-- TOMCZYK ON GLAPIŃSKI BEING THE NEW MACIAREWICZ - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/01/10/

-- ANDRUSZKIEWICZ RECRUITING NATIONALISTS FOR THE MINISTRY? - SE: "The Ministry of Digital Affairs tried its best to avoid revealing who Adam Andruszkiewicz (29) met for dinner with. As Super Express has found out, it was Krzysztof Tenerowicz (39), a nationalist activist and editor-in-chief of the national-democratic quarterly Myśl.pl. Is the newly appointed deputy minister preparing a place for Tenerowicz in his ministry?" https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/polityka/wiemy-z-kim-nowy-wiceminister-cyfryzacji-poszedl-na-tajny-obiad-andruszkiewicz-sciaga-narodowcow-do-resortu-aa-51uT-xhRB-pdth.html

-- SCHETYNA - ACCORDING TO ANDRZEJ STANKIEWICZ - OFFERED KOSINIAK THE PRESIDENCY: "As we have learned, shortly after the poll was published, he proposed to Kosiniak-Kamysz that he become the joint candidate of the anti-PiS opposition in next year's presidential elections. It's not just about validating the PSL leader. It's primarily about removing a rival for the prime ministership and sowing discord between Kosiniak and Tusk, who also might have presidential ambitions. The agrarian party understands this perfectly, which is why they are not eager for such an arrangement with Schetyna. This offer simultaneously shows that Schetyna – despite public declarations – does not treat Tusk as the obvious PO candidate for president. The presidency is an element of Schetyna's maneuvering, both with Tusk and with other opposition groups." https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/schetyna-szuka-prezydenta-innego-niz-tusk/hkjbh13

-- JACEK SOKOŁOWSKI FROM THE JAGIELLONIAN CLUB ANALYZES PIS'S SUCCESSES AND POINTS TO FAILURES - THE SENSELESS WAR OVER THE COURTS: "A double election campaign awaits us, so nothing significant will happen in public policy until the end of this term. For the Law and Justice government, taxes, social policy, and the judiciary were key in this area. Undoubtedly, successes include the elimination of the VAT gap and the 500+ program. Failures, however, include the senseless 'war over the courts.' The rest is a list of omissions and question marks."

-- AN OPPOSITION GOVERNMENT WOULD FOCUS ON RECLAIMING THE STATE FROM PIS, NOT ON CHANGES - SOKOŁOWSKI CONTINUES: "I dare to doubt whether this state of affairs can change in the next term. The systemic lack of resources necessary for effective governance will hinder any team. Moreover, it is unlikely that a government formed after the 2019 elections would govern in more comfortable conditions. If the other side wins the elections, we will have a government of a de facto inconsistent coalition. Because a potential united opposition currently has the character of a general mobilization and is far from today's PiS or the Civic Platform in its heyday. It would most likely have to form a formal coalition with the PSL, and perhaps also with one of the new players. Such a government would likely focus on 'reclaiming the state' from PiS, rather than on systemic reforms."

-- CONFLICTS SUPPRESSED ON THE RIGHT WOULD ERUPT WITH DOUBLE FORCE - SOKOŁOWSKI: "If PiS wins the elections, parliamentary arithmetic will most likely force Jarosław Kaczyński to enter into a coalition agreement. However, if the current government repeats its 2015 success, its internal balance will be significantly less than in the current term. The increasingly difficult-to-suppress factional conflicts will erupt with full force, especially since – as many believe – this will be a period of struggle for succession after Kaczyński." https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2019/01/08/krajobraz-po-dobrej-zmianie/

-- SOMEONE IN THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING FOR MOSBACHER'S REPLACEMENT - MARCIN MAKOWSKI IN WP: "Following the crisis triggered by US Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher's letter defending TVN, sent to, among others, Prime Minister Morawiecki, further diplomatic correspondence is leaking to the media. This time, it concerns lobbying regarding medicines and Uber. - This is a form of pressure on Washington to discipline or replace its representative - we hear." https://opinie.wp.pl/marcin-makowski-wyciekaja-kolejne-listy-mosbacher-ktos-w-rzadzie-gra-na-zmiane-ambasadora

-- STEFAN SĘKOWSKI IN NOWA KONFEDERACJA ON BIEDROŃ - WORTH TALKING TO HIM BEYOND THE FUTILE PO-PIS WAR: "And yet, I agree with Matyi's main thesis – it's worth paving the ground for a serious discussion with Biedroń beyond the futile PO-PiS war, which doesn't necessarily mean cheering him on in the elections. On the contrary: it can also involve a critical but factual response to his already concrete electoral postulates, if (and when?) he presents them." https://nowakonfederacja.pl/czar-biedronia/

-- PROF. WALDEMAR PARUCH REPEATS THE 10% THESIS - IN CONVERSATION WITH GRZEGORZ OSIECKI IN DGP: "Do you remember the famous US presidential election: George Walker Bush vs. Al Gore, which was decided in five counties. Today, based on political science knowledge, we can accurately determine and measure the segments of voters that indicate the winner and the level of that victory. In Poland, the winner will be indicated by about 10% of actively voting Poles. The battle is for 10%."

-- PARUCH TELLS OSIECKI ABOUT TURNOUT IN EUROPEAN ELECTIONS: "It's too early to say, as European elections have a complex imperative. If they are decided with very low turnout at the 20-23% level, they will not indicate a winner in the parliamentary elections."

