-- POLITICO EUROPE ON HOW THE BERTELSMANN FOUNDATION IS INFILTRATING EUROPEAN POLITICAL ELITES: https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-inc-bertelsmann-business-philanthropy-politics/ -- 4 YEARS AGO, in the second round of the presidential elections, Andrzej Duda defeated Bronisław Komorowski, who was running for re-election. -- "WILD COWS" TO BE CULLED AFTER THE ELECTION - OKO.PRESS: "It appears that officials wanted to wait out the period of media interest in the matter and quietly cull the cows after the European Parliament elections, when public attention would already be focused elsewhere. (...) 'It's absurd that these cows have lived for so many years and were allowed to, and now the inspection is in such a hurry that it doesn't even see the necessity of recognizing formal requests. The entities that declared they would take the cows are still ready to do so,' says Kuszlewicz." https://oko.press/dzikie-krowy-z-lubuskiego-mialy-zostac-zabite-w-tajemnicy-po-eurowyborach-ale-sie-wydalo/ -- LETTER OF POLITICAL CRITIQUE TO THE PRIME MINISTER REGARDING THE HERD OF WILD COWS: https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/list-do-premiera-rp-wolne-krowy/ -- GAZETA WYBORCZA ON THE BENEFITS OF OWNING DOGS: "Studies have shown that dog owners are more physically active, which benefits their hearts. There is also evidence that they feel less lonely and have a better sense of well-being. Living with a dog reduces the risk of developing asthma, and also... extends life. Therefore, dogs are increasingly used in therapies and medical interventions, such as rehabilitation, pediatric care, or care for the elderly. Not to mention guide dogs or tracking dogs. http://wyborcza.pl/7,75400,24816488,urodzeni-psiarze-milosc-do-psow-mozesz-miec-zapisana-w-genach.html -- TIMMERMANS' PARTY WINS IN THE NETHERLANDS: https://www.politico.eu/article/timmermans-netherlands-european-election/ -- ADAM BIELAN ON WHOEVER WINS THESE ELECTIONS WILL GOVERN IN THE FALL, POLISH GOVERNMENT APPEALS ACTA2 TO THE CJEU: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/05/24/ -- POLICE HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO ENTER THE BISHOP'S CURIA FOR 30 YEARS - ADRIAN ZANDBERG IN CONVERSATION WITH OKO.PRESS: "If for 30 years the police have been afraid to enter the bishop's curia, and the bishops function as if they were ambassadors of a foreign state – that is a problem. Today, we have legal grounds for the prosecutor's office to enter, for the police to seize disks and archives. It's simply enough to uphold the current law. They don't do it because they are afraid. And no commission will solve this problem." -- BIEDROŃ IS THE NEW PALIKOT-PETRU PROPOSITION - CONTINUES ZANDBERG: "Returning to Biedroń: he is now a proposition for people whom I tentatively call the 'Palikot – Petru' formation. For voters who have liberal worldview and strongly market-oriented views. They probably won't vote for 'Scheta' [Grzegorz Schetyna], because their teeth ache when they look at him. Biedroń is simply another proposition compared to the left-social Razem or the conservatives from the Jagiellonian Club." -- "DEMOCRACY WAS PAINTED" - SAYS ZANDBERG: "Liberals have the feeling that there was democracy in Poland, PiS came and broke it. We have the feeling that this democracy was somewhat painted, theatrical. Those who were close to power – the media, academic elites, the intelligentsia – had the feeling that everything was OK with democracy, that they were part of it. And indeed, they were." -- "LET THE LIBERAL MEDIA LOOK IN THE MIRROR" - FURTHER FROM ZANDBERG: "I've heard it a thousand times, in various variations. Recently, from a hairdresser: she likes the proposals of Razem, she likes the European minimum wage, she also thinks the Church has become too entrenched, but she understands that the thieves from Civic Platform will soon return, so she hesitates whether not to vote for PiS. It's worth for those who mantra like this in liberal media to look in the mirror." https://oko.press/zandberg-i-olko-jesli-poddamy-sie-szantazowi-juz-nigdy-w-polsce-nie-bedzie-lewicy-rozmowa-oko-press/ -- YOUNG MEN FOR KONFEDERACJA - KRZYSZTOF PACEWICZ IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: "In a Kantar poll for 'Gazeta Wyborcza,' Gazeta.pl, and TOK FM, Konfederacja received 8%. According to the research, among men aged 18-30, this far-right list will likely win with a result of around 30%." -- WHERE DOES THIS SUPPORT COME FROM? - CONTINUES PACEWICZ: "Frustration stems from social and sexual relationships: young women willingly enter into relationships with men several years older, leaving their peers lonely. Among respondents aged 18-30, there are only 20% single women and as many as 47% single men. This means that one-quarter of young men have trouble finding a partner, especially those without higher education and living in smaller towns." -- YOUNG WOMEN FOR WIOSNA AND EUROPEAN COALITION: "Moreover, among