides, Donald Tusk contributed to what is happening now. He shaped this internal sense of aggression within PiS. (...) He was simply a very poor politician and prime minister." https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/427155-staniszkis-trzaskowski-powinien-byc-bardziej-wyrazisty

-- RADOSŁAW SIKORSKI SETS CONDITIONS FOR BIEDROŃ - in an interview with wiadomo.co: "If we look back, new political entities get a novelty bonus, after which in real elections they get 1/3 of what they get in polls. It's hard to determine the fate of Biedroń's initiative. I have a clear stance on this. If Robert Biedroń contributes to unifying the left, I will sympathize with him. If he contributes to the loss of votes for democracy and Europe, I will consider him a saboteur. Personally, I am in favor of Marshal Borowski's initiative for all parties to run on a single list, but each having their candidates in the same position in all constituencies, so as to preserve their identity. This is also a way to test one's strength, which is what Robert Biedroń is after, but one that maximizes the opposition's result. It has become childishly simple today. If the opposition unites, it will win easily; if they go separately, they will lose."

-- SIKORSKI ON THE ADVANTAGES OF THE EUROZONE: "There are huge advantages to being in the eurozone. Firstly, if we earn in euros, we can take out loans in euros without currency risk, which are more than half cheaper than loans in zlotys. Millions of Polish families could then afford their own home or car. Millions of Polish companies could afford larger development loans. It would also eliminate the inconvenience and currency risk associated with traveling or trading with the eurozone. Furthermore, there is also a strategic argument that greater rooting in the EU means greater security. I believe this balance is positive. I also believe that to re-enter the race, into the group holding power in the Union, one will need to regain credibility. Convince the rest of Europe that PiS was a nationalistic accident at work, not the real Poland."

-- SIKORSKI CRITICAL OF POLES WHO DON'T VOTE: "If in 1989, when it was about independence, a very large part of our compatriots did not vote, it means they are outside politics, outside citizenship." https://wiadomo.co/radoslaw-sikorski-trzeba-przekonac-europe-ze-pis-to-nacjonalistyczny-przypadek-przy-pracy/

-- WŁODZIMIERZ CIMOSZEWICZ TELLS NIZINKIEWICZ THAT HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW ONE CAN SO COLLECTIVELY STAND BY PIS - in an interview with Jacek Nizinkiewicz in RZ: "A president as independent as a puppet in a puppet theater – he has over 60% positive ratings, a prime minister recalling how he negotiated Poland's membership in the European Union – is as truthful as Pinocchio and is second in the ranking. The leader of a party that often supports PiS, incapable of controlling his addictions and using repulsively vulgar language, is third, and so on. I understand that his predecessors were not admirable, I understand the 500+ program, but I don't understand how one can so collectively and consistently support people who are doing so much harm to the nation and the state."

-- CIMOSZEWICZ PROPOSES THE EUROPE BLOCK AND THE CONSTITUTION BLOCK: "If the opposition unites in defense of Poland's European identity, the rule of law, and democracy, it can win the elections. Broad agreements are needed, extending beyond political parties, open to non-governmental organizations, academic circles, and individual authorities. In the European Parliament elections, there should be a joint electoral bloc 'Europe,' and in the parliamentary elections, a bloc 'Constitution.' If citizens who feel uncomfortable in the nationalistic-clerical atmosphere believe in the possibility of victory, then it will become a reality." https://www.rp.pl/Polityka/181229630-Wlodzimierz-Cimoszewicz-Kompromitacja-radykalow-z-PiS.html

-- ROBERT BIEDROŃ ADMITS VOTING FOR NOWOCZESNA IN 2015 - in an interview with Kultura Liberalna (Tomasz Sawczuk, Karolina Wigura): "For me, Nowoczesna was a hope back then. In 2015, I was a voter of that party and convinced several other people to vote for it. I hoped that Nowoczesna would use its moment to become a new quality. That it wouldn't just be a party of liberals, but also of the progressive side. I expected it to be a party of change. They had a huge chance. But that didn't happen. I was disappointed with Nowoczesna regarding the 'Save the Women' project, and the language Ryszard Petru used about minorities was disappointing."

-- BIEDROŃ ON WHY HE DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE LEFT: "I didn't vote for the United Left because in my district, Słupsk, I couldn't vote for any progressive person on the left-wing list."

-- I AM NOT SCHETYNA'S LIFE RAFT - BIEDROŃ TELLS KL: "I would like to know from you, since someone is trying to push me into Schetyna's arms. I am not a life raft for Platforma. TS: Perhaps you have a common interest in removing PiS from power? - We both have that interest, that PiS shouldn't rule. But for Grzegorz and Platforma to rule again, that is not my interest. TS: And what is? - For real change to happen in Poland. For us to take a step forward, and not remain in this deadly embrace between PiS and Platforma Obywatelska and submit to their blackmail."

-- PERHAPS KULTURA LIBERALNA SHOULD CEASE TO EXIST AND MERGE WITH ONET - BIEDROŃ ON BEING LINKED WITH PO: "All these calculations by people who are calculating annoy me, because they lead to nothing good. Perhaps part of the hardliners calculate like that. But following this line of reasoning, perhaps 'Kultura Liberalna' should cease to exist, because it doesn't have the largest readership in the country. You should merge with Onet, just like all other pro-democratic forces. -- THIS IS NOT A WAR OF POLES BUT OF TWO PARTIES - BIEDROŃ CONTINUES IN KL: "The Polish-Polish war is not a war of Polish women and men, but a war of two political parties that have set our country on fire and are still telling us to cheer for it." https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2018/12/25/biedron-sawczuk-wigura-wywiad-2018/

-- ŁUKASZ PAWŁOWSKI IN KULTURA LIBERALNA LISTS THE PARTY RAZEM AMONG THE LOSERS NEXT TO PAD: "'When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose,' sang Bob Dylan in 'Like a Rolling Stone.' The Razem party proves that the aged Nobel laureate was wrong after all. Because although it started the past year from a level close to zero, it ends it a few notches lower. In the local government elections, Razem suffered a defeat, not only because it gained only 1.5 percent of the votes nationwide. Worse, it failed to achieve results exceeding expectations anywhere. And so, after elections where it seemed almost everyone could claim victory – PO, PiS, PSL, and even the Non-Partisan Local Government Officials – Razem had to admit defeat. A defeat largely of its own making, as illustrated by the strategy adopted in Warsaw, where the chances for a good result were highest. Instead of promoting its brand and its leader, Razem supported Jan Śpiewak, which was a mistake regardless of the final result Śpiewak might have achieved. If he had received a dozen or so percent of the votes, it would have been his and his movement's success, not the party that supported him. And in case of defeat, it's clear – everyone loses.' https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2018/12/25/przegrani-lista-2018-polityka-polska/

-- 16 YEARS AGO, POLITICS WAS SHOOK by the publication of an article in Gazeta Wyborcza, which began the so-called Rywin affair.

-- BIRTHDAYS: Janusz A. Majcherek, Magda Łucyan.