-- VICE-PRESIDENT OF GDAŃSK MAKES A STRONG APPEAL TO ELIMINATE HATRED, GOVERNMENT SENDS A PLANE FOR PAWEŁ ADAMOWICZ'S WIFE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/01/14

-- SILENCE WILL DO US ALL GOOD - EDITORIAL STAFF OF “TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY”: “Our thoughts are with the Mayor of Gdańsk, Paweł Adamowicz, his loved ones, and the doctors who operated on him for five hours after he was attacked by a knife-wielding assailant during the Gdańsk finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. We are not looking for culprits; silence will do us all good. We have so many times wasted the chance for reflection. So, it is not worth speculating today about what will happen next. Pray for his health, if you can. Let's think about life, how easily it can be taken away.” https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/milczenie-zrobi-dobrze-nam-wszystkim-157190

-- SO FAR, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY UNIVERSALLY CONDEMNED ALL FORMS OF TERRORISM - DR ANTONI DUDEK ON FB: “In light of the initial information, it seems most likely that the attack on Mayor Paweł Adamowicz was carried out by a criminal with mental disorders. However, what he shouted on stage about being 'tortured by Civic Platform' (Platforma Obywatelska), as well as the sharp attacks targeting the Mayor of Gdańsk in recent years, mean that attempts will now be made to attribute a political context to this barbaric act. All those who, under the influence of understandable emotions, have already done so or will do so, should think carefully about the possible consequences. Regardless of the misery of our public life, one thing we have managed to do quite well in contemporary Poland until now is the universal condemnation of all forms of terrorism. If this rule is not challenged now, then paradoxically, the tragedy that occurred today in Gdańsk might, in a difficult election year, have a chilling effect on the most inflamed minds. Let's hope so.” https://www.facebook.com/100000346627293/posts/2221198004568399/

-- ADAMOWICZ HAS LONG BEEN THE TARGET OF ATTACKS; BEFORE THE KNIFE, THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF WORDS - MIKOŁAJ CHRZAN IN POMORSKA GW: “We made a mistake. We should have been prepared for the fact that someone would want to cross that thin line – from hate speech to physical attack. After all, Wszechpolacy (a nationalist organization) already issued a symbolic 'death certificate' for Paweł Adamowicz a year ago. http://trojmiasto.wyborcza.pl/trojmiasto/7,35612,24360759,adamowicz-od-dawna-byl-przedmiotem-atakow-przed-nozem-byly.html

-- JAKUB MAJMUREK WRITES ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF HYPER-INTENSIFICATION OF CONFLICT: “The attack on Mayor Adamowicz is an 'objective incident' – an event as contingent as it is revealing of some deeper truth about the reality in which it took place. The act of a madman, reflecting the madness of Polish politics – with its practices of criminalizing the opponent, hyper-intensifying conflict, and treating political disputes in absolute moral terms. This is not just a Polish problem; we see it in the States, we see it with Brexit, in many places in Western democracy. Nor is it a problem limited to PiS and PO (two major political parties), which will pass with them. Politics does not truly begin and end with drawing the line between 'friend' and 'enemy'; what distinguishes politics from civil war is our ability to limit hostility and contain it within civilized game forms. Regardless of how much yesterday's event was the work of a lone madman, we are becoming increasingly worse at it.” https://www.facebook.com/100001052263034/posts/2292437647467955/

-- ONLY CALM WILL SAVE US - STEFAN SĘKOWSKI IN NOWA KONFEDERACJA: “While not an expert in internal security, I can imagine, however, that decisions made hastily – which appear superficially as decisive actions against violence – might have the opposite effect than intended. I wish Mayor Adamowicz a swift recovery. This is a tragic event, but if we are to draw any systemic conclusions from it, so that it does not happen again in the future, it is worth looking at the matter coolly. Similar situations are extremely rare in Poland. It would be necessary to analyze data on the effectiveness of punishments, the penitentiary system, and examine the effectiveness of security at mass events and for public figures. And only then propose concrete solutions.” https://nowakonfederacja.pl/zamach-na-pawla-adamowicza-tylko-spokoj-nas-uratuje/

-- THE REMEDY FOR HATRED IS NOT TO IGNORE REALITY; WE SEE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HATE SPEECH OF PiS AND ITS SUPPORTERS AND THE INCREASE IN ATTACKS ON FOREIGNERS - EWA SIEDLECKA IN POLITYKA: “One cannot accuse PiS of inciting physical attacks on political opponents. That would be a drastic exaggeration. Certainly, no PiS politician wished for such an attack to happen. And they didn't even think that anti-Platform propaganda could provoke such a physical attack. But the truth is, it can. Therefore, I cannot agree with the appeal to ignore PiS's culpability. The remedy for hatred is not to ignore reality. We see and write about the connection between the hate speech of PiS and its supporters towards emigrants, between political acceptance of such hate speech and a significant increase in attacks on foreigners. Why should we remain silent about the fact that hate speech towards political opponents can provoke a similar outcome?”

