-- WARSAW DAILY'S NUMBER ONE ON THE TEACHERS' STRIKE. -- KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ TWEETS ABOUT RUMORS OF HIS PREMIERSHIP - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/01/08 -- SCHETYNA SHOULD CLEARLY STATE WHETHER HE LEGITIMIZES A RELIGIOUS WAR - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “If a religious war breaks out, it will not be initiated by PiS. (...) The leader of Civic Platform should today clearly state whether he legitimizes Nowacka’s anti-clerical crusade, whose entry into the Civic Coalition he himself triumphantly announced recently. And say whether the idea for fighting PiS is to unleash a new religious war, because that is what Nowacka’s demands boil down to.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/190109520-Czy-Platforma-dolaczy-do-krucjaty-lewackiej.html&cid=44&template=restricted

-- ADAM SZOSTKIEWICZ ON THE THEORETICAL NATURE OF THE DEBATE ABOUT RELIGION IN SCHOOLS BUT SECULARIZATION MAKING SENSE: “The condition for the change to succeed is ultimately social support. Today, most parents, for various reasons, not necessarily religious ones, want religious education to remain in schools. And the majority of citizens will probably not agree to a 'church tax,' as it means an additional expense from their own pocket. This is the real battlefield for the secularity of schools and the state. However, the 'de-ecclesiasticization' of the state and public education makes sense, and every project, every debate about it serves the common good.” https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/1777662,1,rozdzial-kosciola-od-panstwa-pomysl-sluszny-ale-czy-realny.read?src=mt

-- DOMINIKA WIELOWIEYSKA ON THE REASONS FOR KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ'S PRIME MINISTERIAL CANDIDACY: “And yet, the agrarian party survived this storm. Despite earlier suspicions, no regional councilor from PSL switched to PiS. Only one councilor defected, but from Nowoczesna. That is why Kosiniak is increasingly popular on the anti-PiS front. Supporters of the 'Kosiniak for Prime Minister' concept cite PiS's example, when Kaczyński nominated Beata Szydło, and the future head of government became a symbol of a new opening in the party, alongside Andrzej Duda. She was likeable and did not have as high a negative electorate as the leader. This brought a good result from PiS's perspective.”

-- SCHETYNA IS DOING AVERAGE AS AN OPPOSITION LEADER, BUT WOULD BE A GOOD PRIME MINISTER; SUGGESTING KOSINIAK IS A SIGNAL NOT TO BE TOO CONFIDENT - WIELOWIEYSKA CONTINUES: “Paradoxically, while Schetyna is doing average as an opposition leader, he would be a good prime minister because he has extensive political and administrative experience. However, his attempt to take over Nowoczesna and break up its parliamentary club worked against him. Previously, the head of Platform conducted bilateral negotiations regarding the coalition. Now, Nowoczesna, PSL, and SLD can unite in talks with PO, as together they will have greater leverage and can achieve more in negotiations regarding electoral lists. Suggesting the Kosiniak version as prime minister – as I heard from one politician outside of PO – is intended as a signal to Schetyna not to feel overly confident in his position.”

-- CHANGING THE PO LEADER IS OUT OF THE QUESTION, BUT CHANGING THE PRIME MINISTERIAL CANDIDATE? - WIELOWIEYSKA'S CONCLUSION: “We will find out who will ultimately be the opposition’s candidate for prime minister when we know the results of the European elections and then see what trend the polls show in the coming months. If they prove favorable to the opposition, Schetyna’s position will be secure. But if the opposition coalition’s ratings weaken, then doubts may also arise within Platform itself whether victory is possible with Schetyna. Changing the leader just before elections is out of the question. But changing the prime ministerial candidate? http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,24340288,przecieki-z-opozycyjnych-kuluarow-kosiniak-kamysz-kandydatem.html

