-- THE PRIME MINISTER ON TUSK'S FAILED KE NOMINATION AND THE 'WAGE PLUS' PLAN - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/06/22/ -- PIS AS HEGEMON - MARCIN FIJOŁEK: "Law and Justice is entering the holiday season as the clear leader on our political scene, and judging by the European Parliament election results – indeed, a hegemon, with whom an even fight for victory is impossible today. Of course, some on the opposition side are muttering that one can fight for the Senate, perhaps the presidency, and with a bit of luck, the right arrangement of electoral lists on the opposition side (though it's unclear what that might be...) could grant a fragile majority in parliament. But there's no faith, no hope, no deep conviction that a profound reset can be expected in the autumn." -- THE OPPOSITION LACKS SIGNIFICANT FEROCITY - FIJOŁEK CONTINUES: "Regardless of the degree of optimism (or rather, its absence), there isn't a noticeable, significant ferocity on the opposition's side, nor any form of political 'biting the grass.' Grzegorz Schetyna is releasing a meager book, meeting with voters somewhere (and those are likely the already convinced ones), discussions about the shape of electoral lists have been ongoing for weeks on the opposition's side, and another 'three-day wonders' erupt in public space (statements from children's and ombudsman's rights advocates, the prime minister's opposition to EU proposals), but this doesn't change the general conviction in any way. And that conviction is as follows: PiS is heading for a second term, likely again on its own." https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/451839-pis-wchodzi-w-sezon-wakacyjny-jako-hegemon -- A LOW AND VILE MOVE AGAINST BODNAR - ANDRZEJ GAJCY IN ONEET: "Observing the heated discussion concerning the stance of the Ombudsman, Adam Bodnar, who invoked the rights of the suspect in the murder of a 10-year-old girl from Mrowiny, I have the impression that the tribal war engulfing politicians and opinion leaders in our country has overtaken reason and rational arguments. Of course, one can disagree with what the Ombudsman raises in his statement, but one cannot accept attacks on him with insinuations in public media related to family problems. This is simply a vile and low blow, which may prove to be a double-edged sword." https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/newsletter-onetu-andrzej-gajcy-wojna-plemienna-bierze-gore-nad-rozumem/3w0r03j -- EWA SIEDLECKA ON THE POLICE'S 'LICENSE TO KILL': "The Polish state protects its officers, not its citizens. This verdict, the stance of the police and the prosecution is a signal to officers that should they abuse their power, they can count on protection. Ordinary criminals should be afraid – including of officers who have this kind of 'license to kill.'" https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/1797584,1,niskie-wyroki-ws-smierci-igora-stachowiaka-policja-z-licencja-na-zabijanie.read?src=mt -- BODNAR COUNTERS THE WAVE OF HATRED DRESSED IN MORAL OUTRAGE - MICHAŁ SUTOWSKI IN KRYTYKA: "And yet, this voice, natural for his office, proves to be an act of civic courage, an expression of nonconformity, which positions this idealist and extremely diligent state official in opposition to an unprecedented wave of hatred – dressed in the guise of moral outrage. Let us repeat, Bodnar defends the standards of civilization in a country where demanding severe punishment for committed crimes is so often the reverse of indifference to daily evil. Where social 'repayment' by the perpetrator for a committed crime must often suffice for victims as full compensation. Where real suffering and harm easily become fodder for politicians cynically preying on the herd instincts of society. Where a call for standards – by the pen of a man who defended liberal opponents of nationalist marches with the same commitment as football hooligans held in pre-trial detention – becomes a pretext for accusations of 'defending criminals' and mixing up values." -- PART OF THE OPPOSITION SUCCUMBS TO SENTIMENTS FUELED BY PIS - SUTOWSKI CONTINUES: "Bodnar is fulfilling his mission not only against the cynical and dangerous narrative of PiS, but also against the sentiments of the so-called public opinion, which the authorities are fueling, and part of the opposition seems to be succumbing to them. It is a shame that in such situations it is difficult for politicians to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in defense of the values they so often declare to protect. It is characteristic that, much faster than they did, the Catholic fundamentalist Tomasz Terlikowski stood on the same, clear side as Bodnar, defending the Ombudsman's position, for which he deserves great respect. Not only because he will receive mainly hatred from his political camp." https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/michal-sutowski-bodnar-broni-cywilizacji/ -- BODNAR DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO - BARTOSZ WIELIŃSKI IN GW: "The Ombudsman did what he had to do. In civilized countries, his remarks would be thoroughly analyzed and conclusions drawn. Criticism of the police for excessive force is common in Europe. Recently, a discussion swept through Austria, where officers brutally treated participants of anti-government demonstrations. French police treat the 'yellow vests' similarly, and police in Berlin or Munich treat local leftists." http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,24921670,bodnar-zepsul-pis-sukces-dlatego-pis-chce-go-zniszczyc.html -- THE CHURCH IS NO LONGER ON THE HOT SEAT; IT HAS MOVED FROM DEEP DEFENSE TO A FULL-FRONTAL ATTACK - ADAM SZOSTKIEWICZ: "The accusations leveled against them have been clarified a hundred times. It has been pointed out that