-- “OUR SIDE” IS NOT FREE FROM THE SIN OF HATE SPEECH - SIEDLECKA'S CONCLUSION: “All these facts, the hateful atmosphere towards the opposition – both political and civil, considered 'second-class citizens' – cannot be considered irrelevant to what has happened. What good we can do is to speak and write about such consequences of hatred – as a warning. To raise the alarm. Including by beating our own chests, because 'our side' is not free from the sin of hate speech.” https://siedlecka.blog.polityka.pl/2019/01/14/grzech-nienawisci/?nocheck=1

-- ADAM SZOSTKIEWICZ ON THE HATRED SPREAD BY PUBLIC MEDIA: “Practice contradicts these declarations daily. Participants of peaceful protests are harassed, and perpetrators of attacks against them are presented as patriots. The ruling party does not distance itself from aggressive factions. Internet haters appear in public media politically controlled by PiS. That is where the hatred spills from. The bad example comes from the top. Hatred provokes hatred. If this does not stop, it will soon be too late. The initiative belongs to the rulers. They are responsible today for the security of the state and its citizens. All citizens.” https://szostkiewicz.blog.polityka.pl/2019/01/13/tragedia-w-gdansku/?nocheck=1

-- MARCIN MAKOWSKI ON ISOLATING THOSE INCITING MOODS - WRITES IN WP: “The culprit must be caught and exemplary punished, lessons must be learned from the situation of protection's negligence, which did not defend the mayor from a madman, and the rest of the divisions that afflict our country like a cancerous disease should, at least for a while, be buried. Those who cannot understand this, and there have already been several individuals in the public sphere (from all sides of our Polish drama) who use their popularity to incite moods, should simply be isolated. Just like medieval fools who, out of boredom, caused panic in cities by shouting 'fire'. However, we cannot forget after the fact that, having the choice to remain silent, they chose hatred.

-- IF WE CANNOT SEE BEYOND THE HORIZON OF OUR TRIBE, HOW ARE WE TRULY DIFFERENT FROM THE PERSON COMING ON STAGE WITH A KNIFE - MAKOWSKI CONTINUES: “It is true that Mayor Adamowicz is not a transparent politician or figure. It is obvious that he evokes controversy, which culminated during last year's local elections. However, politics, party wars, and pettiness are things that must recede into the background in the face of ultimate matters. They must prove to be trivial and transient. Because if even then, we cannot see beyond the horizon of our tribe, how are we truly different from the person who comes on stage with a knife? By sitting at keyboards instead of them? That is not enough to look in the mirror with a clear conscience.” https://opinie.wp.pl/marcin-makowski-gdy-czlowiek-walczy-o-zycie-kazda-polityka-staje-sie-blaha-6338219842709121a

-- JAROSŁAW KURSKI, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF GAZETA WYBORCZA, ON THE SOWN SEED OF HATRED: “But for God's sake, it is not the opposition that holds power today. The government has it, and therefore has greater responsibility. The government has a monopoly on public media, where for years, especially against WOŚP (Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity) and Paweł Adamowicz personally, a campaign of accusations, slander, and defamation has been ongoing, with unfortunately significant silence from the majority of the Polish Church. The seed of hatred sown sooner or later bears fruit. May this tragic event bring something good. May it bring reflection.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,24360765,zasiane-ziarno-nienawisci-predzej-czy-pozniej-wydaje-plon.html

-- BENEFITS FOR PiS FROM THE IRANIAN SUMMIT ARE INESTIMABLE - TOMASZ BIELECKI IN RZ: “But if the summit is a success, the benefits for PiS will be hard to overestimate. Not long ago, at the height of the dispute over the amendment to the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance, there was an impression that Donald Trump was isolating Poland. Now, however, Warsaw would be hosting a meeting crucial for America. Eight months before parliamentary elections in Poland, this is a radical turnaround and a nod to the ruling right-wing in Poland, previously criticized by Washington.” https://www.rp.pl/Analizy/190119820-Bielecki-Szczyt-o-Bliskim-Wschodzie-Amerykanie-pomagaja-PiS.html

-- POLAND, A USEFUL ALLY OF TRUMP - BARTOSZ T. WIELIŃSKI in GW.

-- THE OPPOSITION NEEDS AN AMPLIFIER IN THE FORM OF BIEDROŃ'S YOUNG PARTY - MARCIN ANASZEWICZ, CLOSE COLLABORATOR OF ROBERT BIEDROŃ - in conversation with Krzysztof Pacewicz in GW: “In Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska), the conservative group in power is strong enough that there is no option for this party to suddenly become progressive on its own and come up with liberal initiatives, such as establishing a secular state, liberalizing the anti-abortion law, or effectively protecting women from violence. PO is still made up of the same people who introduced the Concordat in Poland, were against the expansion of many new rights and civil liberties, and furthermore, turned a blind eye to the progressive politicization of the state, largely paving the way for PiS's crimes against the rule of law. Today's parliamentary opposition needs an amplifier, which will be Robert Biedroń's young party. There are politicians in PO, of course, who are on a similar wavelength to us, but unfortunately, they are still on the defensive there.”

