-- 42 YEARS AGO, the body of Stanisław Pyjas, murdered by communist services, was found in a tenement house at Szewska 7 Street in Krakow.

-- 19 DAYS TO THE ELECTION.

-- NITRAS ON THE USE OF POLICE FOR PARTY PURPOSES, BUZEK ON THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY JAŻDŻEWSKI AND ON RELIGIOUS FEELINGS OFFENDED BY PODLEŚNA - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/05/07/

-- MINISTER OF FINANCE TERESA CZERWIŃSKA EXPLAINS THE ENTREPRENEUR TEST AS A FIGHT AGAINST DUALISM ON THE LABOR MARKET - in an interview with Rzeczpospolita: “Many myths have arisen around the so-called entrepreneur test, which need to be dispelled. What the government has proposed in the update to the convergence program is a fight against dualism on the labor market, not an obstruction of entrepreneurship. Ordering the labor market is necessary, given the demographic situation and the needs of the economy. Meanwhile, we have a very high level of so-called self-employment in the country, one of the highest among highly developed countries. Together with the Social Dialogue Council, we want to develop a solution that would prevent employees from being 'pushed out' of employment contracts and simultaneously forced to set up sole proprietorships. After all, in this way, these people are effectively doing the same as employees, but are deprived of holidays or potential severance pay. Self-employment also means transferring risk from the employer to a newly established sole proprietorship.”

-- RESTORING NORMALCY TO THE LABOR MARKET LIKE THE VAT GAP WAS REDUCED - CZERWIŃSKA CONTINUES: “We have not the slightest intention of hindering economic activity when someone truly sets up a business, even a sole proprietorship, is dynamic and innovative, and acts honestly. We want them to adhere to fair rules. Just as we managed to effectively reduce the VAT gap by combating dishonest practices and abuses, we also want to restore normalcy to the labor market – by eliminating its dualism.”

-- CZERWIŃSKA RESERVED ON RZ'S QUESTION ABOUT KACZYŃSKI'S "FIFTH" (PACKAGE OF PROMISES): “I am pleased that these announcements include something as important for the economy as a reduction in the tax wedge. Increasing the cost of obtaining income for employees and abolishing taxes for young workers will have long-term effects.”

-- CZERWIŃSKA ON THE QUESTION OF THE THIRTYFOLD INCREASE - MEETING WITH THE MINISTER OF LABOR AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE: “In the long-term financial plan of the state, we have provided an amount exceeding PLN 5 billion as an estimated increase in revenues from this title. If the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy presents a specific bill, a precise revenue estimate can be provided based on it. At the beginning of June, we will be coordinating with other ministries regarding their budget shares. By then, we should have the specific project.” https://www.rp.pl/Wywiady/305069894-Minister-Teresa-Czerwinska-Nie-zaszkodzimy-uczciwym.html

-- PIS IS THE EUROPEAN FIFTH COLUMN - KATARZYNA KOLENDA-ZALESKA IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “But will such a Union be strong enough? It will likely weaken, as national interests, without a solid foundation, will tear the community apart. If the government goes to the European Parliament with such intentions, if it shapes a new European order with politicians similar to itself from Italy or Hungary, then such a Union will sooner or later collapse. Polexit is not needed, as it turns out. A fifth column is enough.”

-- PIS'S ENTHUSIASM FOR THE EU IS LIKE GOWIN'S IN THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE - KOLENDA CONTINUES: “Yes, this campaign enthusiasm is very pleasing. Only sometimes it reminds one of another campaign and another press conference. The one where future Prime Minister Szydło presented Jarosław Gowin as the future Minister of National Defense. Voters had to be convinced that it wouldn't be Antoni Macierewicz, but a more rational and less radical politician who would be minister. Macierewicz was hidden away. We all know perfectly well what happened after the election.”

-- LESZEK JAŻDŻEWSKI ON THE ATTACK AGAINST HIM BEING A PRETEXT - HE TELLS PAWEŁ WROŃSKI IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “But do you think that if Tusk presented a positive vision that unites Poles, he would receive praise for it in 'Wiadomości' and 'wPolityce'? Come on. They would have found a pretext to attack him anyway. The attack on me only started the day after Donald Tusk was compared to Stalin and Hitler in TVP. In essence, I am glad that my speech unexpectedly played the role of a lightning rod against what Tusk was saying. I have a feeling that both messages reached people. I sensed enormous reservoirs of energy in this combination. If one can speak the truth, even a controversial one, it is a sin not to take advantage of that opportunity. http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,24758011,jazdzewski-zostalem-piorunochronem.html

