-- PRESIDENT DUDA TOPS TRUST RANKING, SCHETYNA FAIRES WORST: “President Andrzej Duda enjoys the highest trust among Poles surveyed by CBOS, at 67%. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is second (59% declare trust). Prezes partii KORWiN Janusz Korwin-Mikke and PO leader Grzegorz Schetyna inspire the most distrust – both at 53%.” https://www.dziennik.pl/artykuly/615894,polacy-zaufanie-andrzej-duda-grzegorz-schetyna-sondaz.html -- PRESIDENT DUDA'S SUPPORT IS GROWING - JACEK KARNOWSKI DESCRIBES SOCIAL CHANGES SURVEY: “According to the latest survey by Social Changes commissioned by the portal, Andrzej Duda is widening his lead over the competition; 46% of voters would vote for him today. Importantly, support for the president has increased compared to the previous survey.” -- HOŁOWNIA IS NOT FULFILLING HOPES OF TAKING VOTES FROM PRESIDENT DUDA - KARNOWSKI CONTINUES: “Szymon Hołownia's result is a phenomenon in itself, growing from 9% to 13%, solidifying his podium position. However, it is clear that Hołownia is taking support not from President Duda, but from Kidawa-Błońska, Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Zandberg. Thus, he is not fulfilling the hopes placed in him. This candidacy was not created to split the opposition's votes.” -- SURVEY RESULTS: DUPA 46, KIDAWA 23, HOŁOWNIA 13, WKK 7, ZANDBERG 7, BOSAK 4: https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/478399-holownia-miesza-w-stawce-ale-jednak-nie-tak-jak-planowano -- 39 DUPA, 21 KIDAWA, 16 HOŁOWNIA - SURVEY CITED BY ONET: “Andrzej Duda would win 39% of the votes. The PiS candidate has a significant lead over Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska in second place. 21% want to vote for the KO candidate. Szymon Hołownia is slightly behind her. 16% of respondents want to vote for him. The survey was conducted by Maison&Partners on the Ariadna online research panel between December 13-18, 2019. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz is off the podium. 8% of respondents want to vote for the PSL candidate. Next is the nationalist representative, Krzysztof Bosak. 4% want to vote for him. The lowest in the poll was the Lewica candidate, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, who is supported by 2% of respondents.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/wybory-prezydenckie-2020-sondaz-prezydencki-duda-na-czele-holownia-wysoko/ylcdbv2 -- TRÓJMIASTO GW ON LECH WAŁĘSA'S GRANDCHILDREN: “Stabbing a girl, beating another woman, robbery of tourists (resulting in broken legs), a drunk driving spree through the streets of Gdańsk – Lech Wałęsa's grandchildren are having serious trouble with the law. Verdicts in various cases and at different levels are now being handed down.” -- IN THE TEXT ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S GRANDSON WHO BROKE THE LEGS OF TOURISTS FROM SWEDEN AND KNOCKED OUT THE TEETH OF A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE: “The brother of Dominik, Bartłomiej W., is also awaiting a final verdict. In May 2018, in the center of Gdańsk, together with friends, he attacked and robbed two tourists from Sweden of their mobile phones. Bartłomiej used a baton. One of the victims suffered broken shins. The police, searching for the perpetrators, distributed footage from surveillance cameras that recorded the perpetrators. After the videos were published, a policeman recognized Wałęsa's grandson. In the same trial, Bartłomiej is also responsible for beating a high school graduate, knocking out two of his front teeth. His accomplice in the crime was a certain Dawid W.” -- ONLY TWO OUT OF 12 GRANDCHILDREN HAVE LEGAL PROBLEMS - WRITES LOCAL GW: “‘Wałęsa's grandson drove drunk for pizza,’ ‘Wałęsa's grandson's fury: Don't you know who my grandfather is?,’ ‘Wałęsa's grandson accused of robbery,’ ‘Nobel laureate's grandson convicted,’ ‘I was beaten by the former president's grandson’ – these are headlines from the Tri-City area. Some journalists are already portraying the former president's family as a pathology, a social fringe, a gang. However, only two out of 12 (with a 13th on the way) grandchildren of the former 'Solidarity' leader are causing problems.” https://trojmiasto.wyborcza.pl/trojmiasto/7,35612,25520023,czy-wnukowie-walesy-znajda-sie-w-wiezieniach.html#S.main_topic-K.C-B.6-L.1.duzy -- BUDKA WITH TRZASKOWSKI'S SUPPORT - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/12/19/ -- ATMOSPHERE IN PO IS FATAL - IWONA SZPALA IN GW: “'They' are Schetyna's supporters versus the 'reformist group of PO.' Schetyna's followers call Budka's supporters 'children.' – Ma'am, what are we talking about? The children wanted to shorten the candidate nomination period. But it was enough for Schetyna to say: 'I propose without amendments,' and they shut up. No one objected! That's how brave they were... – a PO politician recounts. Schetyna still holds his position, but our interlocutors say the atmosphere in the party is fatal. The power struggle has pushed preparations for the presidential election campaign into the background. There is a candidate, but there are no discussions about strategy, finances. And – as PO politicians say – nothing will likely change until a new leader is elected.” -- THE FIFTH FLOOR HAS FALLEN SILENT - SZPALA CONTINUES: “Another states that for about a month and a half, cooperation between Budka's club and the so-called fifth floor in the building on Wiejska Street, where Schetyna has his office – practically doesn't exist. – The fifth floor has fallen silent; no ideas, no messages like 'Listen, we have a great idea...' are coming from there. We are doing everything with the club's resources. The other side is occupied with saving Schetyna's ratings – we hear.