-- WHAT'S UP WITH THE TIGERS? FB OF THE POZNAŃ ZOO: https://www.facebook.com/Zoo-Poznań-Official-Site-1475315479348773/ -- NOWACKA RELEASES THE PRESSURE ON TUSK EXPECTATIONS, ZANDBERG ON THE LEFT'S CANDIDATE - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/11/04/ -- IT CANNOT BE RULED OUT THAT THE LACK OF A POST-ELECTION POLLING BOOST IS A SERIOUS WARNING SIGN - JACEK KARNOWSKI: “Is the lack of a post-election polling boost a serious warning sign? It cannot be ruled out. It is unknown whether this is a result of dampened spirits due to signals of disappointment emanating from PiS, or a result of public conviction that since PiS did not reach 47-48 percent, it has already passed its peak of power. Of course, if the government survives the next four years, PiS will experience polling highs and lows more than once. The lack of a boost determines nothing, it settles nothing.” -- DOES THE RIGHT STILL HAVE THE WILL TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES, OR WILL THE VOTER SENSE THE MACHINE STUTTERING? - CONTINUES JACEK KARNOWSKI: “We are to learn about the new government after November 11th, and its shape – alongside the Prime Minister's expose – will be an important indicator of the future course. However, the most important thing will be whether this team proves capable of quickly implementing important, difficult projects. Naturally, it will understandably not want to engage in particularly sharp conflicts before the May presidential elections. On the other hand, if it does not prove before May that it still possesses the will to implement changes and the necessary political strength, it may not win in May. Voters will sense that something is wrong, that the political machine is starting to stutter. That it has lost the self-confidence without which power cannot be sustained in the long run.” -- THESE ARE CRUCIAL MONTHS - CONTINUES KARNOWSKI: “These few months, leading up to May, will therefore be crucial. If the government shows that it can still fight and win, that it knows where it's going, that it doesn't succumb to the temptation of simple administration and yielding to pressure on various fronts, it will regain momentum and pave the way for victory in the presidential elections. If, conversely, hesitation and uncertainty emerge, the political costs will be very high.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/471273-czy-brak-sondazowej-premii-dla-pis-to-powazny-sygnal -- NOT HOW PIS ENVISIONED VICTORY - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “As if that weren't enough, the recent elections have demolished another myth in Polish politics, which stated that the election winner then receives a boost in the polls. Subsequent surveys for PiS are not at all favorable – although the party holds first place, distancing the opposition, the victory of October 13th has not yet translated into an increase in its ratings. Meanwhile, the series with the President of NIK in the lead role continues at full speed. Instead of enjoying the best result in the Sejm elections since 1989 with the highest turnout since 1989, politicians of the ruling camp anxiously open newspapers every morning, fearing what new facts about Marian Banaś or what his subordinates did in the Ministry of Finance will see the light of day. This is compounded by coalition friction within the United Right. (...) Not how PiS envisioned celebrating an epochal victory and renewing its mandate to govern.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/191109916-Michal-Szuldrzynski-Niesmaczne-zwyciestwo-PiS.html -- NO SUPPORT, NO RIVAL - RAFAŁ KALUKIN IN TYGODNIK POLITYKA: “Grzegorz Schetyna has neither support nor a worthy rival within Civic Platform. And for now, no one knows how to deal with this dilemma.” -- WILL TUSK RUN FOR PO LEADER AND LEAD KIDAWA? - CONTINUES KALUKIN: “The problem is that the iconic white horse has recently become quite frayed. According to polls, only the loyal electorate of Civic Platform is eagerly awaiting the return of the former idol. And as we know, Tusk usually doesn't commit to uncertain ventures. So perhaps he will reach for... the Platform? Apparently, emissaries of this idea are already at work in Brussels. According to enthusiasts, this would solve all problems. Civic Platform would overcome its leadership deficit. And Tusk himself would also have a guaranteed win, as his former party would likely hand over power to him willingly. Even if only for part of the term, to survive the difficult times and lead Kidawa-Błońska's presidential campaign. As in the good old days, i.e., a winning one. But does nostalgia go hand in hand with