-- SZYDŁO ASKS THE OPPOSITION QUESTIONS - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/02/27/

-- PSL RESPONDS TO PIS - WE SUPPORTED 500 PLN FOR THE FIRST CHILD, AND YOU? https://twitter.com/nowepsl/status/1100691562907033600?s=21

-- 300GOSPODARKA ON EMLEWICZ'S NEW DEPUTY: http://300gospodarka.pl/news/2019/02/27/marek-nieduzak-nowym-wiceministrem-przedsiebiorczosci-i-technologii-news-300gospodarki/

-- WYBORCZA.PL ON MINISTER DWORCZYK'S FLIGHT FOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH INDEPENDENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COSTING 33 THOUSAND PLN: “Party negotiations between PiS and the Independent Local Government Officials in Lower Silesia cost Polish taxpayers 33,000 PLN. The government Embraer flew with only one passenger on board so that he could agree on a coalition agreement with PiS's participation in the regional assembly.” http://wroclaw.wyborcza.pl/wroclaw/7,35771,24496599,samolotem-po-wladze-pis-traktuje-rzadowego-embraera-jak-taksowke.html

-- ABW CHIEF TO MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND ADMINISTRATION OR SUPREME COURT? - AS IZABELA KACPRZAK WRITES IN RZ: “In PiS circles, there is talk of Colonel Piotr Pogonowski, head of the Internal Security Agency, leaving – either for the seat vacated by Minister Brudziński, or – interestingly – for a Supreme Court judge position. Pogonowski, who has been a professor of law since 2010, began his career at the Supreme Court over a decade ago as a senior specialist in jurisprudence.”

-- BŁASZCZAK TO NIK AFTER ALL, JACH TO MON? - RZ CONTINUES: “MP Michał Jach has a high chance of taking the defense minister's seat – chairman of the parliamentary Defense Committee, member of several subcommittees on the military and armament. Jach would replace Mariusz Błaszczak, when the latter became head of the Supreme Audit Office (the current president, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski,'s term expires in July). He himself admits in an interview with 'Rzeczpospolita' that it is too early for such talks. – This is not the first time I've been on such a 'stock exchange,' but everything will become clear in due time – says MP Jach enigmatically.” https://www.rp.pl/Polityka/302269917-Powyborcza-rekonstrukcja-rzadu-Stanowiska-Szydlo-i-Kempy-do-likwidacji.html&template=restricted

-- RZ ON THE FRONT PAGE CITES MINISTER SZYMAŃSKI SAYING POLAND HAS JOINED AN EU COALITION BLOCKING GERMAN AND FRENCH PROTECTIONISM: “However, alongside our country's traditional allies such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Baltic states, the coalition also includes countries that until recently strongly criticized PiS governments: the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, and Portugal, as well as Finland, which has been more friendly to us for some time. Despite the European Parliament election campaign, these are countries that have realized that building competitive economies has cost them too much to continue to hinder their potential. For several months, Poland has been seeking to consolidate states working for the common market. This is our reaction to the growing risk of protectionism in the EU. We also fear a disruption of the political balance in economic matters after Brexit – Minister for European Affairs Konrad Szymański tells 'Rz'.” https://www.rp.pl/Unia-Europejska/302269919-Unia-Europejska-Polska-w-koalicji-na-rzecz-wolnego-rynku.html

-- ADAM LESZCZYŃSKI IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA ON THE OPPOSITION'S STRATEGY: OBSESSED WITH MEMORIES OF THEIR OWN PAST GLORY? “The opposition's strategy (I mean the Coalition, not Biedroń's Spring) was described in 'Wyborcza' on February 25th by Dominika Wielowieyska. It is an interesting read, somewhat amusing, and very frightening. There is to be a joint 'pro-European' popular movement, modeled on the campaign before the 2003 accession referendum. Wielowieyska writes that clever minds are planning to 'combine this with the message of the 30th anniversary of the June 4, 1989 elections, in which citizens rejected the communist PRL, chose democracy, and a march towards the EU and NATO.' As if that were not enough – Wielowieyska writes – someone came up with the idea of taking photos of coalition candidates for the European Parliament that resemble those of the Civic Committees' candidates with Lech Wałęsa before the June 4, 1989 elections. Donald Tusk was to take Wałęsa's place. This strategy – I read – is supposed to mobilize people to participate in the elections! I don't know what is more pathetic about this idea: desperation? Detachment from reality? Obsession with memories of their own past glory?”

-- HOW MANY VOTERS REMEMBER THE 1989 ELECTIONS? MOREOVER, EVEN THEN, JUST OVER HALF THE CITIZENS VOTED - LESZCZYŃSKI CONTINUES: “There is no indication that anyone has asked themselves how many voters – for purely biological reasons – even remember the 1989 elections. Let's recall: 30 years have passed since then, almost as long as between the November and January Uprisings. Even in 1989, by the way, just over half the citizens voted! (...) Unless we want to win the elections from 30 years ago. Then one doesn't need to understand anything, just have a photo session with Tusk instead of Wałęsa.”