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,25527658,dzieci-podgryzaja-schetyne-w-platformie-za-kotara-trwa-walka.html -- ELECTRICITY PRICE TO RISE BY 12% IN TAURON - Dominika Wantuch in GW on URE decisions: “Starting next year, electricity will be 12% more expensive at Tauron. Tariffs for Energa, Enea, and PGE are still uncertain. The Energy Regulatory Office has approved electricity tariffs only for the Tauron company. Enea's, Energa's, and PGE's applications were unjustified – announced the President of URE. This does not mean an end to price increases. Companies can still correct their proposals.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,155287,25522681,jedna-trzecia-polakow-zaplaci-wiecej-za-prad-pozostali-na-podwyzki.html -- TRZASKOWSKI TO BE MARSHAL OF A SEPARATED METROPOLITAN VOIVODESHIP - TOMASZ ŻÓŁCIAK ON DGP'S FRONT PAGE: “A concept for the division of the Masovian Voivodeship is crystallizing within PiS. Preliminary plans suggest that the capital's mayor would also become its marshal after the separation of the Warsaw Voivodeship. The remaining part of the region will face regional assembly elections. The plan assumes that the Mayor of Warsaw would be the marshal of the Warsaw Voivodeship temporarily, i.e., until the end of the term, and the city council would serve as the regional assembly. – We are considering whether to maintain this status permanently, to avoid unnecessary entities. After all, we have 65 cities with county rights (outside Warsaw – ed.) where the mayor is also the district governor – explains Sobolewski.” -- STRUŻIK'S POSITION IS THREATENED - ŻÓŁCIAK CONTINUES: “Rafał Trzaskowski did not comment on these ideas yesterday. While his position – at least from a formal point of view – seems secure, the same cannot be said for the Marshal of the Masovian Voivodeship, Adam Struzik. The PiS plan anticipates that regional assembly elections will have to be held in the new Masovian Voivodeship (the one without Warsaw).” https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/polityka/artykuly/615891,marszalek-trzaskowski-podzial-mazowsze-pomysl-pis.html -- FIVE DAYS WITHOUT SLEEP DUE TO JUDGES BEING TRAMPLED ON - title of a text about a demonstration in Lublin on the front page of wyborcza.pl. https://lublin.wyborcza.pl/lublin/7,48724,25527914,tlumy-pod-sadem-na-krakowskim-przedmiesciu-protestowali-sedziowie.html#S.W-K.C-B.1-L.1.duzy -- A JUDGE TOOK PITY ON HIM - FRONT PAGE OF FAKT ABOUT DURCZEK. -- ZOFIA ROMASZEWSKA SUPPORTS DISCIPLINING JUDGES - AS SHE STATES IN WP: “I haven't seen the bill disciplining judges. And there are many legal loopholes in laws, so I can't comment. However, as an ordinary citizen, I believe that what is happening is a scandal – Zofia Romaszewska says in an interview with WP. – I haven't spoken with the president, but I believe judges must be strictly disciplined. They need it due to what they are doing and how their verdicts look. What they are doing is revolution, anarchy. And they earn excellently, they have great pensions – she emphasizes.” https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/prezydent-andrzej-duda-mocno-ocenil-sedziow-zofia-romaszewska-zgadza-sie-z-jego-slowami-6458034685535873a -- PATHOLOGICAL LEGISLATION TO LEAD OUT A GOAT - WOJCIECH TUMIDALSKI IN RZ: “It does not defend itself substantively, nor does it implement the judgments of the EU court from Luxembourg or the Supreme Court, which oblige the legislative authority to restore the proper formula of the National Council of the Judiciary. It is hard to believe that the authors of the bill are unaware of the completely real consequences of its adoption. They have already been made aware of it, and they are sticking to their guns. There is also a theory that, as part of consolidating pathological legislation, they are once again trying a maneuver of introducing a goat into the chamber, and then joyfully leading it out – only so that, for example, a change allowing the current president to choose a new First President of the Supreme Court remains.” https://www.rp.pl/Opinie/312189937-Wojciech-Tumidalski-Delegacje-sedziowskie-to-zlo-ale-co-zamiast-nich.html -- RPO CRUSHES THE DRAFT - OKO ANALYZES ITS OPINION: “In a 42-page analysis, it points out the errors, defects, and threats posed by the bill. It assesses that the amendment is in clear contradiction with constitutional, international, and European law. The Ombudsman assesses the submitted draft unequivocally negatively, as violating the fundamental law and