-- ŚPIEWAK ON MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT, SZYMAŃSKI ON THE SUMMIT'S BACKSTAGE, TOKARCZUK IN THE SENATE - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/12/16 -- THE PRIME MINISTER ON ROAD SAFETY: “I would like to ask you to familiarize yourselves with our new ideas, which I announced today as part of the #GoodDriver campaign. This is the first stage. There will be more. We are supported by the experience and example of master drivers, for whom simply calling them good drivers is an understatement. Sincere thanks to Kuba Przygoński and Kajetan Kajetanowicz”. https://www.facebook.com/MorawieckiPL/photos/a.122054089139129/157242675620270/?type=3&theater -- WHY HOLD ELECTIONS IF JUDGES WILL DECIDE ANYWAY - PATRYK JAKI IN CONVERSATION WITH JACEK NIZINKIEWICZ IN RZ: “What some judges are doing right now is unprecedented in any democratic country. We are currently witnessing an attempted coup against the state system. An attempt to replace democracy with a judiciary. In every democratic country, the separation of powers is recognized, meaning that the three branches of government balance and mutually control each other. They have their very precisely defined tasks, duties, and scope of power. Meanwhile, recently a group of judges, not elected by citizens in any election, has granted themselves the powers of the legislative and executive branches. They have decided that they will decide who is a judge and who is not, even though these are the president's powers. At the same time, they have decided that laws do not apply to them, thus usurping the powers of the legislative branch. I remind you – a branch that, like the president, is elected in universal elections. If we overlook this attack on the system and the constitution, it means that citizens lose their real influence over the state. Because what is the point of elections where citizens can choose one program or another regarding the judiciary, if in the end judges will decide what they like and what they don't?” -- BANAS WANTS TO UNDERMINE THE MINISTRY'S CREDIBILITY BECAUSE HIS PREDECESSOR HAS LEGAL PROBLEMS - JAKI FURTHER IN RZ: “If inspectors approach the matter with such 'daring' theses as above, there is no doubt that anything can be turned into a 'scandal.' It is known that the audits were ordered by Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, who has his own scores to settle with the Ministry of Justice, as he himself faces charges and an indictment. Unfortunately, the situation is now similar with Mr. Marian Banaś, who himself has legal problems and will want to undermine the ministry's credibility.” https://www.rp.pl/Polityka/312159963-Patryk-Jaki-Sedziokracja-nie-zastapi-demokracji.html -- TOMASZ SAWCZUK ON THE TEST FOR THE SENATE AND PUBLIC OPINION: “If PiS moves forward with the amendment, it will be the first serious test for the new Senate. Social mobilization against the bill will be needed, as well as the involvement of international organizations to which Poland belongs. The 'gag law' is the most serious attack by PiS on the independence of the judiciary since 2017, when the ruling party intended to remove Supreme Court judges to install Zbigniew Ziobro's nominees.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2019/12/16/pis-idzie-na-wojne-ustawa-kagancowa-komentarz/ -- NACZELNY RZ ON THE PRESIDENT HARMING THE JUDGES' PROJECT: “One thing is certain: only the withdrawal of this bill from the Sejm can help Andrzej Duda, who stands firmly behind PiS, in his presidential campaign. Pushing it through, enacting it, and implementing it will only lead to greater anarchy in the judiciary, which Jarosław Kaczyński dislikes so much. And it will provide fuel for the opposition candidates in the presidential campaign. Grzegorz Schetyna and the rest are counting on precisely this. The plebiscite gives them a greater chance of winning.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/312159965-Boguslaw-Chrabota-Kagancowka-uderzy-w-Andrzeja-Dude.html -- SHOCKING BILL - TOMASZ PIETRYGA IN RZ: “The bill to discipline judges is bad because it leads to the structural stripping of the judiciary of its attributes. The idea of limiting the activity of the judicial self-government, the role of collegia and judicial assemblies is downright shocking. And the permanent control of judicial activity, practically in every sphere, encased in a system of penalties and sanctions, is unacceptable on such a scale. Because in practice, it makes the judiciary hollow and entirely at the mercy of the other branches. What does the bill offer in return? It solves nothing and builds nothing. It will not make the justice system function better either. Yet, this is what citizens encountering the inefficient system expect.” https://www.rp.pl/Opinie/312159936-Tomasz-Pietryga-Nie-wracajcie-na-pole-bitwy.html -- TUSK HAS DELIVERED A VERDICT ON SCHETYNA - ANDRZEJ STANKIEWICZ IN ONE.NET: “It will rather be a game without Schetyna, on whom Tusk has put a cross. Considering the mood within PO's ranks, exemplified by the primary election results, it could be a decisive cross.” -- SCHETYNA'S COMPLETE LACK OF IDEAS - STANKIEWICZ FURTHER: “The series of defeats, accompanied by Schetyna's complete lack of ideas for the Platform and how to take power from PiS, has led a significant portion of the opposition voters and PO activists to turn away from him. Even his former allies, such as Borys Budka, Rafał Grupiński, or Marcin Kierwiński, have abandoned him.” -- STANKIEWICZ ON TUSK'S AND HOŁOWNIA'S OPTIONS: “But it is no secret that Tusk always likes to have various options on the table. Realizing the defects of the PO candidate, Tusk still looks favorably upon the candidacy of PSL leader Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz – who was his former minister of labor. Today, Tusk is the head of the European People's Party, a political group that includes both the Platform and PSL. And Tusk envisions building a new, joint formation on this foundation. But at the same time, Tusk's people are also seen – or want to be seen – in Szymon Hołownia's circle.