-- BIELAN ON CAMPAIGN HQ NOT AT NOWOGRODZKA, FOGIEL ON THE PROGRAM, HALICKI AND OKLA REMIND ABOUT 2 BILLION AGAIN - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2020/02/17/ -- MICHEL PROPOSES 2 BLN MORE FOR POLAND AND WEAKENED TIE BETWEEN MONEY AND RULE OF LAW - JĘDRZEJ BIELECKI IN RZ: “For Poland, that proposal envisioned EUR 64 billion in cohesion policy, EUR 19 billion less than in the current budget period 2014–2020. Charles Michel limits this decrease to EUR 17 billion. He also proposes a rule of money for the rule of law, according to which funds can be frozen for a country where a lack of independent judiciary threatens the financial interests of the Union, meaning it does not guarantee proper oversight of EU funds. However, in a gesture towards the PiS government, Michel proposes to weaken the EC’s proposal in such a way that the decision to freeze funds would be more difficult and require a qualified majority of EU member states.” https://www.rp.pl/Fundusze-Europejskie/302169955-Unijny-budzet-troche-lepszy-dla-Polski.html -- INFLATION MAY SINK PIS - WITOLD GADOMSKI IN GW: “- Three months before the elections, rising prices are becoming the number one topic in conversations at the family table. The January inflation rate published by GUS – 4.4 percent – is the highest in years, but a large part of voters believes that the reality is much worse and prices are rising at a double-digit rate. (...) This mechanism could cause inflation to get out of control, and bringing it down to the level set by the inflation target will be a long and costly process. Let us recall that in 2000-01, reducing double-digit inflation to 5 percent required a drastic increase in interest rates, which slowed down economic growth and was the main reason for the electoral defeat of AWS and the Freedom Union.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,155290,25701228,inflacja-moze-zatopic-pis.html#S.DT-K.C-B.2-L.2.glowka -- PROFESSOR EWA ŁĘTOWSKA IN OKO ABOUT THE INVALIDITY OF KRS ELECTIONS WITHDRAWN SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATES: “The fact that ‘there is no appropriate provision for withdrawal’ is irrelevant. After all, there is also nothing about withdrawing support for candidates for judges of the Constitutional Tribunal, and recently support was withdrawn (and it was done by the party dominating the parliament) for Robert Jastrzębski and Prof. Elżbieta Chojna-Duch, and no one looked for a special provision then. The omission concerning Judge Nawacki calls into question the correctness of the Sejm’s selection of the entire list of 15 KRS members elected. This has serious consequences. It strengthens reservations about the correctness of the KRS’s selection – and thus about further actions taken with its participation in the judges’ promotion procedure.” -- PROF. ŁĘTOWSKA ON THE PRESIDENTIAL PREROGATIVE'S EXPANSIVE INTERPRETATION - IN A MONARCHIST-MYSTICAL SPIRIT: “And here again, a general remark. Presidential prerogative in the Polish constitutional system means that the president issues an act without the prime minister’s countersignature. However, the concept promoted by the president’s entourage is a different understanding of prerogative, in a monarchist-mystical spirit: any official contact of the president with any act is to sanction [heal, nullify legal violations – ed.] all defects of the preceding procedure. I wonder if this means that the president could also 'fix' a flawed process of professorial appointment or granting citizenship? This is an expansion of the interpretation of the constitutional prerogative to circumvent procedural omissions and errors. I would add that the constitution requires the President to appoint a judge upon the recommendation of the KRS. And what if there is no KRS recommendation because the formalities of electing the KRS itself were flawed, so it could not produce a recommendation?” -- PROF. ŁĘTOWSKA ON THE JUDICIAL “COOPERATIVE”: “The lists of support were constructed on the principle of a group-cooperative of judges grouped around the ministry, which is difficult to consider democratic progress compared to the rightly criticized overrepresentation of higher court judges in the elections to the previous KRS. Except that the previous elections were made by the judges themselves, within judicial assemblies organized throughout the country. The so-called cooperatives are criticized (rightly) when a group of author-scientists agrees on mutual citations to improve their ranking score. It was the same here, and this is evident from the published lists, where cross-support or mass support by delegated judges for several winning candidates appears. It looks like the judges were rallied here to give their support.” https://oko.press/letowska-to-byla-spoldzielnia-sedziow-skrzyknieto-do-udzielania-poparcia-trzeba-wybrac-nowa-krs/ -- LOTS OF WORDS, LITTLE CONTENT - AGATA KONDZIŃSKA ON GW'S FRONT PAGE: “According to one of PiS campaign strategists, the