-- SZEFERNAKER: WE WON THANKS TO KACZYŃSKI'S 'FIVE,' EFFICIENTLY IMPLEMENTED BY THE MORAWIECKI GOVERNMENT; THIS IS THE BEST COMMENTARY ON WHAT A GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK LIKE - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/10/16/ -- CIVIC PLATFORM WON, BUT POMERANIA IS NO LONGER PLATFORM TERRITORY - front page of Dziennik Bałtycki. -- THE NEW GOVERNMENT CAN COUNT ON A SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CONCILIATORY STANCE FROM THE EU - TOMASZ BIELECKI IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “PiS's renewed victory, coupled with the change in the European Commission and conciliatory signals already received from Berlin, could lead to a more accommodating approach towards PiS within the EU.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75399,25311482,unia-europejska-lagodniejsza-dla-nowego-polskiego-rzadu.html -- THE PRIME MINISTER'S ADVANTAGES - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “Mateusz Morawiecki appears to be the best candidate for Prime Minister within the PiS camp. He possesses international experience, understands the economy, and can appeal to moderate voters. (...) Contrary to the narrative pushed by his opponents, he can still be attractive to the moderate voter. And useful during the ongoing presidential campaign, which will be the highest-stakes battle for PiS, requiring them to convince a new electorate to vote for Andrzej Duda.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze-wyborcze/310159906-Szuldrzynski-Atuty-premiera-Mateusza-Morawieckiego.html -- SCHETYNA WANTED TO ANNOUNCE BUDKA AS CLUB LEADER AND BORUSEWICZ AS MARSHAL - Paweł Wroński and Justyna Dobrosz-Oracz in GW: “During Tuesday's press conference, Schetyna intended to announce Borusewicz as the candidate for Senate Marshal, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska as the candidate for Sejm Marshal, and Borys Budka as the candidate for Civic Platform Club Leader. The decision was postponed – according to unofficial information from 'Wyborcza,' Budka protested against announcing such decisions without consulting other key Civic Platform politicians.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,25312541,opozycja-uklada-sie-w-senacie-pierwszy-test-odpornosci-na-polityczna.html -- CONTRARY TO THE THESIS OF DEMOCRACY EROSION, PIS CONFIRMED ITS MANDATE WITH RECORD TURNOUT, BUT THE CONFEDERATION'S RESULT WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR KACZYŃSKI - PIOTR ZAREMBA IN RZ: “PiS gained seven percent support and over two million voters. Due to the parliamentary balance of power, the number of MPs did not increase, but the majority is ultimately safe. Moreover – contrary to the thesis of democracy erosion in Poland – the party confirmed its mandate with record turnout. If one seeks shadows or minor flaws in this triumphal painting, it would be by following Jarosław Kaczyński himself, who on election night called for 'reflection on what did not succeed.' He reminded his people that 'a significant part of society decided not to support us.' The PiS leader later softened this impression, yet initially, he could not hide his disappointment. Reportedly, his biggest surprise was the Confederation's crossing of the five percent threshold. Pollsters kept him convinced until the last moment that this would not happen. But it did.” -- ZAREMBA ON THE EMPTY PROMISES OF BUDGET BANKRUPTCY WARNINGS: “On the other hand, more moderate voters might have felt that PiS offers less astronomical sums, making it more predictable and calculable. Was there another way? I don't know. Perhaps opposition leaders with greater authority could have presented a completely different vision of state expenditure and functions. Although it's very possible they would have lost anyway. PiS benefited from the unsubstantiated warnings of state bankruptcy at the beginning of their term and the relative efficiency of PiS governments in generating revenue.” -- IT WAS CIVIC PLATFORM THAT INITIATED THE WORLDVIEW DISPUTE AROUND LGBT - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: “The opposition's last serious offense was almost mechanical engagement in a worldview dispute. It is not true that PiS started the conflict over LGBT issues. The Civic Platform authorities in Warsaw did so during the European campaign, and then it escalated. Equality marches, with all their anti-religious trappings, were uncritically supported. Initially, there were attempts to lecture the Church – this topic was withdrawn after the European elections, but too late.” -- DID TVP FUEL THE CONFEDERATION'S SUPPORTERS? - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: “Of course, the revolution can be postponed. Wait half a year, preparing for a leap. But it's worth fully understanding the consequences of one choice or another. For example, Jacek Kurski, the perpetrator of the most massive propaganda in the history of the Third Republic, should now be decorated with medals, because it succeeded. He might have rushed to the PiS headquarters on election night with that intention. However, the question arises: by waging war on the Confederation in the final days of the campaign, didn't TVP turn them into martyrs and boost their supporters? Maybe yes, maybe no. This suspicion is not baseless. Successful campaign spots produced by the headquarters