-- NEW REPORT: FINLAND BEST IN EDUCATION, POLAND OUTRANKED BY: RUSSIA AND CHINA - 300GOSPODARKA:http://300gospodarka.pl/news/2019/03/20/nowy-raport-finlandia-znow-najlepsza-w-edukacji-polske-wyprzedza-rosja-i-ghana/

-- 300LIVE: KOSINIAK ON THE LACK OF WORLDVIEW DISCIPLINE IN EUROPEAN COALITION, SPYCHALSKI ON THE MEETING BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER REGARDING TEACHERS: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/03/20

-- ACTA2 RETURNS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - THE GOVERNMENT SPEAKS OF A THREAT OF CENSORSHIP: “– Therefore, the Polish government cannot in any case support any solutions that – under the guise of copyright protection – could introduce mechanisms limiting freedom of speech. People communicate directly online, so by introducing filters or additional legal regulations, the free flow of information could be disrupted – summarizes Deputy Minister Lewandowski.” https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/europarlamentarzysci-przeciw-cenzurze-w-sieci-bitwa-o-unijna-dyrektywe-6361156197738625a

-- ZBIGNIEW BUJAK TO RUN WITH BIEDROŃ - WRITES SE: “This Saturday, Wiosna (Spring) will officially announce its lists for the European Parliament elections at a grand convention. The entire event is intended to be a spectacular show, with list leaders appearing on stage. Meanwhile, a few days before the event, 'Super Express' has learned the names that will appear on Wiosna's lists. Thus, the surprise is the number one spot in the Lublin constituency for former Solidarity opposition activist Zbigniew Bujak. - He is a great figure, a man of action who actively fought communism. The European Parliament needs precisely such people, people of ideas as well as action, who have proven through their lives that they are capable of changing the world – Robert Biedroń tells 'Super Express' in an interview.” https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/polityka/zbigniew-bujak-w-lublinie-robert-biedron-w-warszawie-kto-jeszcze-na-listach-wiosny-tylko-u-nas-aa-uVQR-EzzS-Ksyt.html

-- SE ON HOW PAD IS FIGHTING FOR INFLUENCE: “President Andrzej Duda (47) is going on the offensive! First, he secured changes in the management of public media, and now he is pushing for his minister Andrzej Dera (58) to head the Ministry of Interior and Administration! - If President Andrzej Duda decides I should run somewhere, I will submit to it – Andrzej Dera comments in an interview with 'Super Express'. (...) But that's not all. As we learn, the president wants to have a greater influence on the government as well. Hence, the name of Andrzej Dera has appeared in the speculation about potential successors to Joachim Brudziński as head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration.” https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/polityka/ofensywa-andrzeja-dudy-prezydent-walczy-o-policje-wojsko-i-media-aa-xTsJ-m6kC-tdC5.html

-- SCHETYNA'S MODEL AS A BENCHMARK FOR UNIFICATION AGAINST POPULISTS - SŁAWOMIR SIERAKOWSKI: “This is what has been achieved in Poland, and it is an anomaly. Abroad, it is beginning to be treated as a model of how the opposition should behave in the fight against populists. Only in our country was the creation of the European Coalition accepted as if it happened on its own.”

-- SIERAKOWSKI ON OCHOJSKA: WHO IS BEST PREPARED TO DISCUSS AFRICA WITH MACRON? “Contrary to the assumption made by Magdalena Środa, Polish parliamentarians participate in the European Parliament not only in solving Polish problems. It is not without reason that in his most important programmatic text on the reform of the European Union, Emmanuel Macron devoted space outside of Europe only to Africa. Of all the people mentioned in this text, Janina Ochojska is the best prepared for a discussion with the President of France on this topic, and although I do not love her, I strongly support her.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/opinie/slawomir-sierakowski-polemizuje-z-magdalena-sroda-ke-to-ewenement/kszcjs7

-- MAGDALENA ŚRODA, WHOM SIERAKOWSKI POLEMizes WITH, ASKS WHY KUBICA IS NOT ON THE KE LISTS: “I only have one question: why is Robert Kubica, the greatest symbol of 'eternal hope for victory' in our homeland, not on the lists?” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,24563358,kandydaci-do-europarlamentu-dlaczego-schetyna-zapomnial-o-kubicy.html