-- PARUCH ON HOW THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM ENCOURAGES THE OPPOSITION TO RUN INDEPENDENTLY FOR EP - TELLS OSIECKI: "Of course. However, the turnout could be a surprise. The local elections brought a surprise. The situation is much more complex when it comes to inferring from the results of the European elections. Please remember that we have an interesting electoral system for the European Parliament, which encourages PSL and SLD to field their own lists, because with 5-6% support, this system guarantees both parties obtaining three to four seats. If these parties joined a single united opposition list in 12 constituencies with 12 lead candidates, it seems that no agrarian or social democrat would become an MEP. Because the potential for obtaining votes for the candidates of these groups, which guaranteed them seats, was around 25,000 votes. And on a large list, 25,000 votes will not secure a mandate." https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/opinie/artykuly/588845,prof-wojciech-paruch-rozmowa-wybory-pis-wygrana.html

-- PROF. PARUCH TELLS JACEK GĄDKA ON GAZETA.PL ABOUT PIS'S NEW PROGRAM AT THE TURN OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY: "Most likely, when the new PiS electoral program is presented: at the turn of February and March. There will probably be a party convention. President Jarosław Kaczyński will certainly speak many times about the vision of Europe. There has never been either reluctance or love from PiS towards the EU. PiS is a euro-realistic party. It is not beneficial for Poland to leave the Union, which is clear. PiS is a European party and consistently stands for Poland's presence in the Union."

-- PARUCH TELLS GĄDKA THAT PIS HAS OPPONENTS TO LOSE TO AND THE OPPOSITION IS DANGEROUS: "PiS has opponents to lose to. During the local elections, Grzegorz Schetyna solidified his leadership in Civic Platform – he absorbed activists from Nowoczesna and some of its voters. PO has enormous resources: from celebrity support to foreign backing. If Schetyna and other opposition leaders use them skillfully, they will become very dangerous for PiS. http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,24343036,prof-waldemar-paruch-dla-gazeta-pl.html

-- SŁAWOMIR SIERAKOWSKI ON SALVINI BENEFITING FROM HIS VISIT TO POLAND: "So who will benefit from today's summit meeting of the leaders of the Northern League and Law and Justice? Salvini will score points at home, Kaczyński will lose or gain nothing domestically in Poland. The Christian Democrats and Socialists, Liberals and Greens will gain, because they will have someone to scare voters with." https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/sierakowski-po-co-naprawde-odwiedza-kaczynskiego-salvini-opinia/

-- KACZYŃSKI IS CLOSER TO SALVINI'S EUROPE THAN MACRON'S - headline on the front page of RZ.

-- MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ ON PIS'S GAINS FROM SALVINI'S VISIT: "Above all, Kaczyński can say: look, they used to seat us in the EU's dunce corner, and today European leaders are coming and want to establish partnerships with us. It is also obvious that it is good for Poland's role in the EU that de facto the most important politician in Poland is meeting with de facto the most important politician in Italy. Let's add that the previous Italian government did not want to meet with PiS. Italy is one of the most important countries in the EU, and Poland should have stable and rich relations with it."

-- KACZYŃSKI SHOWED HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE IN AN ANTI-EUROPEAN ALLIANCE - SZUŁDRZYŃSKI CONTINUES: "Despite the opposition's criticism that an anti-European alliance is being formed in Warsaw, Kaczyński has shown that he does not want to be part of a eurosceptic alliance patronized by the Kremlin. And this is the most important message after Wednesday's meeting, which should reach not only the Polish opposition but also EU mainstream politicians. https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/301099911-Szuldrzynski-Do-rozbioru-UE-nie-doszlo.html&cid=44&template=restricted

-- LET'S AT LEAST ENTER THE EUROZONE WAITING ROOM - LUDWIK DORN IN GW: "Demanding that Poland adopt the euro currency is suicidal for the opposition, as the majority of public opinion is strongly against it. However, it is worth demanding entry into the European 'currency snake' ERM II. (...) For Poland, this means that within the overall EU budget – let's use the analogy of a catering complex – a eurozone ice cream parlor will be sectioned off, and we will be able to watch others consume ice cream, and if we wish – we will lick the ice cream through the window." http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,24346452,jesli-nawet-nie-wchodzimy-teraz-do-strefy-euro-to-wejdzmy-chociaz.html

-- THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONAL ESTATE - DOMINIKA WIELOWIEYSKA IN GW: "President Adam Glapiński believes that the National Bank of Poland is his private principality, where he, as ruler, dispenses favors in the form of generous bonuses and positions. And no one has the right to check how he manages public money. Because that it is public money was recognized in 2014 by the Supreme Administrative Court." http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,24346304,narodowy-bank-prezesa-glapinskiego-tak-rujnuje-sie-autorytet.html

-- BAŃKA IS PLAYING FOR THE THRONE - MICHAŁ SZADKOWSKI ON THE SPORTS PAGES OF GW: "The president will be elected in May by the WADA Founding Council. Then, not only government support but also the support of athletes and the IOC will matter. If politicians opt for Bańka, Helleland may still try to run with the support of athletes. And if the Council of Europe designates the Norwegian, the IOC will likely find a rival for her. Helleland as head of WADA is a vision from the nightmares of Olympic authorities." http://wyborcza.pl/7,154903,24346256,banki-gra-o-tron.html

-- A REFERENDUM ON THE CHURCH IS URGENTLY NEEDED - MICHAŁ WILGOCKI IN GW: "Transforming the Church Fund into a voluntary tax deduction from citizens would be a conservative solution. One source of Church funding from public money would be replaced by another. Let's ask citizens how they want to solve this problem."

-- BIRTHDAYS: Jan Polkowski, Maryjka Szurowska, Jarosław Pucek, Jan Ordyński, Michał Owczarczak.