young women, these indicators are worse, and declared earnings are lower. Despite this, according to our research, young women (18-30 years old) want to vote for Wiosna and Koalicja Europejska (27% each) and are generally the vanguard of Polish moral liberalism and social sensitivity – as many as 73% of them support same-sex civil partnerships, while among young men it is 49%. Young women would most eagerly join the All-Poland Women's Strike (45%), and young men would join the National Movement (20%)." http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,24820657,demokracja-towarzyska-przy-pieczeni-u-przylebskiej.html -- IF THE EUROPEAN COALITION DOESN'T DEFEAT PIS NOW, IT NEVER WILL - SŁAWOMIR SIERAKOWSKI ON ONET: "If, in Sunday's European Parliament elections, voters of the European Coalition do not turn out in sufficient numbers to defeat PiS, the chances of winning the parliamentary elections in the fall will become only theoretical. (...) It may also simply fall apart if it loses. Integrating the opposition is a success that no other opposition in Europe, where populists rule, has achieved so far. The only problem is that precisely for this reason, it will be difficult to maintain. Success is the necessary glue." https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/sierakowski-jesli-ke-nie-pokona-pis-teraz-to-juz-nie-pokona-opinia/9vldger -- PIS THREW EVERYTHING IN THIS CAMPAIGN, BUT MADE A STRATEGIC MISTAKE - PIOTR TRUDNOWSKI: "The Law and Justice party simultaneously made a tactical mistake in its policy towards right-wing competitors. Using favorable media, they tried to support a less problematic potential coalition partner, namely Kukiz’15, based on the principle of 'the lesser evil'. At the same time, they ignored or attacked Konfederacja – PiS knows very well that a real coalition with the group of Korwin-Mikke, Winnicki, and Braun would be another huge problem in the parliamentary campaign. The effect turned out to be the opposite of what was intended – Kukiz, 'boosted' by pro-government and government media, lost credibility with part of the anti-establishment electorate and the potential to attract centrist voters, while attempts to silence Konfederacja only served to mobilize its electorate." -- THE SMARZOWSKI-SEKIELSKI EFFECT MIGHT NOT REPEAT - CONTINUES TRUDNOWSKI: "At the same time, a poor result for the Coalition will be a major problem for the anti-PiS cooperation project. If it turns out that the 'uniting everyone' scenario was not enough to defeat PiS, the problem of demobilizing Coalition voters will begin. The Hungarian scenario, where the opposition is unable to compete with Fidesz, will become probable in Poland as well. Especially since the 'Smarzowski and Sekielski effect,' which is likely overestimated by opposition leaders, may not repeat." -- TRUDNOWSKI ON EASILY PREDICTABLE COMMENTS IN VARIOUS VARIATIONS: "If nothing unpredictable happens, then in this turmoil, the fate of Sunday's vote depends almost solely on the mobilization of electorates and who goes to the polling station on Sunday and who stays home. If 'the provinces go' – sympathizers of PiS will tell us that this is the effect of Jarosław Kaczyński's genius and the revolutionary 'five.' If 'the cities go' – commentators supporting the European Coalition will praise Schetyna's negotiation skills, Tusk's charisma, and the impact of Sekielski's film." https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2019/05/24/kampania-totalna-w-pulapce-losu-co-wyniknie-z-wyborow-do-pe/ -- "COMRADELY DEMOCRACY" OVER ROASTED MEAT AT PRZYŁĘBSKA'S - WRITES PAWEŁ WROŃSKI IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: "The essence of the separation of powers described by Montesquieu is the principle that each of these powers controls the other. Do they 'control each other' during dinners prepared by Judge Przyłębska for the Prime Minister and the PiS leader? (...) What is happening in the apartment building at al. Szucha has nothing to do with the standards of a democratic state in the heart of Europe, which is a member of the EU. It is the standard of an Eastern state, where institutions are a facade, and in fact, 'comrades' rule." http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,24820657,demokracja-towarzyska-przy-pieczeni-u-przylebskiej.html -- JACEK KARNOWSKI ON THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION IN THE CASE OF PHOTOS FROM THE APARTMENT BUILDING ON SZUCHA STREET: "Perhaps important information in this context is the fact that the wife of the company owner is of Russian origin. If the security agency was not involved in the operation, and the connections of its owners are irrelevant, then the whole thing looks even more suspicious. Important questions arise: How did 'Gazeta Wyborcza' obtain the recordings and information about the social meetings of the PiS leader and the President of the Constitutional Tribunal? Did the security agency commit professional suicide for