-- DGP CONTINUES ABOUT INDISCRETIONS IN SIKORSKI'S BOOK - as written by Zbigniew Parafianowicz: “As former Polish Ambassador to Israel and Pakistan Jan Wojciech Piekarski tweeted yesterday: 'there are significantly more indiscretions in this very interesting book.' Former Minister of National Defence in the Civic Platform’s government, Tomasz Siemoniak, told Dziennik.pl that he 'does not intend to comment on individual threads of this book.' - I act this way when it comes to matters under secrecy or about which I have no knowledge – he added, emphasizing that 'the statements in the book are certainly well-considered.' https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/polityka/artykuly/588692,sikorski-polityka-tajmnica-panstwowa-kiejkuty-etpc-wiezienie-cia-putin-tusk.html

-- HAS GLAPIŃSKI FALLEN OUT OF KACZYŃSKI'S REACH? - ŁUKASZ LIPIŃSKI IN POLITYKA: “The question is: why is the PiS leader still silent? Is he again giving his subordinates time to resolve the crisis? Has Glapiński fallen out of his reach? This seemingly isolated matter could prove to be a serious test of the PiS leader's leadership. Is he still able to enforce obedience from people who are formally independent of him? If Glapiński does not face consequences for the crisis, others may also feel impunity. And then the 'united right' will start to crack just before the elections.” https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/1777644,1,czy-prezes-pis-przetnie-afere-w-nbp.read?src=mt

-- THERE IS NO OPEN CHURCH - ADAM LESZCZYŃSKI IN KRYTYKA: “Let’s go back to the 'open church' issue for a moment. It doesn't seem to be doing well. The commentator from 'Więź' can shed a tear over the attacked Church, without mentioning the very concrete accusations that many Poles have against this institution. The media constantly write about further cases of priests accused of pedophilia who were protected by their bishops. This matter doesn't appear at all in Sosnowski's work. Instead, there are evil atheists who attack the Church. Why do they attack it? Out of pure hatred, presumably. Bad people. Sorry – they are 'atheist friends.' I am very sorry, but I only make friends with people who do not try to deceive me. First, dear Catholics, let's talk honestly. We will consider friendship later.” http://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/do-kochanych-katolikow-od-przyjaciela-ateisty/

-- MORAWIECKI BUILT HIS CAREER ON PROXIMITY TO KACZYŃSKI - ŁUKASZ PAWŁOWSKI IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: “If there is anything one can say with certainty about Morawiecki as a politician, it is that he based his entire career in PiS on his close contacts with Jarosław Kaczyński. Would Morawiecki risk this close relationship with Kaczyński and his support by independently deciding to appoint someone as controversial as Andruszkiewicz to the government?”

-- THE NOMINATION FOR ANDRUSZKIEWICZ MAKES SENSE ONLY IF THERE ARE EARLY ELECTIONS - PAWŁOWSKI CONTINUES IN KL: “The nomination for Andruszkiewicz makes any sense only under the condition of… bringing forward the parliamentary elections. Under such a scenario, new parties on the far right would have significant trouble quickly reaching an agreement and completing joint lists, and Andruszkiewicz’s 'career' would be a signal to some activists that instead of resisting, it’s better to cling to Kaczyński’s party. This is, of course, a risky move, as the radio-Maryja-nationalist coalition might still form, but it would probably be more dangerous to wait with folded hands until the radical right organizes itself peacefully for the European elections. It can be assumed that the nomination of Andruszkiewicz will be accompanied by considerable funds for internal party social research analyzing whether it serves its purpose towards a very specific segment of the electorate – young radicals from the eastern region, who could snatch a few percent of PiS’s support in that region. If Andruszkiewicz proves effective, the scenario of accelerated elections will become more probable. And if not, one can always part ways with the young deputy minister. He has considerable experience in parting ways.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2019/01/08/andruszkiewicz-nominacja-przyspieszone-wybory-pawlowski/