are one thing, a television front is another.” -- WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE REVOLUTION? - ZAREMBA'S CONCLUSION: “But for now, the victorious leader must ponder the biggest dilemmas. He might be condemned to some correction of state spending magic. The presidential campaign will give him time to answer what's next for the revolution. He won the campaign by largely appealing to 'normality.' Mobilizing the masses against various groups or institutions might prove unreliable. He has already gone down in history as the man who asked Poles many questions and successfully provided a few answers. He certainly still has their support when he focuses on a strong national state that solves problems. Only there might be too many problems for even the sharpest mind.” https://www.rp.pl/Polityka/310159889-Zaremba-Co-dalej-z-rewolucja.html -- THE OPPOSITION HAS THE MAJORITY ON ITS SIDE, FOR PIS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARE STALINGRAD - SŁAWOMIR SIERAKOWSKI IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA: “And since they managed to win in the Senate, there is a chance to win the presidential elections too. The opposition parties combined garnered more support than PiS. Therefore, they have the majority on their side. A good candidate, a strong campaign, and cooperation give the opposition a chance to defeat Andrzej Duda. For PiS, that would be Stalingrad.” -- SIERAKOWSKI ON THE GUN PIS HUNG ON THE WALL: “PiS doesn't really have an alternative plan, because a third parliamentary election will be even more difficult. They must act. They didn't take over the services, courts, and prepare media repolonization bills just for show. For some reason, a gun was hung on the wall in the first act.” -- THE LEFT IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CIVIC PLATFORM - SIERAKOWSKI CONTINUES: “The Left is emerging as an alternative to Civic Platform. It can now expect a surge in the polls. It's on a roll. It's bringing in a wide influx of energetic, highly educated, eloquent individuals with experience in social action. In parliamentary and media confrontations, they will appear alongside already familiar PiS politicians. New stars will emerge. Importantly, the Left can count on a strong scientific and media base built during previous elections. The experience its politicians have gained in several campaigns will pay off. They are no longer novices.” -- THE LEFT HAS THE GREATEST DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL - SIERAKOWSKI'S CONCLUSION: “This will be a much more interesting Sejm and Senate than the previous one. At the start, the balance of power should be considered equal. Civic Platform is by far the largest, but it also has the most internal problems. The Polish People's Party is the smallest among the large parliamentary clubs, but it is led by the most popular politician in the opposition, rightly considered the biggest winner of these elections. However, it is the Left that has the most interesting group of politicians and the greatest development potential.” https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/sierakowski-komentarz-powyborczy/ -- KAROLINA WIGURA ON TRZASKOWSKI AND CIVIC PLATFORM: “The second possibility is that Schetyna will focus on what he does best: keeping the party together and strengthening its structures, while leaving leadership to someone else. Donald Tusk's return to that role seems difficult to imagine today. Therefore, one must think of someone whose achievements so far would propel the entire group forward. Currently, only one such name is mentioned: Rafał Trzaskowski.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2019/10/16/wigura-schetyna-ocena-pawlowski-polemika/ -- NEW HORIZONS FOR THE PEASANTS' PARTY, THEY REACHED FOR CIVIC PLATFORM'S ELECTORATE - MARCIN FIJOŁEK: “What's most interesting about the PSL's success is that the Peasants' Party reached – at least for several hundred thousand votes – for the existing electorate of Civic Platform. Activists with a clover on their lapels received some votes in cities and towns. PiS believes this is due to certain concerns among entrepreneurs after the announcement of a sharp increase in the minimum wage. Regardless of the reasons, Kosiniak-Kamysz did not close off his party but steered it into completely new political waters. What he does with it next is another matter, but he has several open doors ahead of him, including running in the presidential elections and holding a key position in the Senate.” -- FIJOŁEK ON THE SENATE - MERELY A SYMBOL: “However, the most important aspect from the Senate's perspective will be the end of rapid, twelve-hour legislative processes – from the submission of a bill to its approval by the Senate and the president's signature. When discussing a few months ago what an opposition majority in the Senate would change, my interlocutors – both politicians and lawyers – pointed precisely to the possibility of prolonging the legislative process. And that is essentially the only strong weapon. Of course, it will be harder to choose the Ombudsman, the Senate also has a significant budget (contacts with Poles abroad, etc.), yet politically, it is merely a symbol. An important, interesting symbol that will undoubtedly sometimes make life difficult for the parliamentary majority from PiS, but a symbol nonetheless.” -- POLITICS RETURNS TO WIEJSKA STREET - FIJOŁEK'S CONCLUSION: “Jarosław Kaczyński is right to suggest during election night a new phase in Polish politics. This phase will be unchanged in many places compared to 2015-2019, but there will certainly be more unpredictability, especially in parliament. It promises to be a truly interesting term, with an interesting dynamic unleashed on Sunday evening. The first test of where it will lead us will be the presidential elections. For now, politics is returning to Wiejska Street – at least the part that had long since vanished from there.