-- DONALD TUSK EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO PAWEŁ GRAS ON THE DEATH OF HIS MOTHER: https://twitter.com/donaldtusk/status/1146342782224801792?s=12 -- SE POLL: PiS could count on 45% of the vote, while PO - 24%. In the following places were: Robert Biedroń's Wiosna (8%), SLD and Kukiz'15 (5% each), as well as PSL (4%), KORWiN (3%), Razem and Nowoczesna (2% each), and Zieloni and Ruch Narodowy (1% each). -- PRIME MINISTER AT THE PIS CLUB, NOWACKA ON BIEDROŃ'S WASTED POTENTIAL, BREJZA ATTACKS KOSINIAK FOR JOINT PSL AND SLD GOVERNMENT - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/07/03/ -- DGP ON THE PREDICAMENT FOR SMALLER PARTIES WITH THE ELECTION CALENDAR (Osiecki, Godusławski): “A significant part of the political scene in the next parliamentary term may be shaped even before the elections begin. Unofficial information indicates that the president will announce the parliamentary elections close to the last possible date, around August 14, but will set them for the earliest possible date, October 13. For election committees, this would mean that they will have a maximum of 20 days to collect signatures to register their lists in constituencies. For smaller entities with weaker structures, such as Konfederacja, Kukiz’15, or Biedroń’s Wiosna, this may prove to be an insurmountable barrier, as they need to collect over 100,000 signatures.” https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/polityka/artykuly/601628,kalendarz-pis-prezydent-wybory-partie.html -- POLAND, WHICH WANTED A GERMAN WOMAN - the headline on the front page of DGP. -- POLAND AND ITALY'S OPPOSITION CARRIES WEIGHT - JERZY HASZCZYŃSKI IN SE: “This candidacy started to be presented as realistic again, as if the opinion of these two countries did not matter. However, this was a smokescreen. Timmermans was released a bit like a hare in athletics races, so that another candidacy could be pushed through without much difficulty. And it is not entirely true that this is the first time PiS has managed to build a coalition in the EU.” -- THE NARRATIVE OF ISOLATION IS CRUMBLING - HASZCZYŃSKI CONTINUES: “- Yes, then. But later, on a more important issue, namely preventing Poland from being punished under Article 7, the PiS government managed to achieve a situation where there are no longer 22 states that want to punish our country for breaking the rule of law. Of course, one can say that it is a 'negative coalition' and that PiS itself caused its own problems. When President Trump arrives in Poland on September 1, and several other leaders because of him, the narrative of 'PiS's isolation in Europe' will finally crumble.” https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/polityka/jerzy-haszczynski-na-temat-szczytu-ue-sprzeciw-polski-i-wloch-ma-swoja-wage-aa-1uaP-kaNP-rirK.html -- MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI ON MORAWIECKI'S TRIAL BY FIRE: “The worst moment was on Sunday night. Under strong Franco-German pressure, Timmermans' election was a step away, only Morawiecki's stubbornness stopped it – I hear from a well-informed source. And then Timmermans' candidacy returned several times: first for the head of the European Council, then for the Commissioner for Diplomacy. The left was determined to force their candidate through. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez thundered that it was unacceptable 'for such a brilliant candidate as Timmermans to be rejected for defending European values and treaties'. For many countries, this 'defense' is nevertheless an unacceptable ideological and biased interference in areas sovereign to Brussels. It must be remembered that at summits like these, personal abilities count more than almost anywhere else. At crucial moments, the head of government is alone with the rest of the prime ministers and presidents. With his phone muted. He can only count on himself then. He really managed – describes a close witness to the events.