-- ANASZEWICZ ON THE GOAL OF CARING FOR THE WEAKER - THE DISABLED, WOMEN: “Our goal is around ten percent of the votes and, probably together with Civic Coalition, removing PiS from power. But also to ensure that the new government does not forget about the rights of people with disabilities, modern senior policy, women's rights, a secular state, depoliticization of the state, or the fight against bureaucracy through digitalization. It's a pity that the parliamentary opposition is already facing the progressive disintegration of Civic Coalition, and this is 10 months before the elections.

-- SCHETYNA LIKE A PAWNBROKER - ANASZEWICZ CONTINUES IN CONVERSATION WITH PACEWICZ:“For now, Grzegorz Schetyna has eaten the remnants of Nowoczesna (Modern party), acting not like a leader with a long-term vision, but like a pawnbroker – buy cheap, sell dear. This shows what a coalition and cooperation with PO smells like. Under such leadership, there is no room for partnership cooperation and joint implementation of progressive, pro-democratic policies on the opposition side.”

-- ANASZEWICZ ON HOW PO AND PiS JOINTLY SUPPORTED THE CHURCH: “Yes, all over Poland. Both in Wrocław, and in Sieradz, Łomża, or Szczecin. It concerns two dimensions: both the separation of the Church from politics, reducing its influence, for example, on healthcare standards for women, and the billions of zlotys that the Church receives annually from the state in various forms. We have a practically ready package of changes regarding a secular state, which will reduce budget expenditures on the Church to zero. We will abolish the Church Fund, end the financing of religion in schools, end tax breaks for the Church, and eliminate all hidden forms of financing. I remind you that the Civic Platform – just like PiS – financed the Temple of Divine Providence in Warsaw from the budget of the Ministry of Culture under the guise of building the 'John Paul II Museum'. PO, just like PiS, maintained the Church Fund. Meanwhile, today teachers are demanding pay raises that would cost about 7.5 billion zlotys, and it's not that this money is not in the budget.”

-- ANASZEWICZ ON PAY TRANSPARENCY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: “Women still earn on average 700 PLN less than men. We will introduce a package of laws to eliminate this difference, including legally guaranteeing full pay transparency in the public sector from the recruitment stage. Let's look at what is happening now at the National Bank of Poland…” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,24359290,co-jest-w-programie-partii-biedronia-chca-zabrac-kosciolowi.html

-- A PSL POLITICIAN TELLS ZUZANNA DĄBROWSKA ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF PO 'DEVOURING' NOWOCZESNA - writes in RZ: “SLD (Democratic Left Alliance) certainly has its representation in the European Parliament, and a significant one at that, with politicians who are respected in the Union, such as, for instance, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Bogusław Liberadzki. It would be difficult to explain the absence of a 'number one' candidate for such a politician. It is therefore better to negotiate from a position of strength, which seems to be PO's preferred position. PSL sees it differently. They prefer to reach an agreement earlier with smaller groupings, create a common front, and then negotiate spots on the lists. – PO does not understand what it has done by treating its coalition partner, Nowoczesna, as a hunting trophy – an MP from PSL tells us. – This has truly changed the mood among other parties.” https://www.rp.pl/Analizy/190119744-Dabrowska-o-opozycji-Kazdy-z-kazdym--negocjacje.html

-- MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI ON GOWIN'S ENCOURAGING CONVENTION - UNTIL NOW, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WERE RESERVED FOR THE LEFT: “For the first time in a long time, something fresh has appeared on the right: thinking about clean energy as an action supporting local government, family, and entrepreneurship. Environmental and climate issues have until now been reserved exclusively for the left, while the right was associated more with defending coal and mocking those who warn about the effects of global warming.”

-- IS GOWIN MERELY A FIG LEAF - SZUŁDRZYŃSKI CONTINUES:“Because every observer has asked themselves whether Gowin is to be merely a fig leaf or if he has a chance to genuinely change the United Right. We remember that before the last elections, Gowin was announced as a candidate for the head of the Ministry of National Defence. Antoni Macierewicz went to the Ministry of National Defence, and what happened afterwards, we also remember perfectly well. If PiS wants to win the next elections, it must convince centrist voters that this time it will be different.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/301139951-Szuldrzynski-Czy-prawica-moze-byc-sexy.html

-- BIRTHDAYS: Arkadiusz Janiczek turns 45, Marek Migalski turns 50, Andrzej Diakonow, Kosma Złotowski.