political reasons, or is this part of a larger operation? In what specific way did data protected by regulations and basic professional ethics fall into the media? Who provided it, who was the intermediary? Are foreign intelligence services involved in this matter? Do foreign intelligence services engage in Polish election campaigns? And also: the estate where the President of the Constitutional Tribunal lives is a specific place, inhabited by high-ranking state officials and diplomats. Were they also surveilled by the security agency or by someone with access to the monitoring? This matter is really worth clarifying." https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/447842-czy-obce-sluzby-graja-w-polskiej-kampanii-5-waznych-pytan -- THE REACH OF RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA IS GREATER THAN EVER - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZECZPOSPOLITA: "Paradoxically, by demonizing Russia's actions and seeing traces of its activity everywhere, we lull our own vigilance against the action of its propaganda. It will end like in the fable about the little rabbit who warned so many times about the wolf's arrival that when the wolf came, he ate the rabbit because no one believed him that this time the threat was real." https://www.rp.pl/Analizy/305239871-Szuldrzynski-Zasieg-rosyjskiej-propagandy-wielki-jak-nigdy.html -- THE ABSENT ARE WRONG - MARCIN FIJOŁEK ON PSL'S ABSENCE FROM THE TVP DEBATE: "Before I attempt to evaluate individual politicians, let's add an obvious fact – the absent are wrong. As a result, the Polish People's Party clearly lost in this debate. The European Coalition delegated a Civic Platform politician to the program (he will be mentioned again), and politicians with a clover on their lapels paid the price for Grzegorz Schetyna consuming the electoral potential of PSL. Ultimately, the profit and loss account will only be settled for the ludowcy in the fall. However, this debate will certainly be recorded on the side of the latter. -- AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE COLORLESS OLBRYCHT AND THE SHAKY ŚMIŚZEK - ACCORDING TO FIJOŁEK - ZANDBERG GAINED: "Adrian Zandberg from Lewica Razem confirmed that he performs at least well in this type of debate. In 2015, in the final stretch, he bought a considerable portion of voters with this, and it is possible that the scenario will repeat this time. Provided, of course, that the debate matters at all. Focused on specifics and catchy, precise slogans, and speaking quite freely, Zandberg will certainly consider this discussion successful. Against the backdrop of the colorless Olbrycht or the shaky Śmiszek, he showed himself as a politician, perhaps not particularly charismatic, but one who inspires elementary trust. I think he may have gained in this debate among the left-liberal electorate not yet convinced by Civic Platform or Wiosna. It's another matter whether this will translate into votes for his committee." -- FIJOŁEK ON KUKIZ'S VICTORY: "In my opinion, one of the main winners of this debate was Paweł Kukiz. The leader of K‘15 focused on clearly differentiating himself from PiS (repeatedly emphasizing the rejection of his projects by the ruling party), which was understandable given the recent weeks and speculations about a PiS-K‘15 coalition." https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/447968-debaty-w-tv-znacza-niewiele-ale-mamy-pare-plusow-i-minusow -- PROF. DUDEK ALSO RECOGNIZES ZANDBERG'S PERFORMANCE: "Overall, the debate was better than the usual inter-party brawling served daily by news channels. It could have conveyed one, but important, piece of information to the average Pole: we have an energy problem. And although all participants (perhaps except for the representative of Wiosna) declared great sympathy for miners, they also agreed that we cannot rely on coal for too much longer. Although the PiS representative scared viewers with cold homes in case of too rapid decarbonization, even she admitted that other energy sources must be sought. In this context, Adrian Zandberg pleasantly surprised me by unequivocally supporting the development of nuclear energy." In summary, it was better than I expected. https://www.facebook.com/antoni.dudek.5 -- JAKUB MAJMUREK ON CIVIC PLATFORM SITTING ON THE FENCE REGARDING WORLDVIEWS: "By sitting on the barricade regarding LGBT+ issues, Civic Platform will still be attacked by PiS as a 'leftist,' anti-Christian, family-hostile party; the progressive side will consider that Schetyna's party lacks the courage to oppose the right, believes in nothing itself, and will not realistically change anything for the better. The progressive wing of PO might go to Wiosna, some might stay home discouraged – and maximizing the mobilization of one's own electorate is a necessity for both main blocs in both elections this year. PO must consider whether the 'not now' tactic will work this year. The polarization around LGBT+ issues initiated