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/453403-proba-ognia-morawieckiego-sukces-polski-plus-dla-europy -- POLISH OPPOSITION WAS CHILLING CHAMPAGNE WAITING FOR TIMMERMANS - SAMUEL PEREIRA ON TVP INFO PORTAL: “After abandoning hope for Donald Tusk, the opposition in Poland started chilling champagne, waiting for Frans Timmermans – the fiercest enemy of Poland in Brussels besides Tusk – to be elected President of the European Commission. It turned out differently. Polish diplomacy managed to block the socialists' candidate, and Mateusz Morawiecki showed that by firmly standing up for our interests in the EU, we can also achieve success.” -- A GERMAN WOMAN IS GOOD FOR POLAND - PEREIRA CONTINUES: “Ultimately – largely thanks to the talks conducted by Mateusz Morawiecki – a compromise was reached, thanks to which, instead of a socialist politician, a candidate from the European People's Party was recommended for the position of President of the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen, Germany's Minister of Defence, has not shown particular favor towards the changes occurring in our country in the past, but crucially for our security, she has repeatedly spoken firmly about relations with Russia. She is a proponent of active NATO policy and strengthening defense policy in Eastern Europe. It was also Minister Leyen who advocated for increased German defense spending for the Alliance when US President Donald Trump held up the Polish government as an example when calling for this.” https://www.tvp.info/43318435/chirurgiczna-precyzja-morawieckiego-okazala-sie-skuteczna-w-brukselskiej-grze -- BARTOSZ WĘGLARCZYK BELIEVES THE ONLY SUCCESS WAS BLOCKING TIMMERMANS: “The only achievement of the Polish government in the selection of new EU leaders is therefore its participation in blocking Franz Timmermans' candidacy for a position ultimately taken by a person who expressed herself more decisively than him about the state of democracy in Poland. However, Timmermans is not disappearing anywhere. He will continue to hold the position of Vice-President of the EC and, as one of its most experienced members, will certainly continue to play a key role in it. This means that he will not only continue to complicate life for Warsaw and Budapest but will also have greater support from his new boss, unlike Juncker, who mitigated disputes within the Union.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/opinie/polska-nie-potrafi-budowac-sojuszy-w-ue-nowe-wladze-ue-to-porazka-calej-europy/62dgzrf -- MERKEL'S CANDIDACY IS NON-CONTROVERSIAL FOR V4 AND POLAND - TOMASZ BIELECKI IN TOK FM: “As we reported in TOK FM, Poland, among others, expressed strong opposition to Timmermans' candidacy. Meanwhile, the German minister of defense and her candidacy – as Bielecki said – turned out to be completely non-controversial for the Visegrad Group and Poland. – Angela Merkel convinced Prime Minister Morawiecki very quickly – the journalist stated. He admitted that some might be surprised by our country's openness to the German candidate, as Poland often argues that Germany dominates the European Union too much. – But it seems that the argument 'anyone but Timmermans' did the trick – he concluded.” http://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7,103087,24957414,niemka-kandydatka-na-szefowa-ke-niekontrowersyjna-kandydatura.html#s=BoxOpLink -- RZESZÓW MAYOR IN CONFLICT WITH SLD OVER PRIDE PARADE: “Ferenc ceased to be a member of the Democratic Left Alliance on Monday. The Mayor of Rzeszów sent a letter to the Vice-Chairman of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship Council of SLD, in which he announced his departure. 'Due to the divergence of views on the functioning of the city, I hereby resign from membership in the Democratic Left Alliance as of July 1, 2019. I thank all rank-and-file SLD activists for their contribution to the development of our city' – he wrote.” https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/prezydent-rzeszowa-odchodzi-z-sld-poszlo-o-marsz-rownosci-6398296224458369a -- THE FLOOD HELPED PIS - MACIEJ GDULA IN CONVERSATION WITH AGATA SZCZĘŚNIAK IN OKO.PRESS: “There are also issues that cannot be predicted. At the end of the campaign, there was a flood. This helped PiS a lot. In a situation of threat, people support the authorities. PiS behaved prudently: PiS politicians were on site, in waterproof jackets.” -- GDULA ON THE SCHEURING-WIELGUS DOG INCIDENT: “Several unforeseen matters harmed us, including those unfortunate dogs. Although Biedroń said moving and true words about the dogs, that