-- THE CONDUCT OF LIBERAL OPPOSITION POLITICIANS IS POLITICAL STUPIDITY - LESZEK JAŻDŻEWSKI IN AN INTERVIEW WITH MAGDA GAŁCZYŃSKA ON ONET: “No. It didn't hurt. To be honest, I didn't have high hopes that they would behave decently, but I expected at least that they would react in their own interest. I was mistaken. Because the behavior of the opposition politicians – once considered liberal – their, frankly speaking, political stupidity and naivety showed that these people cannot be helped. This means that these so-called liberals suffer from the so-called Stockholm syndrome, they are dependent on their 'perpetrator.' https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/jazdzewski-o-krytyce-opozycji-polityczna-glupota/2c6lqmq

-- TUSK LIKE GEREMEK - SŁAWOMIR SIERAKOWSKI ON ONET: “By aiming to showcase erudition and the nobility of convictions, Tusk behaved like an authority figure from the Freedom Union. It was Bronisław Geremek's speech, not that of a politician who wants to win an election, instead of shining with his reading, values, and concern for the modern world. This is politics for 15 percent. For the rest, this philosophizing will rather evoke a sense of alienation. Political substance was also lacking. A missed opportunity. University, Freedom Union, 'Gazeta Wyborcza' – a perfect recipe for electoral success.”

-- HE REPLACED POLITICAL MESSAGE - SIERAKOWSKI CONTINUES ABOUT TUSK'S RHETORIC: “He delivered a speech full of erudite references. Even to the point of excess, because no one will believe that Tusk deals daily with reading Edmund Burke's letters to Stanisław Leszczyński or the peripheral texts of the American federalists. His concern for postmodern threats seemed more believable. It also had a certain rhetorical value, because Tusk effectively translated topics that sounded abstract to Poles into concrete language. Is erudition and rhetoric bad? It's great, but it replaced the political message – one that could win over people other than those who would find every speech by Tusk delightful.”

-- NO ONE WILL NOMINATE A NEW GEREMEK, IT'S BETTER TO NOMINATE ONE OF THE CITY MAYORS - SIERAKOWSKI CONTINUES: “Tusk's usefulness for the European Coalition has not been confirmed. And Tusk needs the European Coalition just as much as it needs him. Without it, he will not win the presidential election. He will even less likely win them if he talks about George Washington's letters and quotes Gasset. He won't even be their candidate because no one will want to nominate a new Geremek to fight for eight million votes. It would be better to nominate one of the city mayors.' https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/wystapienie-donalda-tuska-na-uw-slawomir-sierakowski-komentuje/gkx2n53

-- TUSK CAN RECREATE THE BUBBLE FOR A FEW DAYS - MARCIN FIJOŁEK: “Events like Donald Tusk's lecture on Friday are worth evaluating from the perspective of at least a few days. After the initial fever and media-political excitement (more on which in a moment), it turns out that nothing remains of all this sensation except for a few more or less amusing bon mots from the President of the European Council. Leszek Jażdżewski largely stole the show, and Tusk himself can now, at best, recreate the bubble in which we all functioned for years, for a few days.”

-- COMPARISONS TO HITLER ARE THE LAST THING THE RIGHT NEEDS - FIJOŁEK CONTINUES: “Meanwhile, Tusk is a skilled politician, skillfully using specific circumstances, but for today – he is a politician with a glass ceiling above his head. It's one thing to recreate a three-day media-political bubble of interest, and another to have the potential to create a political reset in Polish politics. The last thing the broad right needs in its reactions to Tusk's speech is to demonize him, illustrating materials about him with pictures of Adolf Hitler.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/445346-szklany-sufit-tuska-nic-poza-odtworzeniem-trzydniowej-banki

-- WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE LEADERS WE HAVE - PAWEŁ BRAVO IN TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY: “Unfortunately, the charisma of a witty erudite is not enough as a counterpoint to such performances. The frankly childish expectation that Tusk, with his suspended power, will soon make a breakthrough in Polish politics (evident, for instance, from the solid dose of mud prepared in advance by public television in connection with his speech) says less about the real intentions of the former PO leader – conditioned by intricate calculations of influence within the current Platform – and more about our need to break out of the current deadlock. At the level of declarations, and probably also real intentions, Tusk will not ride in on a white horse and allow our traumatized collective imagination to cast him in the role of a savior. We have to deal with the leaders we have. In this sense, it is a lesson in mature realism, as important for Poland's exit from a peripheral position as strengthening the economy, the army, or effectively defending interests in Europe.” https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/zimna-woda-tuska-158651