decision not to present concrete program points over the weekend was deliberate. – We can't shoot everything at once, hand it over to the opposition on a platter, there will be more events with concrete details – one of them tells us.” -- KONDZIŃSKA ON TWO CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS: “Beata Szydło, head of Duda’s first campaign, was present. In this campaign, she leads the conceptual headquarters, while Joachim Brudziński leads the organizational one. In total, there are about 30 people. Jarosław Kaczyński also attends the headquarters meeting once a week at the PiS headquarters on Nowogrodzka Street. – It's a sign to the insiders that the leader takes this campaign seriously. We know it won't be easy to win, so everyone must get involved – a PiS politician tells us.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,25702134,wybory-prezydenckie-2020-andrzej-duda-wsiada-do-dudabusa-ma.html -- EXTINGUISHING GASOLINE WITH ICING - MAREK BEYLIN IN GW: “Andrzej Duda’s presidential convention was based on evasions and fleeing from hot conflicts. It resembled extinguishing burning gasoline with icing. And the icing was the praise of the past policies of PiS and the president. (...) The main characters of the convention, the president, the party leader, and the prime minister, omitted in their speeches everything that Polish politics is living through today and what threatens the stability of power.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,25701234,konwencja-dudy-gaszenie-benzyny-za-pomoca-lukru.html -- CARE WAS TAKEN NOT TO USE UP FUEL, THE OPPOSITION WAS FRIGHTENED BY THE VICTORIOUS TONE - MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI: “It was this tone, in my opinion a victorious one, that the opposition was so frightened of. Andrzej Duda, Jarosław Kaczyński, Prime Minister Beata Szydło, and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki managed to avoid two fundamental pitfalls for a president seeking re-election. The first – complacency, arrogance, which voters always reject sooner or later. And the second – excessive revolutionary spirit, multiplying promises, which raises doubts in the case of politicians already in power (because they have been governing for several years). But it was also clearly ensured that all fuel would not be used up, that there would be enough energy, ideas, and topics for the next 85 days of the campaign.” -- KARNOWSKI ON MEDIA GIANTS ATTACKING PIS LIKE A DRUM, OFTEN WITH MONEY FROM PIS CIRCLES: “There is also worse news – after five years of governance, the situation in the media market has changed little (apart from the fundamental, democratizing role of TVP) compared to five years ago. The vast majority of media giants are attacking PiS like a drum, often, by the way, with money from circles close to PiS itself. But that’s a topic for another conversation.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/487153-tego-wlasnie-przestraszyla-sie-opozycja-po-konwencji-dudy -- BYPASS THE FILTER OF DECEITFUL MEDIA - STILL MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI: “Overall – a truly well-thought-out plan, initiated by a very successful convention, brilliantly echoing the one from five years ago but fresh, not repeating old tones. For anyone who also follows American politics, the inspirations from the election rallies (and not only election rallies) organized by Donald Trump throughout the United States were clear. To be with the people, to talk to the people, to bypass the filter of (largely) deceitful media, to move forward, to speak the truth boldly and directly to the people – for patriotic forces both here and there, this is the best recipe for success.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/487147-wylonil-sie-z-tej-konwencji-jasny-plan-kampanii-dudy -- HE WAS LIKE THEN, WHEN HE WON AGAINST KOMOROWSKI - JACEK KARNOWSKI: “He was in great form: relaxed, but focused. Confident, but humble. Serious, but witty. Clearly standing for reform, but also calling for mutual respect. Finally, skillfully, but unobtrusively highlighting his strengths, including his wife and daughter. In short, he was like he was when he won against Bronisław Komorowski. One might get the impression that campaign battles are something he enjoys, and which clearly benefits him.” -- THE POLISH SOUL HAS NOT YET BEEN GROUND DOWN - CONTINUED KARNOWSKI: “By saying that Poland is different now than it was 5 years ago, the president likely also emphasized the civilizational and worldview changes that make victory potentially even more difficult than five years ago. It's true, we as a nation are not immune to global processes, even bad or fatal ones, especially since they are driven by powerful forces within the country as well. But the Polish soul has not yet been ground down. What's more, a winning campaign can not only save what is good but also strengthen it. There is a very big chance for this again.