-- SAKIEWICZ BELIEVES THE APPOINTMENT OF ANDRUSZKIEWICZ WAS A MASTERSTROKE: “According to Tomasz Sakiewicz, 'the appointment of Adam Andruszkiewicz to a high ministerial position turned out to be a political masterstroke.' - The latest poll confirms this. Law and Justice has prevented the flight of the young right-wing electorate, including those who attend the November 11th marches, to Kukiz and nationalist parties, and has blocked the creation of new initiatives – said Tomasz Sakiewicz, Editor-in-Chief of 'Gazeta Polska,' in an interview with niezalezna.pl. https://m.niezalezna.pl/253287-nominacja-andruszkiewicza-politycznym-majstersztykiem-sakiewicz-najnowszy-sondaz-to-potwierdza

-- THE BONUS FOR UNITY IS A MYTH - JAKUB BIERZYŃSKI IN WP: “The bonus for unity is a myth. In the period studied, the average ratings of the Civic Coalition (7 surveys) and the sum of electorates for PO and Nowoczesna (10 surveys) are practically the same: 29% for KO and 28% for PO+.N. The difference is within the margin of statistical error.”

-- BIEDROŃ IS NOT HARMING THE CIVIC COALITION - BIERZYŃSKI CONTINUES: “The average ratings of the Coalition or the sum of electorates for Platform and Nowoczesna in 6 surveys where Biedroń's movement was taken into account was 30.9, while when it was not considered, the Coalition's result dropped to an average of 29.1. The effect is therefore the opposite of what was expected. Surveys in which Biedroń's voters could indicate their preferences resulted in a nearly 2 percentage point higher result (sic!) for the parties making up the liberal coalition.”

-- KO IS NOT HARMING PIS - BIERZYŃSKI BELIEVES: “A united opposition has a greater chance of removing PiS from power. This – not taking into account the issue of seat distribution, only at the level of survey data – is another falsehood. PiS’s ratings are exactly the same (37.3) regardless of whether Platform and Nowoczesna appear separately or together as competitors.” https://opinie.wp.pl/jakub-bierzynski-mozna-wierzyc-w-mity-o-zjednoczeniu-opozycji-ja-sprawdzilem-jak-jest-6336066394773633a

-- JERZY HASZCZYŃSKI IN RZ ON KACZYŃSKI SHOULD TALK TO SALVINI: “It is difficult to find a political group in the European Union that does not have pro-Russian parties and pro-Putin leaders. This does not mean that PiS should throw itself into the arms of Italy's League. But it also does not mean that Jarosław Kaczyński should not meet with its leader Matteo Salvini and discuss the future of the EU. Because he is the most important politician of the fourth, and after Brexit – the third power in the Community.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/190109544-Nie-tylko-Salvini-Kreml-czai-sie-wszedzie.html

-- ON THE SOURCES OF AUTHORITARIAN APPROACH AMONG VOTERS - PROF. KRYSTYNA SKARŻYŃSKA IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAŁ SUTOWSKI IN KRYTYKA: “In 2016, authoritarian individuals support PiS because they feel the party’s strength, its ruthlessness, and its effectiveness in achieving its goals. But perhaps someday they will support the left or another opposition, when it shows its strength and efficacy. Krzysztof Korzeniowski showed many years ago in his research that the same people who supported Jaruzelski in 1988, just 3 years later, with equal willingness and force, supported Wałęsa. In short: people who profess authoritarian beliefs do not have stable political preferences. They simply follow strength.”

-- ON SUPPORTERS OF ABSOLUTE FREEDOM AND SUPPORT FOR AUTHORITARIANISM - PROF. SKARŻYŃSKA CONTINUES: “In surveys from the autumn of 2016, i.e., after a year of PiS rule, we included factors such as the understanding of freedom, the type of moral foundations recognized, and finally, the level of collective narcissism. It turned out that supporters of absolute freedom more strongly support authoritarian rule… No, rather those people who want freedom without limits, without regard for the good and rights of others.” http://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/wladze-najmocniej-popieraja-zwolennicy-wolnosci-absolutnej/

-- BIRTHDAYS: Agnieszka Pomaska, Bohdan Zdziennicki.