by PiS may significantly limit its effectiveness. Civic Platform will eventually have to decide – whether it is for civil partnerships in Poland or not. Any decision may prove costly in terms of votes – but its absence may be even more so." https://www.newsweek.pl/polska/sprawa-lgbt-po-musi-sie-w-koncu-na-cos-zdecydowac/b12p7rj -- BAN ON PUBLISHING POLLS FOR A MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTION AND A THINK TANK STUDYING METHODOLOGY - PROPOSED BY KRZYSZTOF MAZUR FROM THE JAGIELLONIAN CLUB: "In the KluboTygodnik, ideas for solving this problem also appeared: 'Therefore, I propose 3 specific systemic solutions. First, a complete ban on publishing any polls should be in place one month before the elections. (...) The second postulate could concern penalties. In the Electoral Code, one could imagine a provision in which polling firms could announce poll results during the campaign at their own risk, but they would bear the financial risk associated with deviation from the final results. (...) if a polling firm provides a result that deviates from the actual results by, for example, 15%, it will have to bear severe financial penalties. The third solution relates to transparency. Today, we simply publish the results of a given poll, but we don't know the source data or the methodology used. (...) All of this, especially during a campaign, should be transparent. Support for such transparency would be the establishment of a think tank solely focused on analyzing emerging polls.'" https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2019/05/23/mazur-sondaze-klamia/ -- GAZETA WYBORCZA ON THE FRONT PAGE ABOUT THE LAND SALE AGREEMENT POTENTIALLY BEING AN INCOMPLETE TRANSACTION: "In the sale of parish land to Mateusz Morawiecki in 2002, church law may have been violated. The price of the land was significantly underestimated, which is why the Vatican did not have to consent to the transaction. Today, the agreement can be annulled. (...) Moreover, church regulations in this regard are recognized by common courts. A resolution of the Supreme Court speaks directly about this. On December 19, 2008, it stated that 'the sale of real estate by a legal entity of the Church to a secular person, without the permission of the competent church authority required by canon law, constitutes an incomplete legal transaction.'" http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,24820412,kolejne-pytania-o-dzialke-premiera-zanizenie-ceny-pozwolilo.html -- OKO.PRESS BELIEVES DWORCZYK CONCEALED SHARES IN OPUS DEI SCHOOLS: "Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Michał Dworczyk, concealed in at least 12 financial statements that he has shares in a company that provides buildings and equipment for schools under the patronage of Opus Dei. He submitted false declarations as a councilor, member of parliament, and minister. This carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison. After OKO.press's questions on this matter, Dworczyk quickly submitted corrections to 4 statements in the Sejm." https://oko.press/dworczyk-min-12-razy-zlozyl-falszywe-oswiadczenia/ -- PIOTR ZAREMBA ON THE PRIMITIVENESS OF THE CAMPAIGN - WRITES IN DGP: "If anything is particularly glaring on this occasion, it is the extraordinary reticence of the main actors on the stage when they had to occasionally discuss European issues. Such reticence is better called primitivism. On the one hand, we have the slogans of the European Coalition assuring that only they will manage to secure more money from the European budget (implying that they will have better relations with both Brussels bureaucracy and major European capitals). In turn, PiS emphasizes its government's assertiveness towards the Union, carefully omitting specifics: with whom it will form alliances within European institutions, and for what purposes. On the right, there are sometimes sensible remarks about the inadequacy of the current EU system to the feeling of crisis within it. But there are no specifics regarding possible reforms." https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/opinie/artykuly/598591,wybory-do-pe-zaremba-kampania-eurowybory.html -- RAFAŁ WOŚ IN TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY ON THE PRIVATIZATION OF MUNICIPAL HOUSING: "The privatization of company housing is one of the most brutal, and at the same time completely undescribed, chapters of Polish capitalism. (...) Comprehensive studies are lacking. There is no political interest in addressing the problem. What remains is a sense of deep injustice of the transformations that have made some well-situated housing speculators out of some, while others have been deprived of one of their fundamental rights: the right to safe housing in dignified conditions." https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/udala-nam-sie-ta-polska-158974 -- BIRTHDAYS: Marian Noga, Wojciech Maksymowicz, Mateusz Walasek, Cezary Gmyz, Jerzy Pokój, Zofia Wilczyńska.