if the matter were to happen now, we would help Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus solve this problem.” -- GDULA ON A NEW CHAPTER OF HISTORY: “Firstly, political parties must start in a different configuration than for the European Parliament. A grand coalition is one possibility. The start of two blocks – liberal-conservative and left-wing – is equally possible and probable. Secondly, victory is possible when the opposition proposes a positive program. If there is a 'yes' – something that will be both a criticism of PiS's rule and open a new chapter in Poland's history. If the opposition focuses on showing how terrible PiS is, it will be very difficult to win.” https://oko.press/gdula-opozycja-wygra-z-pis-jesli-jej-program-bedzie-nowa-karta-w-historii-i-jesli-sie-przegrupuje/ -- KRYSYNA NASZKOWSKA IN GW ON PROBLEMS IN THE PO-PSL RELATIONSHIP: “The second condition is places on the lists. Kosiniak-Kamysz must bargain for at least 16 winnable spots on joint lists for his people from Schetyna. So that after the elections, they can form their own club in parliament. Without this guarantee, it will be difficult for Kosiniak to defend the concept of a joint list at the Supreme Council. In addition, European democrats, i.e., Protasiewicz, Kamiński, and Huskowski, for whom the Peasants' Party is indebted for saving their club in this term, are to be included in this group. In the European Parliament elections, Schetyna blocked their candidacies; now the PSL intends to insist on this.” -- NASZKOWSKA ON KOSINIAK'S AUTHORITY WITHIN THE PARTY: “It must be said that Kosiniak-Kamysz has real authority among the Peasants. He managed to build it, even though at the beginning he seemed to be a copy of Waldemar Pawlak. It was Pawlak who pushed him for the position of chairman, likely counting on Kosiniak to pursue a pro-Pawlak policy, agreed upon with the former chairman. This did not happen; Kosiniak quickly broke out on his own, proving to be such a good speaker that his position grew with each public appearance, not just in PSL.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,24957226,wybory-parlamentarne-nie-ma-chetnych-do-tanga-z-psl.html -- MICHAŁ KAMIŃSKI ANNOUNCES HE MAY NOT RUN FOR PARLIAMENT - IN ONET MORNING: “I read today in 'Gazeta Wyborcza' that I am a problem for Grzegorz Schetyna in creating a coalition with PSL. I want to say this for the first time: if it is true, as today's 'GW' writes, that my potential candidacy for parliament this autumn is some kind of obstacle for my colleagues from PO, then I say that there is no such problem. I don't have to run.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/michal-kaminski-w-onet-rano-nie-musze-kandydowac-do-parlamentu/ -- NO TALKS ARE HELD, EVERYONE IS FORCED - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “Politics ceases to mean the clash of forces and begins to mean exclusively imposing one's own will. Teachers, judges, doctors – no one is consulted, everyone is forced. The solution becomes nationalization and/or centralization. Is there a problem with affordable housing? Let the state build it! With hotels? Let's build a state hotel holding company. Let's establish the central institution 'Wody Polskie' (Polish Waters) to manage rainwater in every village.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/307029909-Szuldrzynski-Panstwo-silowe.html -- BARBARA NOWACKA ON JACKA NIZINKIEWICZ'S QUESTION IN RZ WHETHER SHE HAD TO CHANGE HER VIEWS ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS: “No. I am responsible for the entire section concerning women's rights. In January, we worked out a program for women with PO and KOD – the Warsaw Declaration. We agreed on many things. There are issues that divide us – e.g., our stance on the abortion law, which in my opinion should be liberalized. Part of Platform [Civic Platform] also sees the need for sex education, the introduction of contraception, and the regulation of the conscience clause. Progress – from my perspective – is being made.” https://www.rp.pl/Polityka/307029879-Nowacka-Biedron-z-Wiosny-byl-kiedys-Biedroniem-z-SLD.html -- BIRTHDAYS: Jerzy Buzek, Leszek Miller, Barbara Bartuś, Adam Wajrak, Dorota Masłowska, Małgorzata Naukowicz, Czesław Ryszka, Krzysztof Pacewicz.