-- LESZCZYŃSKI ON WHAT THE OPPOSITION SHOULD DO: “So, what can be done? To promise – solemnly and unequivocally – that the social promises of Civic Platform and its coalition partners are inviolable. To make a commitment signed in heartfelt blood. One can say: 'We won't give you everything PiS promises, but we will definitely give you this, the country won't go bankrupt, and as a package, you will also get democracy and the rule of law back, even if these last two things don't particularly concern you.'” http://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/co-powinna-obiecac-koalicja-europejska-zeby-wygrac-wybory-i-dlaczego-tego-nie-zrobi/

-- PIOTR TRUDNOWSKI ON ELECTION SCENARIOS - IN THE FIRST SCENARIO DESCRIBED ON THE KLUB JAGIELLOŃSKI WEBSITE, HE WRITES THAT PIS CAN WIN THROUGH CREDIBILITY: “If nothing unforeseen happens in European politics, the global economy, and the Polish political and social sphere, PiS has a high chance of success precisely because of its credibility. The unprecedented achievement of Kaczyński's party is the fact that the PiS government can be positively assessed for fulfilling its election promises. This is a significant matter – when we recall the program announcements of Civic Platform and compare them with their implementation between 2007 and 2015, we see how little of them were fulfilled. A symbol of this could be Donald Tusk's expose from 2007, in which he made 195 promises, of which only a small percentage were fully realized. Here, PiS has introduced a new quality, the symbol of which could be Mateusz Morawiecki's expose, in which a conscious decision was made to refrain from making new promises.”

-- TRUDNOWSKI ON THE SCENARIO OF ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN: “An equally unfavorable scenario for PiS could be the scenario of noticeable financial problems caused by global market disruptions or resulting from the economic slowdown in Germany, with which our economy is very closely linked. Poles, who came through the 2008 crisis almost unscathed, are today completely unprepared 'mentally' for any change in economic conditions, as evidenced by record-high indicators of financial, personal, and national optimism. Let us repeat – falling from a great height hurts particularly, and the PiS government has done a lot in recent years to ensure that Poles remain above-average optimists when it comes to looking into the future. The image of a 'financier' prime minister may prove insufficient for Poles to consider PiS a credible steward during a period of international economic downturn.”

-- TRUDNOWSKI ON RUMORS CIRCULATING IN WARSAW EDITORIAL OFFICES: “It is therefore not surprising that the subsequent rumors circulating in Warsaw editorial offices – regardless of whether they are true or distributed by whom – touch precisely on the credibility of PiS politicians as honest individuals not entangled in post-communist pathologies. If further 'bombs' are added to the arsenal of recent weeks, then at some point an explosion may occur, which will ultimately strip PiS of credibility in this very key area. Therefore, if the political dynamics do not change, despite the favorable regrouping for the opposition (the 'two and a half' arrangement – United Right vs. European Coalition + Biedroń's Spring), PiS, thanks to its credibility in fulfilling promises, may continue to govern after 2019. At the same time, certain unfavorable trends for PiS are visible in both domestic and global politics. The Kaczyński party has so far weathered subsequent waves safely, but one of the next waves may turn out to be the one that ultimately sinks PiS's credibility with voters. Who knows, perhaps even the most loyal ones so far.” https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2019/02/25/wiarygodnosc-polityczne-slowo-roku-trzy-scenariusze-na-wybory/

-- ON THE FLAWS IN PI'S PROPOSALS BUT ALSO A TRAP FOR THE OPPOSITION - STEFAN SĘKOWSKI IN NOWA KONFEDERACJA: “Regardless of whether these promises are fulfilled before autumn, they will be a trap for the current opposition. The opposition will either have to outbid promises or face the potential consequences of new expenditures. Unfortunately, many voters will not investigate whether '500+' for every child will have an impact on demographics or what its long-term significance will be for the budget. Nor will they consider how to compensate for the loss of PIT revenue and whether it won't end up with a rotation of artificially employed young people who will be replaced by younger ones after they turn 26 (especially where acquired experience is not that important), and also whether the act is constitutional at all.”