realism?” https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/1929864,1,schetyna-musi-odejsc.read -- ANDRZEJ STANKIEWICZ ON THE CHAOS IN PO: “Since the election defeat in Civic Platform, there has been chaos. Neither Grzegorz Schetyna, fighting for survival, nor the rebels seeking his removal have a clear majority in the party's leadership. The effect is that Civic Platform is engaged in a permanent internal war. Even the choice of a presidential candidate has become an element of the power struggle within the party.” -- STANKIEWICZ ON THE SCENARIO WHERE SCHETYNA SUPPORTS BUDKA FOR CLUB LEADER: “The election of the club leader must happen any day now – and it could be a test of strength between the warring factions. However, Schetyna does not intend to compete with Budka for the leadership of the club. He does not want to risk defeat, and he is not sure if he has a majority in the parliamentary club. Therefore, it is possible that he will support Budka himself, postponing the real confrontation – the one for the party leadership. Because if not Budka, then who? The rebels have no idea. Trzaskowski again does not want to, although some – especially the young ones – are intensely pressuring him. It is possible that Kidawa will decide to run. However, she is not adept at the internal machinations of Civic Platform factions, and her leadership would not end the war within the party.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/wojna-w-po-andrzej-stankiewicz-schetyna-za-silny-by-go-odwolac-i-za-slaby-by-rzadzic/zv92vhz -- BRONISŁAW WILDSTEIN ON THE WELFARE STATE TRAP: "I am not saying that all state interventions in the economy are bad. However, the idea that they will become its driving force is a naive illusion. Of course, a certain elementary form of redistribution can contribute to this briefly and in a limited way. 500+ was sensible help for families and perhaps had a positive impact on demographics. 500+ for the first child does not have such significance, as many affluent families also choose the 'two plus one' model, and money will not change that. https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/471271-pulapki-panstwa-dobrobytu -- MINISTRY OF STATE ASSETS - NEWS FROM WPOLITYCE: “Ministry of State Assets – this is to be the name of the new ministry, to be headed by Jacek Sasin, wPolityce.pl has learned. What will the new ministry be responsible for? As indicated by United Right politicians, it is to oversee state-owned companies and state property.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/471343-nasz-news-znamy-nazwe-nowego-resortu -- PIOTR PACEWICZ ON THE LACK OF A PRO-DEMOGRAPHIC EFFECT OF 500+ - writes in Oko: “Deaths are increasing around us. In 1956, there were 3 births per 1 death; even during martial law (1983), just over 2. In 2018, only 0.94, and according to OKO.press estimates, in 2019, only 0.9, as 370,000 children will be born, and 407,000 people will die. For every 10 funerals, only 9 births! The 500+ program has ultimately died as a pro-demographic project.” https://oko.press/w-2019-umrze-nas-o-30-tys-wiecej-niz-sie-urodzi-powojenny-anty-rekord-pogrzebane-500-plus/ -- PIOTR WÓJCIK DEMYTHOLOGIZES THE LABOR MARKET - ONLY 15% OF JOBS IN IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY: “Only 15% of employed individuals in our country work in positions where new technological solutions have recently been introduced or the task execution process has been improved. This is the fifth lowest result in the EU – greater stagnation in companies is only found in Greece, Latvia, Slovakia, and Hungary.” -- IF ANYTHING GOOD IS HAPPENING IN THE LABOR MARKET, IT IS DESPITE THE INERTIA OF THE RULERS - CONTINUES WÓJCIK: “Unfortunately, in Poland, the only idea for social policy that somehow works is transferring money to people's accounts. The reconstruction of public housing and public transport have turned out to be tasks beyond the capabilities of Polish public authorities – both central and local. And the same applies to the labor market – most of the positive phenomena that have occurred there recently have happened not thanks to Polish rulers, but despite their inertia.” https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/wciaz-nalezymy-do-krajow-z-najnizszymi-placami-piotr-wojcik/ -- RAZEM WILL EVENTUALLY JOIN THE LEFT CLUB - RAFAŁ WÓJCIK IN GW: “The Council wants a club, there are few radical and unpredictable people left there – a politician from Razem tells 'Wyborcza'. – Everything indicates that there will be a joint club – he adds. Razem politicians, in order to protect their identity, wanted a parliamentary circle, although this significantly hinders functioning in the Sejm. Members of a circle must seek parliamentarians from outside the circle to submit a bill, they are given seats in the back rows of the Sejm benches, and they have no chance of sitting in the presidia of committees.” -- BIEDROŃ APPARENTLY WANTS TO NOW: “Robert's mood changes every two weeks. At the end of the campaign, he didn't want to at all. Now, apparently, he wants to again – says one of the politicians. Officially, however, a different version applies. – He told us that no decision has been made yet and asks us for unity regardless of who the candidate will be – shares a Spring activist.