-- MORE TROUBLE FOR THE OPPOSITION THAN BENEFITS - ANDRZEJ GAJCY ON ONET: “With his lecture at the University of Warsaw, Donald Tusk has brought more trouble than benefits to the entire opposition. The former prime minister was supposed to return to domestic politics as a 'savior on a white horse'; instead of a steed, there are 'pigs wallowing in mud.' The last thing the European Coalition needs just before the elections is to ignite a worldview dispute with the Church and polarize society. PiS is just waiting for such a scenario. If Donald Tusk wants to re-establish himself in domestic politics, he must change his strategy and collaborators, because polarizing society and waving an anti-clerical stick is like an Easter present for the Law and Justice party.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/opinie/nieudany-come-back-tuska-opinia/vs1j5tn

-- JACEK GĄDEK ON TUSK NOT KNOWING JAŻDŻEWSKI'S SPEECH - HE WRITES ON GAZETA.PL: “A politician close to Tusk: - Donald obviously knew who his support would be. He knows Jażdżewski. They were together at the Games of Freedom in Łódź. Back then, Jażdżewski didn't cross any lines and behaved very fairly towards Tusk. Donald had the best experiences with him, because in Łódź he spoke very elegantly. And now? He didn't behave as he should have as a host. He had never done this before, hence the surprise at Jażdżewski's speech, which was not agreed upon with Tusk. Tusk simply had no reason to suspect that Jażdżewski would be unfair to him now. He adds: - I know for sure: Jażdżewski's speech was a complete surprise for Tusk. From Donald's point of view, it was unfavorable. Tusk could, of course, have demanded the text of Jażdżewski's speech, but no one expected him to go to extremes.” http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,24757104,pelne-zaskoczenie-zrobil-skandal-czy-czyims-weselu-czy.html

-- TUSK'S SPEECH IS A BLOW TO SCHETYNA - ŁUKASZ PAWŁOWSKI IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: “In this case, the content was – which may seem shocking – an unequivocal attack on the European Coalition in its current form and on the politicians forming it. It is a criticism of Schetyna's concept of a broad coalition, which also included conservatives. It is a criticism of the more cautious language of political debate, which a broad coalition from left to right requires and has required.”

-- TUSK ENDORSES WORDS THAT CAST DOUBT ON KE - PAWŁOWSKI CONTINUES: “What was shocking, however, was something else. Namely, five minutes before the European Parliament elections, Tusk endorses words that cast doubt on the sense of the hard-won European Coalition. And they undermine the sense of compromises made on the opposition's side. Yet, so much was said about the unity of the pro-democratic opposition against PiS! Opposition politicians were urged to bite their tongues in the name of a common goal!”

-- THE EP ELECTIONS CAN BE LOST SO THAT TUSK CAN RETURN IN THE FALL - PAWŁOWSKI ON WHAT TO READ IN THE FINE PRINT: “The words spoken at the University of Warsaw served an important – but different from what is commonly attributed to them – role. They were like fingernails scraping on a blackboard in a room full of shouting students or spelling out the word 'sex' in an article title – they were meant to draw attention to what was written in slightly smaller print. And what was written? That the European Parliament elections can be lost so that Tusk can return to politics in the fall. It's no wonder Schetyna had to distance himself from these words.' https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2019/05/07/pawlowski-jazdzewski-tusk-wystapienie-uw-kosciol/

-- TOMASZ KRZYŻAK IN RZ ON THE TRAP SET FOR THE CHURCH: “Attempts to set a trap for the Church and draw it into political games do not concern one formation. A medal always has two sides. The same politicians do not hesitate to criticize bishops when they side with those fighting for greater protection of unborn life, and applaud when they advocate for refugees. The same politicians position themselves as defenders of faith, family rights, etc., but also hide inconvenient anti-abortion bills in their drawers or tolerate those who speak of 'Poland for Poles.' Bishops, but even more so rank-and-file priests, need wisdom and prudence today not to be played. When the Church is struggling with an internal crisis, it needs no external skirmish.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/305069895-Krzyzak-Czy-Kosciol-wpadnie-w-objecia-Kaczynskiego.html

-- GAZETA WYBORCZA ON HOW LARGE SHOPPING CENTERS ARE BENEFITING FROM THE SUNDAY TRADING BAN: “Small and medium-sized shopping centers are slowly bleeding out – according to an analysis by Retail Institute, after the first quarter of this year. Customers are leaving them, their turnovers are falling. Giants, on the contrary. Large shopping malls are doing better and better. The ban on Sunday trading hits the weak and strengthens the strong.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,155287,24758119,mamy-dane-o-wplywie-zakazu-handlu-na-centra-handlowe-a-tu-spora.html

-- BIRTHDAYS: Monika Antkiewicz, Karol Okoński.