they stem from either ignorance or ideological prejudice. The prelate knows this, but he also knows that the 'unenlightened masses' are ready to accept these lies and slanders as truth and applaud them. And thus, the Church has found a way to cover up the Sekielski brothers' film. It is no longer on the hot seat; it is issuing its own seals of approval. From deep defense, it has moved to a full-frontal attack." https://szostkiewicz.blog.polityka.pl/2019/06/21/kosciol-i-pis-wygrywa-na-lgbt/?nocheck=1 -- GRZEGORZ ŁAKOMSKI WRITES THAT THE TALKS BETWEEN PSL AND KUKIZ ARE MORE ADVANCED THAN THEY SEEM: "An MP from Kukiz'15 leadership: – The talks are advanced. For us, it is crucial that PSL agrees with our demand to introduce a mixed electoral system. We have convinced them that such a system can be beneficial for them in future elections. A prominent PSL MP smiles disarmingly when asked about support for systemic changes. – Paweł Kukiz is in favor of a mixed system. We can promise him this, because it cannot be introduced without amending the constitution anyway – he admits. Both sides agree that a joint electoral committee cannot be registered as a coalition because then the electoral threshold, instead of 5 percent, would be 8 percent." https://www.tvn24.pl/psl-i-kukiz-15-rozwazaja-wspolny-start-w-wyborach-parlamentarnych,946698,s.html -- PSL'S ELECTORATE IS WAITING FOR A RETURN TO ROOTS - ARTUR BALAZS in conversation with Piotr Witwicki in RZ: "The electorate that stayed with PSL was strongly culturally connected to it. I think it hasn't left, but due to the ideology of the European Coalition, it was harder to mobilize. Some of the EC's slogans were perceived in the countryside as an attack on the Church. But nothing is lost here. I believe that the electorate connected with PSL is waiting for its return to its folk roots." -- SOCIAL CALM PREVAILS - BALAZS CONTINUES: "The opposition must have its vision and not create barriers in the ideological sphere. PiS has responded positively to such signals in both cases. If PSL builds a center-right bloc, it can reach voters in the countryside. The countryside, more than any other environment, values social peace, stability, and the need to be part of a community. This can be important for PSL, which politically functions alongside these two conflicted blocs. It should add to its program an offer of participation in the national community." -- BALAZS COMPLIMENTS KOSINIAK: "Kosiniak-Kamysz – and earlier PSL – has always been an addition to another political idea. We all know what PSL was. Kosiniak-Kamysz has taken on a certain burden. It seems he is steering PSL into calmer waters and cleaning up the party. He certainly presents himself very well in a narrative that aims to calm sentiments. Such a policy, which he talks about, is needed in Poland, and I have no doubt that it will translate into the results of the entire formation. I like that he doesn't cross boundaries in his statements and protects the fabric that is most important for the state." https://www.rp.pl/Rozmowy-Witwickiego/306199923-Artur-Balazs-PiS-wsia-nie-manipuluje.html -- JAKUB MAJMUREK ON VEGA'S FILM - he writes in GW: "The film 'Polityka,' announced for the autumn, judging by the script by Vega's regular collaborator Olaf Osica, reprises the vision of the world from 'Pitbull.' Politics is like medicine in 'Botoks' – like stinking mud, in which everyone, regardless of their colors, is equally immersed. Anyone who enters there must get dirty. Politicians are interested in money, career, position, not in helping people, ideas, and similar intellectual chatter. They steal money from their own election campaigns, extort bribes, blackmail colleagues, deliver speeches in defense of the family, and then go to their mistresses." -- DUE TO ITS SIMPLICITY, VEGA'S FILM CAN RESONATE - MAJMUREK CONTINUES: "But precisely because of its simplicity, 'Polityka' can cause a powerful resonance, reaching those who remained completely indifferent to protests in defense of the courts, the opinions of authorities on the state of Polish diplomacy, or the fate of destroyed cultural institutions. This is where the nervous reactions of PiS politicians to a film they had no right to see stem from. Their anger also has something to do with the fact that they have considered Vega as someone close to them until now. 'Botoks' presented doctors in a similar vein as TVP during the residency strike, and also reinforced the moral panic around abortion typical of the Catholic right. If Agnieszka Holland had made such a film, PiS would not have been surprised and would have dismissed it. In any case, primarily voters of KE, Spring, and Razem would go to the cinemas. But on 'Polityka,' PiS voters will also go to the cinemas en masse." -- FILM EVOKES GREATER EMOTIONS THAN A DRY NEWS ITEM - MAJMUREK CONTINUES: "All of Vega's films, although they promised a look behind the scenes of reality, rather confirmed what their viewers already knew: that the world is a constant struggle, that one can only count on family and close friends, that one must bribe a doctor. 'Polityka' seems to repeat similar 'truths.' People know all this. PiS voters themselves say: 'They steal too, but at least there's 500+ and they let us live.' Vega's film might therefore slide off PiS like water off a duck's back. But it is one thing to know, and another to see what one knows. A film evokes greater emotions than a dry news item, a commentary, or even a screaming tabloid cover." http://wyborcza.pl/7,101707,24923285,patryk-vega-wieszcz-klasy-ludowej-czy-rezyser-ktory.html -- BIRTHDAYS: Elżbieta Rafalska, Henryk Woźniakowski, Adam Szostkiewicz, Kazimiera Szczuka, Magdalena Rigamonti, Andrzej Machowski, SUNDAY: Sławomir Rybicki, Andrzej Kalwas, Maciej Stuhr, Paulina Chorążewska.