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/468474-szesc-kolejnych-wnioskow-po-wyborach-parlamentarnych -- KIDAWA-BŁOŃSKA FOR PRESIDENT - BOGUSŁAW CHRABOTA IN RZ: “Firstly, after the parliamentary elections, she has high name recognition and a real democratic mandate, similar to what Beata Szydło, recently elected to the European Parliament with a massive, half-million vote support, had.” https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus-na-wybory/310159887-Chrabota-Malgorzata-Kidawa-Blonska-na-prezydenta.html -- ŁUKASZ WARZECHA ON PIS BEING FORCED INTO COMPROMISES - writes in RZ: “There will also be situations where pushing the boundaries will no longer be possible. Adam Bodnar's term as Ombudsman ends next year. Until now, it could have been assumed that PiS would appoint a loyal crony to this position, ensuring peace from the RPO's office. However, according to the constitution, the Sejm appoints the ombudsman by resolution, which then requires the Senate's consent. If consent is not given, the procedure starts from the beginning. This means that the Senate, dominated by the opposition, can block the appointment of an RPO convenient for PiS almost indefinitely. During this time, Adam Bodnar will continue to hold the position. PiS will therefore be forced, at least on some issues, to seek agreement with the opposition. And this, after the last four years, will be extremely difficult.” https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus/310159896-Strategia-PiS-ostrzej-czy-lagodniej.html -- CIVIC PLATFORM SHOULD UNCLOG ITSELF - PIOTR STASIŃSKI IN GW: “The largest opposition party should 'unclog itself' – make an effort to renew its leadership as quickly as possible. Not waste time looking for scapegoats, denying each other credit, because everyone probably 'gave their all.' Wasting time on routine party score-settling is a shame. PO leaders should act with class, take responsibility for failures. Otherwise, they will not unleash a healthy transformation within the party. They will not bring forth new leaders. Thanks to the new MPs and senators, the parliament has been 'aired out.' Civic Platform needs a similar change – give a chance to a new generation of competent and combative politicians. Otherwise, it will get stuck in the lethargy of its 'apparatus.' Their predecessors meant well, they did a lot, but 'they couldn't manage.' I recently heard: 'They didn't deserve to win, but we don't deserve for them to lose.' I wouldn't want to hear that again.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,25312730,platforma-powinna-sie-odkorkowac.html -- JAKUB MAJMUREK ON THE LEFT - writes in GW: “Another advantage for the Left is the weakness of the Civic Coalition (KO). Let's not fool ourselves – it is the main loser of these elections. The Civic Platform, forming the core of KO, faces a difficult period of post-election reckonings. The result of this will either be a struggle for Grzegorz Schetyna's succession or the party's continued drifting under his leadership. In this situation, many centrist voters will naturally look towards the Left as the main force capable of potentially stopping PiS. In such a scenario, those elected from KO lists, Greens, or civic activists will look towards the left side of parliament, seeking space for their future actions.” -- MAJMUREK ON INTERESTING LEFT-WING MPS: “Many of these young people also have expert knowledge – Magdalena Biejat on the third sector, Agnieszka Dziemanowicz-Bąk on education, Maciej Gdula on science and higher education, Hanna Gill-Piątek on housing and local government, Krzysztof Śmiszek on anti-discrimination policy. This could translate into a very substantive opposition to PiS, capable of outmaneuvering the ruling party with well-thought-out ideas that flank them from the left.” -- MAJMUREK ON THE NEED FOR LEFT-WING UNITY: “Poland is not Portugal, where three separate leftist and center-left parties form the government. Even if maintaining the organizational distinctiveness of the Together Party or the Social Democratic Alliance has its rational basis, these parties cannot run against each other in elections. They are vying for a very similar electorate. Left-wing leaders must now understand that they are destined for each other, and the electorate will not forgive them for internal dissent and rifts. If the Left ever returns to the game for power, it will only be as a very large tent gathering people of very diverse backgrounds, priorities, and sensitivities.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,25312160,krajobraz-po-wyborach-lewica-wraca-do-gry.html -- BIRTHDAYS: Jerzy Kwieciński turns 60, Maciej Wąsik turns 50, Tomasz Cimoszewicz turns 40, Jarosław Katulski, Michał Kuczmierowski.