-- TONIGHT ON TVP1'S THEATRE OF TELEVISION, THE PREMIERE OF GUSTAW HERLING GRUDZIŃSKI'S 'IN ANOTHER WORLD'. -- PRIME MINISTER MORAWIECKI REMEMBERS HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH THE FAMILY OF BLESSED FATHER JERZY POPIEŁUSZKO ON FB: "We became so close to the Popiełuszko family that Mrs. Marianna would also visit us in Wrocław and became friends with my mother, Jadwiga. After regaining independence, we visited Okopy not only with my wife but also with our children, Ola and Jeremiasz. Mr. Władysław passed away in 2002 and Mrs. Marianna 11 years later, but we still maintain contact with Father Jerzy's relatives today. When I first heard about Father Popiełuszko, I never suspected how much the life of this Polish hero would influence mine and my Homeland's. To this day, I am grateful for the goodness he gave to people. I am grateful for His solidarity. For His care for every person. For His love for Poland. A free and just Poland." -- MORAWIECKI ON THE ACCLAIM FOR URBAN: "On the anniversary of Father Jerzy Popiełuszko's death, materials circulated in the media showing people chanting Jerzy Urban's name and Urban himself, unfailingly in good spirits. Urban, a scoundrel of martial law, a man who initiated a campaign of hatred against Father Jerzy, and who crudely lied defending his murderers; a man who, like no other, embodies diabolical nihilism, is once again finding acclaim. The acclaim for Urban in the 90s is a measure of the shallowness of the Third Republic and a measure of the acceptance of baseness in a free Poland. You, who – I hope – unconsciously applaud him, think about the crimes of the communists, about our lost opportunities, about the tragedy of millions of people. Then perhaps your hands will freeze in place." https://www.facebook.com/MorawieckiPL/posts/140262523984952?__tn__=K-R -- THE LAWSUIT FILED BY SŁAWOMIR NITRAS AGAINST THE SEJM CHANCERY FOR KUCHCIŃSKI'S DECISION IS COMMENCING: https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/warszawa-rusza-proces-slawomir-nitras-vs-kancelaria-sejmu-6437442231322753a -- BIELAN: WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THIS RESULT BLINDLY - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/10/21/ -- EVEN THOSE MOST PAMPERED BY PIS WILL BE BETRAYED - MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI ON PUBLICATIONS ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE: "Don't look at the big media, because they will betray you in the final stretch anyway. I assure you, all past and future attempts at appeasement are in vain. Exactly the same way all the media of the Third Republic, even those most pampered by PiS, took part in frightening entrepreneurs in October with planned minimum wage increases." -- DON'T AGREE WITH OLIGARCHS, JUST WORK HARD - KARNOWSKI CONTINUES: "Don't seek agreement with the oligarchs of the Third Republic, because for them any form of right-wing rule will be worse than the most destructive form of government by the creators of the Third Republic. They will always give them more. Always. You have to go to the people, you have to work hard. These elections showed that voters appreciate it. But they also punish ruthlessly for arrogance and laziness." -- SAY GOODBYE NICELY TO THE DOMAIN-SPECIFIC PRINCES - KARNOWSKI CONTINUES: "We need to rely - both in government and in campaign - on dynamic, energetic people who believe in their work and the project of repairing the state. We need to politely bid farewell to the domain-specific princes who see themselves as autonomous elements separate from the camp, not obligated to anything. Even if they are the most deserving, they should leave. Just like fare-dodgers. If this is neglected, defeat will come. This is the most important warning from October 13th. Where there was passion and work, struggle and competence, there was success. Where it was assumed that it was deserved, bitterness appeared." https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/469177-sprawa-jest-prosta-trzeba-sie-bic-o-sprawy-glosy-wplywy -- IN THE SMOKE OF CIGARS AND WINE - CIVIC PLATFORM AND ITS RECIPE FOR ELECTORAL DEFEATS - GW'S FIRST PAGE - Agnieszka Kublik and Iwona Szpala: "As Brejza's team settles into the fourth floor of the building on Wiejska Street, where PO has its national office, activists begin to say in the corridors that Schetyna only gave the critics the packaging. But he will listen to the usual people. They meet on the floor above, at Schetyna's. This used to be Julian Tuwim's office. 