-- SĘKOWSKI ON THE POLITICAL GAINS FROM THE 'FIFTH' (PI'S PROGRAM): “It may be more important that a specific proposal will tangibly improve the contents of their wallets. Each of these proposals (apart from the vague reduction of labor costs) is designed to satisfy a selected group of voters – parents, youth, pensioners, or people living in smaller, less connected towns. It is quite understandable that someone who receives an additional 500 PLN monthly in their account or who receives a one-time 'thirteenth' pension is happy about it. However, this does not change the fact that it also affects the general public. Although studies on voting motivation are not conclusive (for example, Brian Caplan in 'The Myth of the Rational Voter' argues that voters at the polling station are guided not by their own interests, but by their perceptions of 'how things should be'), the 'Kaczyński's Fifth' clearly indicates that PiS politicians want to give various groups specific privileges.” https://nowakonfederacja.pl/piatka-kaczynskiego-czyli-dzielic-by-rzadzic/

-- GW EXPLANATION FOR THE CHART WITH RAISES: “We believe this is buying votes with citizens' money. Additional funds from the budget should be allocated to the most needy social groups, namely people with disabilities and underpaid public sector employees. That was our intention, and only that. Meanwhile, the incorrectly described graphic might have suggested something else. Confusion arose, for which we apologize.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,24495432,podwyzki-dla-nauczycieli-czy-pielegniarek-to-nie-hojne-rozdawnictwo.html

-- RAISES FOR TEACHERS ARE NOT HANDOUTS - JUSTYNA SUCHECKA IN GW: “So when I read that the government is generously handing out money, my blood pressure rises. Indeed, even if teachers received the mythical 16% this year, I wouldn't call it a generous raise. Anyone who thinks otherwise should ask themselves what future they want for our children and country. No, I don't think this is unnecessary pathos. Education is truly our common cause, although it's very easy to forget about it.

-- SUCHECKA ON HOW MUCH REAL RAISES FOR TEACHERS WOULD COST: “Finally, numbers. If the government were truly generous and gave every teacher – and there are 700,000 positions – a gross raise of 1,000 PLN each, it would cost the budget about 14 billion PLN annually, along with basic salary contributions. The 500+ program for the first child, recently announced by PiS, costs 17 to 19 billion PLN annually.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,24494473,opamietajmy-sie-podwyzki-dla-nauczycieli-to-nie-rozdawnictwo.html

-- MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI ON KUCHCIŃSKI'S OVERCOMPENSATION FOR HIS SMALLNESS: “Both the militarization of the Sejm and the search for legitimacy in great history could be an attempt to compensate for ordinary smallness or some political grievances, real or imagined past humiliations. At the same time, all who know Kuchciński are convinced that he is an extremely likeable man.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/302269923-Szuldrzynski-Wielka-zagadka-wielkiego-marszalka.html&cid=44&template=restricted

-- AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF CZARZASTY AND SCHETYNA, BIEDROŃ STANDS OUT LIKE NOWOCZESNA AGAINST KOMOROWSKI - DR FLIS TELLS JACK NIŻINIEWICZ IN RZ: “For Biedroń, the threat would be Trzaskowski's Civic Platform, meaning one that personally distances itself from old times, is younger and more dynamic. Against the backdrop of Czarzasty and Schetyna, Biedroń stands out, just as Nowoczesna distinguished itself from Komorowski and Kopacz's Civic Platform.

-- I DON'T REALLY SEE ORGANIZATIONAL GROUNDS FOR BIEDROŃ - DR FLIS CONTINUES: “I don't really see lasting organizational grounds for Biedroń. There is a media bubble around him, but these bubbles have ended at 10 percent. Neither Palikot, nor Nowoczesna, nor Kukiz were able to build lasting, nationwide structures. They rallied people frustrated by the stagnation, but these people themselves fell into stagnation after a while.” https://www.rp.pl/Rzecz-o-polityce/302269939-Jaroslaw-Flis-Im-wiecej-partii-tym-trudniej.html&template=restricted

-- GW ON THE FRONT PAGE ABOUT THE MISSING PRIEST FROM SREBRNA: “A taped-over name on the intercom, removed details from the diocesan website, a mysterious transaction for the purchase of an attractive plot of land on Lake Żarnowieckie. Rafał Sawicz had no income or creditworthiness allowing him to invest in real estate, yet he built an impressive property.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,24496756,zaginiony-ksiadz-rafal-sawicz-ma-wiecej-tajemnic-niz-sprawa.html -- OBAJTEK BOUGHT A MANOR AND TRANSFERRED IT TO A FOUNDATION TO HELP CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM WHAT HE HAS - TOURETTE SYNDROME - SE: “He has experienced firsthand for many years how burdensome the fight against Tourette syndrome is. The CEO of PKN Orlen, Daniel Obajtek (43), bought a manor near Łeba. And he transferred it free of charge for use to the Polish Aid and Bonds Foundation 'Kresy RP'. It is planned that, among others, children with Tourette syndrome will be rehabilitated there. CEO Daniel Obajtek struggles with this condition. - I know what it means to face adversity, which is why I try to help others. However, I do not want to talk about it publicly, nor about the adversities I face myself. I would be grateful if this is respected – Daniel Obajtek tells us.” https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/polityka/prezes-orlen-daniel-obajtek-kupil-dworek-na-leczenie-dzieci-sam-nigdy-sie-nie-poddal-aa-bnFz-cwxA-yCQN.html

-- BIRTHDAYS: Robert Socha, Paweł Szefernaker, Roman Giertych.