-- PM IN JAPAN ON ADOPTING LOCAL MODELS - https://300polityka.pl/live/2020/01/20/pmm-pmm-dynamiczny-rozwoj-i-zaawansowanie-technologiczne-japonii-wzbudzaja-podziw-na-calym-swiecie-planujac-strategie-dla-polskiej-gospodarki-jej-transformacje-staralismy-sie-patrzec-na-japonskie/ -- PRIME MINISTER FOR DO RZECZY - WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY DEALING WITH MEDIA REPÖLŐNIZÁCIÓ, BUT IT MUST ALWAYS BE MARKET-ORIENTED: “I would wish that most domestic media would look after Polish interests. Just as is the case in Germany or France regarding their domestic media and strategic interests. The free media market is something different than the free market for shops. This is particularly evident in times of disinformation and hybrid warfare. A large part of our society understands this better than some media outlets. Repolónizácí must always be market-oriented – someone wants to sell, someone wants to buy. Deconcentration, i.e., regulations concerning how much domestic capital and how much foreign capital is allowed in the media… well – here we are several decades behind many European countries. However, we are not currently dealing with this issue on our drawing board. -- PRIME MINISTER ON ELECTORATE DEMOBILIZATION: “We have to reach people, work even harder, because apparently, a part of our electorate has become demobilized. It is cooperation, not quarrels between the government and the president, that allows commitments to be turned into decisions and actions. Would we have 500+, a decent hourly wage, a lowered retirement age, if there were quarrels and fights between the government and the president? No.” https://dorzeczy.pl/kraj/126811/co-z-repolonizacja-mediow-premier-rozwiewa-watpliwosci.html -- PLATFORMA DID NOT SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY - PIOTR ZAREMBA IN DGP: “The election of the leader of Platforma could have been an opportunity to revive the belief that this party is needed by Poland. The opportunity was seemingly not seized.” https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/opinie/artykul-prasowy/6423156,szef-po-polityka-schetyna.html -- MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI ON BOWING TOWARDS KONFEDERACJA VOTERS: “In this way, PiS is condemned to escalating conflict and its rhetoric. The hotter the dispute, the more dignity politics, the sharper the anti-Western or anti-European statements. The latter are, of course, a nod to the Konfederacja electorate, which can decide the outcome of this year's presidential elections. The only problem is that sharp rhetoric can alienate moderate voters, and encourage undecided ones to vote against PiS as a quarrelsome party, leading Poland into conflict with Brussels, Moscow, and Tel Aviv, while maintaining good relations only with Washington.” -- THE OPPOSITION IS STILL HELPLESS - SZUŁDRZYŃSKI CONTINUES: “What is surprising in all of this is the weakness of the opposition, which either does not want to or cannot seize the situation. Presidential candidate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska cannot afford such serious blunders as not knowing what the Venice Commission actually is and whether it is an EU body or the Council of Europe. The opposition also has no idea how to present the problem with the gag law to Poles. Instead of showing that rulings made in cases of ordinary people – for debt, for boundary disputes, for inheritance – will be challenged if issued by judges promoted by the current National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), and revealing the scale of the chaos, it prefers to use abstractions and consider resolutions of the European Parliament condemning the government's actions as its success. As a result, it is helpless against PiS's propaganda machine.