30 sqm with two leather sofas, a bench, a desk, a conference table, a large TV. The smell of cigars in the air. The leader with his inner circle watches matches. – Oh, be sure to write that Schetyna's portrait doesn't hang there – a regular asks." -- THE MYTH OF SCHETYNA HAS FALLEN - GW CONTINUES: "– During Sławek Nowak's time, there was a camp bed in the headquarters because we worked non-stop. Now the headquarters didn't even meet twice a day – says another. – For me, the myth of Schetyna as a great organizer has fallen." -- FRASYNIUK'S COMMENTARY: "– Civic Coalition didn't run a proper election campaign. Again. But the anti-PiS camp gained nearly a million more votes. It's a phenomenon – Władysław Frasyniuk tells 'Wyborcza'. – I see three reasons. Firstly, the Nobel Prize for Tokarczuk was the biggest adrenaline rush; no politician can talk about contemporary patriotism like she can. Secondly, the incredible engagement of creators and celebrities, including rappers, which was particularly significant for young people. Thirdly, you can always count on Kaczyński, who, with his plans to create a new man and stigmatize enemies, mobilized many Poles." http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,25328895,cygara-i-wino-czyli-jak-platforma-obywatelska-polozyla-kampanie.html -- THE RULING CAMP HAS STARTED, THE OPPOSITION IS SLEEPING - AGNIESZKA KUBLIK IN GW: "The opposition should therefore have had a ready scenario to launch on October 14th, the day after their defeat. And presidential candidates (because I doubt they would have agreed on a common one before the first round), who would go out into Poland, knocking on doors, explaining why Duda should not be president again. And announce that in the second round there will be a presidential pact, like in the Senate – meaning that in the second round, the candidates will support the one who wins the first, because they have the best chance of defeating Duda. However, on the democratic side, there is chaos, disputes, a lack of decisions. The ruling camp has already started, the opposition is sleeping. It has all the 'aces' to lose again." http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,25328664,andrzej-duda-i-pis-juz-prowadza-kampanie-prezydencka-opozycja.html -- PLATFORM IS EXHAUSTED, PRACTICALLY DEAD - TOMASZ SAWCZUK IN KL: "Finally, dreams of a better Platform may be sound in theory, but unrealistic in practice. The Platform is exhausted, and practically dead. One can always say that Grzegorz Schetyna – if he retains power in the party – should allow more interesting, energetic people who still have the drive, such as the new MP from Poznań, Franciszek Sterczewski, into the decision-making group. This would be more than a minimum scenario, but cautiously, without revolution. But why should Grzegorz Schetyna host capable and vibrant people in the party, if they will then stab him in the back?" -- IS PLATFORM LEFT TO ROT? - SAWCZUK CONTINUES: "It may well be that for the Platform, there simply is no positive scenario, and its only further destiny is to rot." -- SAWCZUK ON WHY THE LEFT CANNOT REPLACE PLATFORM: "The Left would have to build broader support against the circles that form its ideological base. This would lead to many Facebook dramas. In a typical situation, even a slight departure from the current ideological credo is enough to provoke the holy indignation of the 'worldview police' of the left, which is perhaps the most visible cell of left-wing activism on social media. Will politicians be psychologically ready to deal with this, and will activists temper their expectations? If nothing changes, the Platform will continue to rot, and may rot for a long time, and the Left will not be able to replace it." https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2019/10/21/platforma-gnije-lewica-jej-nie-zastapi/ -- SCHETYNA PROPOSES FICTION - PIOTR PACEWICZ IN OKO: "In post-election commentary, speculation abounds about when Grzegorz Schetyna will step down and who will replace him. The PO leader's letter of October 20th does not indicate that he is ready for accountability (see above). It announces a return to the recipe of uniting the entire opposition, which seems to be a political fiction at a time when the Left and PSL have achieved good election results and are gaining momentum. Cooperation is essential, but it can no longer be about 'uniting,' and certainly not dictated by the strongest opposition party. The growing leadership crisis is surfacing now, but it has been ongoing for a long time." https://oko.press/schetyna-badzmy-dumni-z-wyborow-i-tylko-razem-duma-ze-pis-dalej-rzadzi-6-bledow-demokratow/ -- GRZEGORZ OSIECKI ON DIETEL AT THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE: "Variants for staffing the Ministry of Finance have also emerged. In one of them, Marek Dietel, head of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, would lead it. He himself denies this. Deputy ministers are also in play: Leszek Skiba and the new head of KAS, Piotr Walczak, as well as politicians – the aforementioned Jacek Sasin and Marcin Horała." -- WE ARE MORE LIKELY TO AGREE WITH PSL THAN FOR SOMEONE TO REPLACE MORAWIECKI - A PIS POLITICIAN IN OSIECKI'S ARTICLE IN DGP: "– The position of the prime minister is clear. Mateusz Morawiecki is the candidate for prime minister. We are more likely to form a coalition with PSL than for anyone else to become head of government – a PiS politician tells us." -- WILL SOLIDARNA POLSKA GET SPORTS? - OSIECKI CONTINUES: "It will probably end with the Ministry of Sport – say two of our sources. This is the result of irritation within PiS with Solidarna Polska's campaign and their politicians' critical post-election statements. According to one of our sources, during negotiations, Zbigniew Ziobro also demanded influence over the appointment of the First President of the Supreme Court. However, neither the government nor the parliamentary majority has any influence over this. It is the competence of the head of state. Fulfilling this condition would require an informal agreement with the president." https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/polityka/artykuly/610745,ziobro-kaczynski-rzad-premier.html -- PATRYK JAKI WANTS TEA PARTY - TOMASZ ŻÓŁCIAK IN DGP: "It is also somewhat surprising that the government, which controls the public media, complains about having trouble reaching young people's awareness. It criticizes attempts at indoctrination by certain circles, even though it does exactly the same itself. The problem is the quality of the government's message – clumsy, extremely one-sided, bordering on treating people like sponges that will absorb everything. A message as subtle as a club blow will not win young hearts and minds in the long run. The fact that Jacek Kurski and TVP are doing a bad job for PiS is evidenced by the good result of Konfederacja (which TVP initially ignored and then fiercely attacked) and the mandate for Klaudia Jachira (whose attacks by TVP ensured her recognition). Not to mention the clumsy attempts to devalue the Nobel Prize for Olga Tokarczuk, who is not aligned with the current government." https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/artykuly/1435884,patryk-jaki-prawica-lewica-mlody-elektorat-pis-konfederacja.html -- PIS RAISED APPETITES BUT WON'T SATISFY THEM - WITOLD GADOMSKI IN GW: "If the ZUS contribution limit is not abolished and the 13th pension is introduced, even additional billions from OFE will not ensure a deficit-free budget. – Probably, if it weren't for this measure, we would have a state budget with a small, but still, deficit – says our source from government circles." https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/polityka/artykuly/610755,zrownowazony-budzet-ofe-deficyt-skladki-zus-emerytura.html -- RZ ON THE STRANGE FATE OF BANAS' PROPERTIES: "Marian Banaś received a house in the countryside in addition to a tenement house from a Home Army veteran. He acquired property worth PLN 150,000, while ensuring the donor a monthly allowance of PLN 500." https://www.rp.pl/Polityka/310209975-Co-kryje-umowa-dozywocia-od-Mariana-Banasia-dla-zolnierza-AK.html -- ADAM LESZCZYŃSKI ON FB ABOUT DEATHS ON CROSSWALKS AND THE APPROACH TO PEDESTRIANS BY TRZASKOWSKI'S DEPUTY - writes on FB: "Pedestrians are dying at crosswalks – like this man today in Bielany, Warsaw, who pushed a stroller with a three-year-old out from under a speeding BMW, but couldn't save himself – because politicians don't want to do anything about it. Why don't they want to? The Deputy Mayor of Warsaw, Robert Soszyński, provided the answer in an interview for the portal 'Transport Publiczny' (link in comments). I quote: 'If Warsaw car users were to get the impression that their own mayor – I know I'm exaggerating a bit again, but we need a counterpoint – is maliciously narrowing their streets and blocking entrances, just to worsen, not improve, their conditions of functioning, then that's not the point.' Exactly: politicians calculate, and it turns out that it's better to sacrifice a few dozen people at pedestrian crossings than to risk angering a large group of voters. Short-term political gain is more important than important public good. American politicians do the same, opposing any restrictions on the right to bear arms. Mayor Trzaskowski has