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/smolensk/487175-taki-wlasnie-andrzej-duda-pokonal-bronislawa-komorowskiego -- THE DUDA 2020 PROJECT IS NOT YET FULLY READY, ALTHOUGH PIS CAN ORGANIZE A SPECTACLE - JACEK GĄDEK IN GAZETA.PL: “The PiS convention itself, where the president was formally a guest, is proof that PiS can organize people, a spectacle, and the setting. However, when the confetti settled, what remained were mainly solemn words, spectacular photos, and a conviction of their own strength. And there is still no program, and the mere announcement of continuity is presented as a breakthrough. One of the presidential ministers, when asked at the convention why there were no clear declarations about what the president would do, replies: – Relax, we still have 85 days. There is time to unleash the promises. In fact, it is a bit too early to pull aces out of the sleeve in the form of all promises. On the other hand, the president has not yet hidden these aces in his sleeve, because the program accompanying Duda is not yet finalized. The 'Duda 2020' project is not yet fully ready.” https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,25699400,wielka-feta-andrzeja-dudy-ale-projekt-duda-2020-nie-jest.html -- AN EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF PIS GOVERNMENTS - ANDRZEJ STANKIEWICZ IN Onet: “Such an atmosphere, a sense of power, also prevailed in the hall. There's no reason to be surprised. Although the convention – contrary to the grand announcements – was not particularly large or spectacular, the representation of the beneficiaries of PiS governments was numerous and spectacular: prime ministers, ministers, parliamentarians, and even members of the management of state-owned companies. Under the previous government, managers of state-owned companies – although they undoubtedly had political connections – avoided party events. This has changed under PiS.” -- THE ANTI-PIS ELECTORATE WILL BE VERY MOBILIZED - CONTINUED STANKIEWICZ: “Although the protests by anti-PiS activists under Hala Expo were few and centered around the middle finger gesture of PiS MP Joanna Lichocka, it means nothing. May is still far away, and the anti-PiS electorate will go to the polls very mobilized, something PiS leaders are aware of. In the parliamentary elections, they saw that this was dangerous for them. PO, PSL, and Lewica voters gathered almost 1 million more than those who voted for PiS, making the ruling camp significantly weaker today than in the previous term – they lost, for example, the Senate.” -- A PARTY THAT HAS TASTED POWER AND CANNOT IMAGINE LOSING IT - CONTINUED STANKIEWICZ: “In past years, relations between Kaczyński and Duda, between Duda and Szydło, or between Szydło and Morawiecki were sometimes hostile. But at this moment, they are all in the same boat. If Duda loses, everyone will lose. What's more, just a few months after a defeat, PiS could be in disarray. And at the convention, it was evident that this is a party that has tasted power and cannot imagine losing it. In this situation, the ruling camp wanted to show its unity above all – it was even more important than praising Duda's merits. This was the main message of the convention: all hands on deck.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/andrzej-duda-na-konwencji-rozpoczal-kampanie-analiza-andrzeja-stankiewicza/gvzh891 -- A REPEAT OF THE SAME, ONLY IN A SAD VERSION - MICHAŁ DANIELEWSKI IN OKO: “It was supposed to be a presidential convention like Poland has never seen, but it was a repeat of the PiS event before the parliamentary elections, only in a somewhat sadder version. The same speeches as always, the same arguments, and chaotic attacks on opponents. Andrzej Duda doesn't know who he wants to speak to, so he speaks to PiS voters.” -- TO BE AS IT IS - CONTINUED DANIELEWSKI: “Why should Andrzej Duda be head of state for the next five years? After the convention, it's still unclear. The argument for the president's re-election was one: choose me, so that things stay as they are.” -- VERY EFFICIENTLY, GRANDIOSELY, BUT DEFENSIVELY AND CHAOTICALLY - CONTINUED DANIELEWSKI: “The event, which was supposed to give a new impetus to the president in his fight for re-election, turned out to be a typical political event in form, to which PiS has accustomed us during the last three election campaigns: very efficiently and grandiosely executed in media terms. But in content – unlike the parliamentary elections – the convention was very defensive and narratively chaotic. The best example was the speech of former Prime Minister Beata Szydło, who suddenly attacked other candidates, but it was difficult to see a deeper political plan in it. And the accusation that Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska's face was retouched on her election poster sounded simply desperate.” -- CONVENTION FOR NO ONE? - CONTINUED DANIELEWSKI: “It is astonishing, but it is a fact: at Andrzej Duda’s convention, not a single