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/301199977-Michal-Szuldrzynski-Za-ostro-o-sadach.html -- DR RAFAŁ CHWEDORUK ON KIDAWĄ'S PROBLEM: “Candidates are also emerging who will compete for the same electorate as Kidawa-Błońska – Szymon Hołownia, Robert Biedroń, and to a significant extent, PSL leader Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. In this sense, one can speak of a constant, and with each week it becomes increasingly difficult to imagine an event, a situation, a candidate that would dramatically change the polling landscape. This does not mean that if there is a second round, which is still very likely, it will paradoxically be more fierce and interesting than the first round, where its winner is known.” -- THE OPPOSITION IS NOT EXPERIENCING A CRISIS ON THE SCALE OF HUNGARY'S - CHWEDORUK CONTINUES: “Support for opposition parties is high. It is difficult to say that the opposition in Poland is experiencing a crisis on the scale of Hungary's. However, the problem is that the core voters of opposition parties, especially left-wing voters and the majority of Civic Platform (PO) voters, are very unequivocal and critical of Law and Justice (PiS) and expect a clear, black-and-white message on this matter. Any opposition politician who softens their tone easily exposes themselves to attacks from political competitors vying for the same segment of the electorate most unfavorable to the government.” -- MOST OPPOSITION CANDIDATES ARE COUNTING ON THE SECOND ROUND - CHWEDORUK CONTINUES: “From today's perspective, it is clearly visible that although the European Coalition did not bring success, there was some attempt to break the stalemate, some coordination of actions, which might in the long run allow for closing the gap with PiS. However, the moment this coalition broke apart seems to have been the final moment of the opposition's fragmentation. It is clearly visible that most opposition candidates are counting on – in short – a stroke of luck, a single event that will allow them to catch up with the PO candidate and possibly enter the second round.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/482916-tylko-u-nasprof-chwedoruk-opozycja-liczy-na-lut-szczescia -- SIEMONIAK IS SURPRISED BY THE LACK OF OPEN DEBATE IN PO - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2020/01/20/ -- JADWIGA STANISZKIS SEES FROM KACZYŃSKI'S FACE THAT HE WANTS TO WITHDRAW FROM JUDICIAL REFORMS - AS SHE TELLS FAKT: “The attempt to reform the courts in the style of Law and Justice is one of Jarosław Kaczyński's biggest mistakes as party leader. I think he realizes how much harm he has done and will withdraw from this harmful reform. I have known him for many years, since our university days, and I can see from his face that he is trying to do this. I think something will happen that will restore independence to the courts. Kaczyński wants to stop the bad changes without destroying his authority or the reputation of those who are implementing the changes. This is a turning point for him.” -- STANISZKIS COMPLIMENTS BRUDZIŃSKI - HE WOULD BE THE BEST SUCCESSOR TO KACZYŃSKI: “I think Joachim Brudziński would be the best leader. He is very well-organized and thoughtful, has a strong character, and might be very good in a new party model. He has been obedient to Kaczyński for many years, maintaining his inner calm. He did not get directly involved in the drastic policies of PiS, but operated within the framework of institutional reforms.” https://www.fakt.pl/wydarzenia/polityka/prof-jadwiga-staniszkis-o-jaroslawie-kaczynskim-i-reformie-sadownictwa/z4tn3bd -- ZIOBRO HAS A GREATER CHANCE OF TAKING OVER THE REINS THAN MORAWIECKI - WITOLD GADOMSKI IN GW: “But today, he has a greater chance of taking over the reins from Kaczyński. He is consistently building his base, recruiting young people, not necessarily talented, but willing to make a career at all costs, who owe everything to him. They are loyal to Ziobro, not to Kaczyński, let alone Morawiecki. Solidarna Polska has brought enough MPs to the Sejm to become an indispensable coalition partner, without whom the government will not have a majority. Although Ziobro is not a member of PiS, the hardline PiS electorate is ready to support him. Another dispute over the courts strengthens his position in this environment. Polarization and conflict with the European Union serve him, forcing the entire right wing, even those who 'vote but are not happy,' to support laws that dismantle the independence of the Polish judiciary.” -- ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN WILL WEAKEN THE PRIME MINISTER - GADOMSKI CONTINUES: “Economic slowdown and rising inflation will weaken PiS's ratings, as well as the Prime Minister's position. He does not have his own base of young politicians looking up to him; instead, he has many unresolved issues related to his own assets and those transferred to his wife. For Ziobro's prosecutors, these are not a mystery, and therefore the Prosecutor General is likely to emerge victorious from a confrontation with the Prime Minister.