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,25371313,politycy-razem-zmienili-zdanie-w-tym-tygodniu-rozstrzygna-sie.html -- A HAPPY COUNTRY THAT DEALS WITH TRIVIA, WE ARE BECOMING CHILDISH - WITOLD GADOMSKI IN GW: “Do you really think we can afford the luxury of dealing with trivialities and imaginary problems? What is Poland's number one problem in the second decade of the 21st century? For feminists and men-feminists (as well as their fierce opponents), this problem is feminine endings for professions and women's positions, and the word 'gościni' (female guest). For bishops and a large part of the clergy – 'the sexualization of children'. According to an IPSOS poll for OKO.press, the second biggest threat to Poles is gender and LGBT movements. The Left sees the biggest problem in supposedly growing inequalities, while the Catholic-nationalist right sees it in the encroachments of the Left, which, in its opinion, wants to destroy the traditional family. A happy country is one where people are passionate about such trivialities and imaginary problems. Happy like a child for whom the entire world is a sandbox, plastic molds, and other children with whom they can play or argue. We are simply becoming childish.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,25371671,seksualizacja-dzieci-i-zenskie-koncowki-w-naszej-piaskownicy.html -- AGNIESZKA KUBLIK RESPONDS TO GADOMSKI: “I would strongly protest if someone wrote 'journalist' or 'editor' about Gadomski. Because it is untrue and a linguistic error. Gadomski is a publicist (masculine), and Adriana and I are publicists (feminine). And if, for example, a female MP wants to be called 'poseł' (masculine noun for MP), she has the right to do so, we respect her eccentricity.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,25373382,gadomski-i-meskie-duperele-na-szczescie-wyborcza-jest-pieknie.html -- BARTEK GODUSŁAWSKI IN DGP ON HOW THE EXPENDITURE RULE COMPLICATES SHOWING A DEFICIT IN THE 2020 BUDGET: “Even if the Ministry of Finance wanted to change next year's budget and show a deficit in it, the expenditure rule stands in the way. For the last three decades, finance ministers have dreamed of a budget surplus or at least a balanced state budget. This was only achieved by the Law and Justice team, which prepared a revenue and expenditure plan for next year without a deficit. A balanced state budget is mainly thanks to the functioning of the expenditure rule.” https://gospodarka.dziennik.pl/news/artykuly/611981,13-emerytura-mateusz-morawieckiego-rzad-30-krotnosc.html -- GW ON PAGE 1 WONDERS IF PIS WILL KEEP ITS WORD ON THE 13TH PENSION: “Of course, the question is whether the 13th pension will be paid at all. The government consistently assures that it wants a balanced budget. Meanwhile, the additional pension is not included in next year's budget, and the cost of payments for 9.8 million pensioners, recipients of disability pensions, and pre-retirement benefit recipients for this additional benefit is about PLN 10 billion.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,155287,25371172,rzad-wycofuje-sie-z-obietnic-dodatkowe-13-ste-emerytury-beda.html -- DGP ON PAGE 1 ABOUT THE COLLAPSE IN OBSTETRICS - as Klara Klinger writes: “In less than two years, hospitals have closed 24 maternity wards. The Ministry of Health reports 400 beds eliminated. The reason, however, is not the demographic decline, but staffing problems.” https://serwisy.gazetaprawna.pl/zdrowie/artykuly/1437894,zamykanie-oddzialow-polozniczych-porodowki-braki-kadrowe-szpitale.html -- JAKUB MAJMUREK ON WHAT EMERGES FROM THE NEW WAVE OF POLISH FILMS: “'Birds of a Feather' by Ksawery Żuławski, 'Corpus Christi' by Jan Komasa, and 'Supernova' by Bartosz Kruhlik form an interesting narrative about a deeply divided Poland, unable to come to terms with itself.” https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kultura/film/majmurek-mowa-ptakow-boze-cialo-supernova/ -- BIRTHDAYS: Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Tadeusz Fiszbach, Jadwiga Zakrzewska, Wojciech Czuchnowski, Sławomir Sierakowski turns 40! Katarzyna Pawlak.