such a sincere deputy that he speaks openly about this calculation. I don't know if it's appropriate to be happy about this." -- WITOLD MROZEK ON KRYSTIAN LUPA'S LATEST PLAY AT TEATR POWSZECHNY - writes in GW: "'Capri – The Island of Fugitives,' Krystian Lupa's six-hour production at Warsaw's Powszechny Theatre, was one of the most anticipated premieres of the season. The director plays with the political tension in Poland, but does he tell us anything new?" -- LUPA LIKE FELLINI - MROZEK CONTINUES: "Lupa is said to be perhaps the last representative of 'true' artistic modernism – a director from the old days, like Kantor, Fellini, or Bergman. To some, his theatre seems conservative today; I have a soft spot for it, and I look with respect at his ability to combine great cultural toposes with an anarchic sense of humor. At the same time, watching 'Capri,' I have a sense of overreach, of being overloaded. 'The Cherry Orchard' brilliantly hit the mark, 'The Trial' was painfully tedious on a just cause; the new production from Powszechny creates a cloud of associations, emotions, images, and words. Only the fallout from this cloud is small, as if; the fog dissipates – and less remains than we expected." -- MROZEK ON LUPA'S ARTISTRY: "Moreover, Krystian Lupa is very self-ironic in 'Capri.' He himself created what is perhaps the best metaphor for the play on stage. The director from Godard's 'Contempt' is filming 'Odysseus' on Capri; the Greek hero looks out at the sea and – as we hear – sees Ithaca for the first time. Only he is recalled on stage, we see no land. Horizon, sea, fog. That there is some house, some meaning, some goal somewhere – we take his word for it. Creating such a promise, and doing so in a way that makes one believe it – that may be Krystian Lupa's greatest artistry lately." http://wyborcza.pl/7,112395,25321452,lupa-mowi-kaputt.html -- PAWEŁ SZEFERNAKER REBUKES THE TRANSFER OF INTERNAL RIGHT-WING DISCUSSIONS TO THE MEDIA - as he says in an interview with WP: "If I could offer some advice to my colleagues who discuss with each other through the media, I would recommend resolving such disputes internally, among themselves. Not in newspapers or on television. Unfortunately, these disputes lead the media, which are unfavorable to us, to 'cover up' the obvious success of Law and Justice in the parliamentary elections." -- SZEFERNAKER ON JAKI'S STATEMENTS: "If I want to talk to Patryk Jaki, I will call him. I will not conduct discussions through the media, you will not persuade me to do so." -- SZEFERNAKER ON SUPPORT AT THE LEVEL OF A PRESIDENTIAL RUNOFF: "Because we have achieved a success that no one in Polish politics has ever dreamed of. Over 8 million votes! This is the level of a presidential runoff." https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/spory-w-obozie-zjednoczonej-prawicy-przykrywaja-sukces-ktory-innym-sie-nawet-nie-snil-pawel-szefernaker-dla-wp-6437181045856385a -- 300 ON AIR - PODCAST WITH PAWEŁ SZEFERNAKER: * Will PiS break the next "tyranny" of Polish politics, that it's impossible to govern for more than one term? * We need to build a base and a government that will allow us to govern for another term like in Western democracies. A chance for a new quality in Polish politics is opening up. * The CDU, a Christian democratic, right-wing party, has many currents, from conservatives like the CSU to centrists like Wolfgang Schäuble. This can also happen in Poland if PiS does the hard work. * The new standard is what Jarosław Kaczyński introduced. The proposal of the "five" submitted in March, realized by October. * For the first time, someone has achieved an absolute majority while all committees entered the Sejm, with no lost votes. * Regardless of their views, Poles will feel that we are implementing a program that gives them freedom. No one will impose worldview issues on anyone. * Victory on the internet cannot be bought with advertising. * After years in opposition, we have learned to be among people. * One local government official admitted to me that he had witnessed conversations like those on Neumann's tapes many times, because that was the norm. * Perhaps now Jarosław Kaczyński is again devouring the writings of someone who will receive a Nobel Prize in a few years. * Many decisions in our camp were not made because someone at an important meeting said that the people at the meeting told him they didn't agree with something. https://300polityka.pl/news/2019/10/20/300-on-air-szefernaker-pis-pokaze-ze-mozna-dobrze-rzadzic-dluzej-niz-2-kadencje-podkast-300polityki/ -- BIRTHDAYS: Adam Hodysz, Jacek Nizinkiewicz.