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,25613115,ziobro-idzie-po-wladze.html -- THIS IS THE SAME LANGUAGE OF CONTEMPT AS TOWARDS PRESIDENT KACZYŃSKI - JACEK KARNOWSKI: “Yes, it is the same industry of contempt that attacked the late Lech Kaczyński. And today it would probably be lethally effective, were it not for TVP and other independent media. Pluralism makes the task very difficult. It makes it difficult, but not impossible. Let us remember this. Never, absolutely never, let so few – too few – defend a persecuted president. Never, absolutely never, stand by indifferently when we see how the enraged 'owners' of the Third Republic hurl boorishness, arrogance, contempt, and the worst calumnies against the head of state they hate. Never, absolutely never, let yourself be convinced that this is not serious. Remember: inaction in the face of such toxic evil, so ruthlessly proclaimed, kills. It is up to us whether the industry of contempt will be effective again.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/482959-to-od-nas-zalezy-czy-przemysl-pogardy-znow-bedzie-skuteczny -- THE PRESIDENT HAS STARTED SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF A DANGEROUS FANATIC - TOMASZ SAWCZUK IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: “So, instead of softening the message, are we dealing with its radicalization? It seems that recently, Andrzej Duda's attitude has undergone a certain change. President Duda has accustomed us in the past to pompous speeches during which he puffs himself up and shouts. But recently, one might get the impression that Andrzej Duda has begun to speak the language of a dangerous fanatic.” -- HE IS PREEMPTIVELY TRYING TO INSTILL TRUST IN KONFEDERACJA VOTERS - SAWCZUK CONTINUES IN KL: “And what about Duda's own words? If the president's statements were calculated, they can be easily explained. Duda's victory in the elections may depend on the votes of Konfederacja voters in the second round. If they stay home, Duda may have trouble getting 50 percent support, which is why he is preemptively using language that might instill their trust.” -- SAWCZUK ON PARA-FASCIST LANGUAGE: “The opposition has tried to adopt the same strategy, in recent years warning of the collapse of democracy or Polexit. However, Donald Tusk recently struck the most resonant chord, writing on Twitter that the ruling camp 'destroys Poland to steal with impunity.' Tusk was quickly criticized for saying that such language is unbecoming of a former prime minister. However, one can ask whether PiS voters criticized Andrzej Duda for his para-fascist language? Tusk's statement was certainly milder.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2020/01/20/sawczuk-w-poniedzialek-andrzejowi-dudzie-puscily-hamulce/ -- SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE LISTS FOR THE KRS - JANUSZ SCHWERTNER IN ONE: “Law and Justice governs on many levels as if it were convinced it would rule forever. The way it hides the lists of support for the KRS has long taken on a grotesque character. Yet, the party still guards them like the greatest secret. But the truth will come out sooner or later. Even today, we can multiply assumptions: were individuals appointed judges who did not collect the required number of signatures? Or perhaps people who do not exist 'signed' the candidacies? Maybe some people signed twice or three times? One thing is certain: something is wrong here. Otherwise, this matter would have been explained several months ago. It is possible that the KRS in Poland is simply operating illegally today. If the ruling party wanted to put an end to such speculation, it should make the lists public. It does not do so, therefore…” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/newsletter-onetu-janusz-schwertner-co-kryja-listy-poparcia-do-krs-strach-pomyslec/27v1gzz -- WE SHOULD ENSURE A BOYCOTT OF CEREMONIES IN JERUSALEM - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF FAKT, KATARZYNA KOZŁOWSKA: “Therefore, we should expect a firm reaction from Polish diplomacy – a boycott of the ceremonies at Yad Vashem, convincing representatives of other delegations to reject the invitation, or undertaking other actions that will ridicule Putin's lies the moment they are uttered. And what we should focus on more is ensuring that the world learns about the ceremonies organized by Poland for the liberation of Auschwitz – on January 27, 2020. And that the words spoken