-- PIS MAY BE CONSIDERED BACKWARD, THE REMAINING TAPES WITH MORAWIECKI ARE ANOTHER TICKING TIME BOMB - JACEK NIZINKIEWICZ IN RZ: “Overheating the LGBT issue might backfire and PiS could be considered a backward party. Poles might also be tired of PiS opening new fronts of conflict and the stifling atmosphere in the country, for which those in power are primarily responsible. The pitfalls PiS falls into also include nepotism, abuse of power, and scandals. The 'Kaczyński tapes' are also not the authorities' last problem. Further bombs could be detonated at the most electorally opportune moments. It's worth remembering that we still don't know all the recordings involving Mateusz Morawiecki from 'Sowa i Przyjaciele' (The Owl and Friends).”

-- NIZINKIEWICZ ON THE GRADUALLY GROWING CHANCES OF KE: “The chances of the European Coalition winning are slowly but surely increasing. After just four years in opposition, PO may return to power. Schetyna can defeat Kaczyński, but not alone. Patience, determination, and cooperation can bring him the desired success and long-term dominance over the anti-PiS movement. Especially since there might not be another chance.” https://www.rp.pl/Rzecz-o-polityce/303199901-Schetyna-wygra-z-Kaczynskim.html

-- MARCIN FIJOŁEK COMPARES CURRENT POLLS TO THE SUM OF POLLS FOR KE PARTIES AND THEIR COMBINED SEATS IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: “Considering the percentage results of individual groups that form the core of the European Coalition today. Their combined support was 52.27% at the time, while the groups forming the United Right achieved exactly 38.92%. And this is the scale of support from which we should begin (though not end) the discussion. This does not mean, of course, that the PiS camp is in some huge attack, an offensive that is sweeping rivals off the political stage. Not at all - the European Coalition has a certain potential (mainly based on unity, which opposition supporters have been calling for since autumn 2015), but it is worth paying attention to a broader context than a simple comparison of PiS with Platforma. The specifics of local and European elections are different from the autumn vote (the most significant weight in the electoral marathon we are in). The conclusions to be drawn from this are much more complex than a simple answer to the question of whether PiS politicians will win more seats in the EP than their rivals from the European Coalition. This does not mean that this last issue will be without significance.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/438639-wazny-i-ciekawy-kontekst-przy-ocenie-wynikow-wyborow-do-pe

-- MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI ON WHY PIS IS FIGHTING SO HARD FOR THE RIGHT FLANK - writes in RZ: “Even a symbolic defeat in the May elections could cost it power in the fall. Therefore, it should be expected that PiS will now fight much harder with Korwin, the nationalists, or the Ruch Prawdziwa Europa (True Europe Movement) than with PO. Jarosław Kaczyński will not win over the voters of the European Coalition anyway. PiS must reconsider how to win over Korwin's supporters, sympathizers of ONR and nationalists, as well as Catholic pro-life circles.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/303199902-Szuldrzynski-PiS-walczy-o-prawa-flanke.html

-- RZ ON WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REST OF THE TAPES FROM SOWA AND THE FALENTA PROBLEM: “Marek Falenta never admitted to ordering the recordings. However, it is now certain that the services did not uncover the full background of this affair, as evidenced by the fact that eight tapes unknown to the prosecution have appeared since 2015. In the investigation into the tape affair, which concluded in 2015, involving the illegal recording of VIPs in Warsaw restaurants where waiters worked, investigators assumed that over 100 people were recorded. However, only 66 were found. The prosecution knows there were many more. – Falenta possesses a lot of knowledge that could be dangerous for him – says one of his acquaintances.” https://teologiapolityczna.pl/piotr-zaremba-niebezgrzeszna-sanacja-fenomen-spektaklu-paradiso

-- PIOTR PACEWICZ ON THE STRUCTURAL MARRIAGE OF ELECTORATES: “It is clear that the PiS electorate has an overrepresentation of married people and widows, Kukiz'15 and the ultra-right Konfederacja have an overrepresentation of singles, and Wiosna has an exceptionally large number of people in formal unions.” https://oko.press/na-pis-malzenstwa-na-wiosne-nieformalne-zwiazki-na-ultraprawice-single-na-ke-po-rowno-sondaz-inaczej/