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/prawybory-w-po-wygrywa-kidawa-blonska-tusk-wydal-wyrok-na-schetyne-analiza/j9t05er -- PAWEŁ WROŃSKI IN GW ON KIDAWA'S CHANCE: “I do not believe in studies that supposedly show that Poles are unwilling to accept a woman as a leader. Yes, they will accept her, if she is a tough housewife ruling the home with a strong hand.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,25512848,kidawa-blonska-czyli-jest-wiele-do-zrobienia.html -- TUSK RETURNS WITH AN AMBITIOUS PLAN - ŁUKASZ ROGOJSZ IN GAZETA.PL: “Donald Tusk is not returning to domestic politics to be a passive observer. He is returning to reclaim what once belonged to him. Although he plans to operate in a completely different role. The key dates here are 2023-24.” -- PERHAPS THE PLATFORM'S CYCLE IS COMING TO AN END - PO POLITICIAN IN ROGOJSZ'S ARTICLE: “Says a former minister in Tusk's government: Speaking in marketing terms, the product lifecycle of the Civic Platform may be coming to an end. Tusk is well aware of this. He is ready to support a new initiative that will have new leadership, new energy, and the ability to take on new challenges.” -- ROGOJSZ QUOTES A PO POLITICIAN SPEAKING OF A SPLIT IF SCHETYNA REMAINED: “One of our interlocutors from the Platform, a parliamentarian and opponent of Schetyna, says bluntly that if the current party leader somehow manages to defend himself in January, the party will break up. Roughly 80 percent of Platform members are announcing that if Grzegorz defends himself in January, they are leaving the party. Half of this group plans to form some new formation, the other half simply wants to leave because they've had enough. In short, if Grzegorz wins, the Platform will fall apart – analyzes the politician.” http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,25511497,ci-ktorzy-juz-przekreslili-tuska-mocno-sie-zdziwia-byly.html -- ZUZANNA DĄBROWSKA ON THE LEFT'S PRESIDENTIAL PROBLEM - writes in RZ: “And as long as the relations between the now only two left-wing entities remain correct, everyone will receive a bonus for cooperation. Perhaps as early as May, if they manage to break the deadlock and nominate a solid presidential candidate. And this, in turn, is becoming increasingly problematic. There is no indication that Adrian Zandberg will be persuaded to run, despite the pilgrimages to him and the persuasions he has participated in, even with Aleksander Kwaśniewski. The situation is so difficult that it is hard even for the left-wing groups to decide on a moment to make a decision, let alone to name a common candidate.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/191219593-Zuzanna-Dabrowska-Rebranding-na-lewicy.html -- JANUSZ LEWANDOWSKI ON THE NEW ELITE - writes in GW: “The collective self-interest of the beneficiaries of the 'good change' evokes grim historical associations. I do not mean families rewarded with 500 plus and thus reconciled with the plundering of the Republic, according to the maxim: 'They might be stealing, but they share.' I am referring to the new elite of prestige, power, and money – born from Kaczyński's grace. It is intertwined with PiS; its existence depends on PiS remaining in power. Occupied with consuming privileges, it does not question Poland's raison d'état. What about the undeclared, institutional Polexit, since 'they deserve it'! Never mind the devastation in defense caused by Macierewicz and Błaszczak. Never mind the complicity of Kaczyński's Poland and Orbán's Hungary in weakening and devaluing the European Union, to Putin's delight.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,25515648,czy-zyjemy-w-polsce-przedrozbiorowej.html -- WORKING IN FAST FOOD IS NOT A DISGRACE - PIOTR WÓJCIK in Krytyka: “The new political assistant to Deputy Prime Minister Gliński should not be ashamed of working in fast food. On the contrary, it is commendable that he decided to take a job in a place that is not associated with prestige, but with difficult, physical labor. (...) Yet, Przekwas has nothing to be ashamed of in his career to date. On the contrary – it is commendable that instead of enjoying student life at his parents' expense, he decided to take a job in a place that is not associated with any prestige, but with difficult, physical labor.” https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/wojcik-praca-w-fast-foodzie-nie-hanbi/?hide_manifest -- RICH EUROPE SIMPLY MOVES EMISSIONS ELSEWHERE - JACEK KARNOWSKI: “Europe is reducing its indicators (or their growth), but not because it is drastically reducing its contribution to global emissions. Europe is simply moving its emissions elsewhere. To where all these plastics that fill our garbage bins are produced, and to where everything we use in our daily lives is manufactured. It would therefore be more honest to hold countries accountable not for emissions, or not only for emissions, but also for consumption. From the perspective of climate ideologues, it makes no difference whether carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere in Berlin or Beijing, in Paris or Delhi. It is completely indifferent to the future of the planet. What matters is the emission itself, the level of which is generally directly proportional to our standard of living.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/swiat/477843-dlaczego-rozliczamy-kraje-z-emisji-co2-a-nie-z-konsumpcji -- ON THIS DAY IN 2005: Departing President Aleksander Kwaśniewski pardoned his colleague, former Deputy Minister of Interior Zbigniew Sobotka, who was convicted for his involvement in the so-called Starachowice affair. -- BIRTHDAYS: Andrzej Wielowieyski turns 92, Anna Nehrebecka-Byczewska, Wojciech Szarama, Jacek Świat, Mirosław Czech.