breaking the basic principles of the Polish legal order, being in contradiction with Poland's obligations to the European Union, and infringing upon the protection guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.” https://oko.press/rpo-przyjecie-ustawy-zakwestionuje-udzial-polski-w-wymiarze-prawnym-ue-i-rady-europy/ -- PIOTR PACEWICZ POLEMIZES WITH DERA ABOUT WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS ABOUT JUDGES: “Dera suggests that judges are forbidden from engaging in any public activity, while the Constitution clearly states that this refers to activity contrary to the principles of judicial independence and impartiality. It is impossible, based on any logic – apart from the 'logic' of political violence – to consider that speaking out in defense of the principles of judicial independence or impartiality could be contrary to these principles. It is significant that judicial impartiality is limited only by the Constitution and laws. By taking the judicial oath, a judge 'solemnly swears as a judge of the common court to faithfully serve the Republic of Poland and to uphold the law.'” -- PROF. ŁĘTOWSKA'S OPINION FOR OKO: “Article 178 does not mean that. The Constitution does not allow equating public activity with political activity, certainly not. A judge who has sworn allegiance to the Constitution has a duty to defend it when it is violated, and at this moment it is being violated. However, the form of a judge's performance in defense of the Constitution is a completely different matter. It is a matter of feel, good taste for each of us judges. It would be advisable not to mix with politicians, who would, of course, gladly appropriate the judges' protest.” “Perhaps the French example – so fashionable recently? There, judges are even allowed to belong to parties (not here), and they also attend demonstrations. Even in their robes…” https://oko.press/protesty-sedziow-min-dera-przeczytal-w-konstytucji-ze-sedziemu-nie-wolno-bronic-konstytucji/ -- TUSK'S OWN WORDS ARE PROOF OF CHADEACJA'S BANKRUPTCY - Michał Rzeczycki in Klub Jagielloński: “Donald Tusk will not create Christian Democracy in Poland because that idea has gone bankrupt, the best proof of which are his own words. In an interview with 'Gazeta Wyborcza,' when asked if he feels like a Christian Democrat, the former Prime Minister replied: 'Christianity is – to state the obvious – one of the foundations of European civilization, alongside Roman law, Greek philosophy, and the entire multi-century cultural heritage. All of this makes up what Europe is in terms of identity. In politics, one can be a Christian regardless of denomination and practiced religion. For me, the synonym of a Christian in politics is a supporter and participant of liberal democracy. In this sense, although I am a rather secular politician, I absolutely feel like a Christian Democrat.' What, then, is Christianity in Donald Tusk's Christian Democratic proposal? It is merely a memory of a distant past that gave us general patterns of conduct, and today it is a shorthand for liberal democracy. Therefore, when the former Prime Minister speaks of Christian Democracy, he is effectively talking about establishing a centrist liberal party. It's a shame, though, that the Christianity he mentioned is not visible here at all.” https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2019/12/18/tusk-holownia-i-inni-chadecja-nie-moze-udac-sie-z-definicji/ -- KATARZYNA LUBNAUER ON NOWOCZESNA'S CANDIDATE - tells Jakub Bodziony and Łukasz Pawłowski in Kultura Liberalna: “There is a desire within Nowoczesna to present its own candidate to emphasize its distinctiveness and showcase the more liberal values that Nowoczesna represents. On the other hand, we realize that these elections are winnable by the KO candidate. The government is on the defensive, appointing Piotrowicz and Pawłowicz to the Constitutional Tribunal, and scandals surrounding Marian Banaś discourage even PiS sympathizers. It's not even about them voting for the opposition candidate; it's enough if they stay home.” -- LUBNAUER ON THE COST OF THE CAMPAIGN WHEN ASKED BY KL: “Paweł Kukiz's presidential campaign cost about PLN 500,000. In the last two years, we have paid off almost a million zlotys in various liabilities that I inherited from the previous chairman. We also raised money for the party to function at all. And it is much easier to raise money for an election campaign and a specific candidate than for the day-to-day functioning of a party. It is feasible. The question is: is it sensible?” -- IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SUPPORT KOSINIAK OR HOŁOWNIA IN THE SECOND ROUND - LUBNAUER CONTINUES: “It is known that in the second round, everyone will support one candidate of the democratic opposition. The question is, who will reach the second round. It would be much harder for me to support, for example, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz or Szymon Hołownia than Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, with whom I cooperate in the Congress of Women. Although her views are less liberal than mine, she is open to discussion, for example, on women's rights. I am also 100% certain that she will never sign any tightening of the 1993 abortion law, and she will ensure access to sex education or contraception for women.” -- LUBNAUER ON THE CONTENTIOUS BIDDING BY RAZEM FOR THE GOVERNMENT: “But seriously, every government faces reality. Zandberg's proposals are a very good tool for criticizing PiS from a social perspective, which is key for Kaczyński. PiS said it would build 100,000 rental apartments, and it has less than a thousand. And Zandberg claims he will build more than Morawiecki promised! Probably nothing will come of it, but it is very difficult for PiS to fend off such an attack. It's similar with their bidding for a higher minimum wage.