-- EWA SIEDLECKA ON POLISH AUTHORITIES POSSIBLY REQUESTING A DIFFERENT DATE FOR THE OPINION OF THE ECJ ADVOCATE GENERAL: “It is clear that the Court is prepared, that it has a vision of the entire system created in Poland, so it sees the arguments that judges are also elected by political power elsewhere in the proper perspective – says Maria Ejchart-Dubois, who observed the hearing on behalf of the Wolne Sądy (Free Courts) initiative. The opinion of the Advocate General, which always precedes the judgment and is most often the basis for the decision, will be announced only on May 23, so the judgment itself will be no earlier than June. Until then, the Polish Constitutional Tribunal may issue a ruling on the motions of the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) and a group of PiS senators aiming to recognize that the KRS was appointed and operates in accordance with the constitution. The announcement of the verdict is scheduled for March 25 (but it may be postponed again – as it has been twice already). This ruling could lead to Polish authorities filing a motion with the ECJ to dismiss the proceedings regarding the preliminary questions of the Supreme Court. The Court is not obliged to grant it.” https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/1786450,1,tsue-sadzi-krs-jak-sie-broni-pis.read?src=mt

-- TOMASZ PIETRYGA IN RZ: THE ECJ RULING WILL NOT BE A SENSATION: “However, there is no sign of a sensation. In response to preliminary questions, the ECJ is likely to be closer to the argumentation of the defenders of the rule of law in Poland and Brussels. It expressed a similar opinion on the issue of judicial retirement in the Supreme Court a few months ago. The sensitivity to PiS reforms criticized by Polish judges may be similar. It is unknown, however, whether it will redefine the boundary between the protection of the rule of law and the institutional autonomy of member states, guaranteed in the EU Treaty. With such a verdict, it could broaden its competences to assess the actions of member states in this matter.” https://www.rp.pl/Opinie/303199903-Tykajacy-wyrok-Trybunalu---komentuje-Tomasz-Pietryga.html

-- MAREK BEYLIN ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF PLACING POLAND ALONGSIDE TURKEY AND HUNGARY IN A REPORT BY A PRESTIGIOUS AMERICAN THINK TANK WHICH PROPOSES SANCTIONS: “The inclusion of Poland alongside Turkey and Hungary as countries threatening – according to a report published in February – the functioning of the Union and NATO, is a powerful blow to the credibility of Polish authorities and their ambitions to conduct effective international policy. Although they have a general understanding in the EU of how the rule of law is deteriorating in Poland, for the US administration and the leadership of NATO – the recipients of the report – the theses of the Brookings Institution provide strong evidence that both Poland and the other two countries have become dangerous pariahs of the civilized world. Which – the report emphasizes – should not go unpunished. Perhaps for the first time, an independent institution of international renown has stated this so clearly and openly. Alarm sirens should sound in Polish government offices. Because the diagnoses and firm recommendations of the report may influence the tightening of US, NATO, and EU policy towards Poland. This will have fundamental significance for our development and security.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,24564047,eksperci-z-usa-o-polsce-wegrzech-i-turcji-dosc-marchewki.html

-- GW ON THE POTENTIAL OF 8 BILLION EURO TO FIGHT SMOG BUT WITH A PROGRAM THAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: “Poland could receive up to 8 billion euros to fight smog in the next financial perspective, 'Wyborcza' has learned. But there is a condition: we must fix the 'Clean Air' program. The current one is garbage.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,155287,24563496,dostaniemy-nawet-8-mld-euro-jak-bedziemy-rzeczywiscie-walczyc.html

-- TWO GATED COMMUNITIES IN BERLIN, FOUR HUNDRED IN WARSAW - TEXT FROM WYBORCZA.PL: “Gated communities are increasing at an alarming rate. Sociologist Paweł Kubicki spoke a few years ago about a doctoral student who compared fenced communities in Germany and Poland. In Berlin, he found only two; in Warsaw, over 200. According to Jacek Gądecki, by 2008, fences or walls already enclosed 400 communities! Their names are meant to emphasize that they are exclusive oases of happiness. English is used to give them a global feel: Garden Residence, Dolce Villa, or Płudy Village. But Polish names are equally original: Lawendowe Ogrody (Lavender Gardens), Cicha Dolina (Quiet Valley), Rajska Jabłoń (Paradise Apple Tree), or Osiedle Królewskie (Royal Estate). Apartments have replaced flats.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,161389,24542680,wacpan-co-soba-jest-zacpan.html