there are properly publicized.” -- PIS DOES NOT ABANDON ITS OWN - RZ ON POLITICIANS IN COMPANIES: “Another new example is former PiS MP Krzysztof Zaremba. Although he is a political scientist by education, from February 1st he will be the president of Morska Stocznia Remontowa Gryfia. Former MP and former senator of PiS, Dorota Arciszewska-Mielewczyk, who has been the president of Polskie Linie Oceaniczne since December, has also found employment in the maritime company.” -- THE OPPOSITION IS SIMILARLY – KARPIŃSKI BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE MUNICIPAL CLEANING COMPANY IN WARSAW (RULED BY PO) - RZ CONTINUES: “A similar phenomenon can be observed on the opposition's side. In January, Włodzimierz Karpiński, a long-time former MP of this party, became the president of the Municipal Cleaning Company in Warsaw, which is governed by PO. In turn, Senate Marshal Tomasz Grodzki appointed Grzegorz Furga, a former MP who unsuccessfully ran for the Sejm, as head of the chamber's information center. After that decision was announced, former Senate Marshal Stanisław Karczewski from PiS protested on Twitter: 'The politicization of the Senate Chancellery is unprecedented. Never before have defeated politicians been appointed to official positions.'” https://www.rp.pl/Prawo-i-Sprawiedliwosc/200119279-PiS-nie-zostawia-swoich-Dostaja-intratne-posady.html -- JAKUBIAK ATTACKS BOSAK: FOR 40 YEARS HE HAS ACHIEVED ALMOST NOTHING: “I do not treat the presidential elections as a happening. How can one treat the Republic this way, by presenting a candidate who has achieved nothing in his life? He has achieved absolutely nothing in forty years. I ask myself, what does he want to offer Poland? Experience derived from books? I think there were former candidates who could have participated.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/482908-tylko-u-nas-mocne-slowa-jakubiaka-o-kandydaturze-bosaka -- WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE GERMANS - DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MARCIN PRZYDACZ IN DGP: “Minister Heiko Maas remains in constant contact with Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. There have also been recent discussions between the ministers, including on the topic of Iran. We were aware of the Chancellor's visit to Moscow.” -- THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTACT AND TALK - MARCIN PRZYDACZ IN DGP: “As a neighbor of Russia, we would like to have good relations with it. The problem is that Russia behaves aggressively, trying to dismantle the security architecture built in this part of the world since 1990. It reinterprets history. All of this burdens bilateral relations. There is no question of warming relations today. First, there must be reflection on the other side. This does not mean that we should not maintain contact and try to talk. We are neighbors, we discuss cross-border projects. A separate issue burdening relations is the matter of returning the Tupolev wreckage. The ministers also discussed this…” https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/opinie/artykul-prasowy/6424362,duda-putin-falszowanie-historii-wywiad.html -- A BIG DEFICIT AT THE CBA - GW's front-page story: “The Central Anti-Corruption Bureau has been hiding information about colossal abuses in the operational fund for months. Figures ranging from 6.5 to even 15 million PLN are mentioned. The deficit has been ongoing for several years, and 'Wyborcza' was the first to reveal it. The Central Anti-Corruption Bureau has been hiding information about colossal abuses in the operational fund for months. Figures ranging from 6.5 to even 15 million PLN are mentioned. The deficit has been ongoing for several years, and 'Wyborcza' was the first to reveal it.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,25613736,tajemnica-milionow-z-cba.html#S.DT-K.C-B.2-L.1.duzy -- THE PIS APPARATUS HOLDS FIRM - JUDYTA WATOŁA IN GW ON THE COMPETITION FOR THE HEAD OF THE SILESIAN NFZ: “The victory of Piotr Nowak over Andrzej Sośnierz in the competition for the head of the Silesian NFZ shows how strong and effective the apparatus linked to MEP Jadwiga Wiśniewska and her protégé, Dariusz J., accused of corruption, is in PiS today.” https://katowice.wyborcza.pl/katowice/7,35063,25613722,to-byl-konkurs-z-happy-endem-pisowski-uklad-trzyma-sie-mocno.html -- BIRTHDAYS: Jerzy Niewodniczański, Henryk Goryszewski, Marcin Romanowski.