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2019/12/17/lewica-liberalowie-spor-nowoczesna/ -- PLATFORMA IS TIRED, BUT TUSK IS RESTED - ZUZANNA DĄBROWSKA IN RZ: “Meanwhile, Platforma has to cope somehow. And it's not easy. In the shoes of the total opposition, it cannot seek compromises and play on the field that suits PiS, because it has no other choice. Just like in the matter of the courts. The issue is important, the cause is on the side of the opposition, the threat from the authorities' ideas is huge – but for the general public, this is a still incomprehensible area. The Banaś affair is different... However, PiS managed to hide it under the judicial blanket. In politics, there is a term 'fatigue from power' – symptoms are visible in every party when they have been in power for too long. However, it turns out that there is also 'fatigue from opposition,' which Platforma is discovering. On the other hand, Donald Tusk feels rested and full of vigor…” https://www.rp.pl/Polityka/312189894-Zuzanna-Dabrowska-Donald-Super-Star.html -- NOT FASCISM, BUT CONSTRUCTING A SECT - PROF. PAWEŁ ŚPIEWAK IN CONVERSATION WITH ŁUKASZ PAWŁOWSKI IN KL: “But the national element is much stronger in PiS than egalitarianism. I don't want to say they are nationalists or fascists, because I dislike these terms, and besides, they are overused. However, the concept of nation and the way Kaczyński thinks about the nation resembles the construction of a sect. The nation turns into a sect, in which values are preserved that are very selectively chosen from Polish tradition, such as martyrology and the vision of national innocence, at the expense of the full spectrum of values. Calling such a sect a nation is simply an intellectual misunderstanding.” -- THERE IS NO SIGNAL THAT THE LEFT IS GROWING, IT'S THE SAME VOTES ALL THE TIME - PROF. ŚPIEWAK CONTINUES: “And on the left, I don't see any victories, no signal that they are winning. In the last elections, they received roughly the same number of votes as they would have received 4 years earlier if they had only acted together. In essence, these are interesting, but largely urban parties that have not convinced a wider audience to their proposals over these few years. Besides, I don't know what they should even consist of. Five zlotys for medication? That's complete nonsense, it's impossible to do, as is obvious at first glance. Hence the conclusion that it is some kind of populist game on their part. And the rest of their slogans are equally incomprehensible to me.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2019/12/17/pawel-spiewak-liberalizm-platforma-lewica-wywiad/ -- BOSAK IS DOING THE BEST - JAKUB BODZIONY IN KL ON THE BACKSTAGE OF THE FAR-RIGHT PRIMARIES: “Krzysztof Bosak spoke last, and in this group, he handles rhetoric the best. In a conciliatory speech, he addressed the other candidates and encouraged a measured message and dialogue with all political circles – even with the left! He is a candidate who can present the radical right-wing ideas of his grouping in a surprisingly moderate language, especially compared to other Confederation candidates.” -- BOSAK HAS A CHANCE TO POSITION HIMSELF AS MODERATE - BODZIONY CONTINUES: “But it is precisely this message that resonates with the gathered supporters. Presumably, they are partly guided by their electoral preferences, and partly by the calculation that it is precisely the candidate with the most – seemingly – moderate message who has the greatest chance of a good result in the national race. The Platforma Obywatelska should also root for Bosak's candidacy, because it is he who has the chance to effectively challenge Andrzej Duda from the right flank, while at the same time positioning himself as a moderate, not a radical, candidate.” -- BODZIONY ON PRESIDENT DUDA'S STRADDLE: “Ferment on the far-right is not a good sign for liberal democrats, but that doesn't change the fact that after the halfway point of the campaign, Confederationists can be satisfied with themselves. The risk has paid off, and the nibbling at the ruling party's electorate will likely continue, which will force Andrzej Duda into an ever-greater straddle between radical and centrist messaging.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2019/12/19/konfederacja-prawybory-relacja-warszawa/ -- BIRTHDAYS: Rafał Olejniczak, Michał Giersz, Paweł Wiśniewski.