promise was made regarding the next five years. There were general phrases that 'things are not perfect and much remains to be done,' but voters heard no concrete details. Perhaps because the president's strategists do not yet know what to promise. And more importantly – to whom?” -- DUDA'S CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS HAS NO IDEA FOR OFFENSIVE ACTIONS: “All of this is good news for the president's opponents: his campaign headquarters has no idea for offensive actions, it is focusing on defending the positions already gained and wants to wage a political war of attrition – from the trenches – in the coming weeks. And this gives room for the opposition's exploits. The question remains whether the opposition will take advantage of this opportunity.” https://oko.press/smetna-konwencja-dudy-glowne-przeslanie-wybierzcie-mnie-zeby-bylo-tak-jak-jest/ -- ADAM MICKIEWICZ AS DUDA'S SPIN DOCTOR - POLAND FROM SOPLICOWO - PIOTR KASZCZYSZYN IN KLUB JAGIELLOŃSKI: “More of the same – that’s what one might assess the United Right’s election convention at first glance. And there is, of course, a lot of truth in this, but it’s worth digging a little deeper. Once we set aside the ritualistic references to Smolensk, the judiciary, or the fight for Polish 'independence,' we will find that behind the political narrative of the ruling camp stands... our favorite national bard. Andrzej Duda’s Poland is one grand reconstruction of Soplicowo.” -- KASZCZYSZYN ON THE OPPOSITION LACKING REAL COMPETITION FOR THE VISION OF "WHITE-RED WATER IN THE TAP": “The political imagination of the United Right operates at the level of a multi-generational family, in which the president is the equivalent of a Judge – a host touring every district and every municipality, listening to the joys and successes, complaints and grievances of each of the national household members. Andrzej Duda himself announced precisely such a vision of a 'wandering presidency.' The project of a conservative welfare state, the vision of 'white-red warm water in the tap' outlined by Prime Minister Morawiecki in his exposé, and the practice of direct social transfers (the political host of the Polish home cares for the economic well-being of the household members) also fit perfectly into this family narrative. Combining these four elements, we get a picture of one great happy family of Poles. And here we come to a certain problem. One can object to the political imagination of the United Right, but so far there is no real competition for it. In this situation, we are dealing with a kind of 'narrative monopoly' – there is no one to seriously compete with the 'good change' story. And monopolies are never good.” https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2020/02/15/adam-mickiewicz-spin-doktorem-pis-u-prezydentura-wedlug-andrzeja-dudy/ -- GOOD IDEA FOR THE OPPOSITION - TOMASZ SAWCZUK IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: “PiS will not give up – it will radicalize the conflict and strengthen its own group. Over time, however, the impression may grow that all this PiS arrogance is empty, unnecessary, barren – contrary to declarations, little results from it. In this sense, the opposition's idea to propose shifting money from TVP to oncology was very good. The task for Borys Budka, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, as well as Lewica, could be as follows: to show that the opposition is not disdainful. To create conditions in which PiS can be left behind without sentimentality.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2020/02/17/sawczuk-w-poniedzialek-ile-wazy-srodkowy-palec-lichockiej/ -- RZ WRITES ABOUT CZAPUTOWICZ'S CONFIDENTIAL REQUEST FOR A MEETING WITH LAVROV AND THE MFA'S DIFFICULT MISSION REGARDING SMOLENSK - Jędrzej Bielecki: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs planned meticulous diplomatic work. However, before the Polish Embassy in Moscow submitted a confidential note on Friday requesting a meeting between the head of Polish diplomacy and Sergey Lavrov, Jacek Czaputowicz fell victim to the rivalry between the Prime Minister and the President in foreign affairs. On Thursday, the head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, Michał Dworczyk, announced that Mateusz Morawiecki wanted to go to Smolensk. And the next day, the President’s spokesperson, Błażej Spychalski, not only questioned Dworczyk’s credibility but also personally decided that a meeting between Czaputowicz and Lavrov would take place. Russia is already playing on this internal Polish dispute. Lavrov, who, like the Polish minister, was at the Munich Security Conference that weekend, 'did not find time' to meet with the Pole. And Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Vladimir Putin is 'not currently' planning a visit to Smolensk and a meeting with Morawiecki, as if Moscow had already agreed to the arrival of the Polish delegation and Poland had requested meetings with Russian leaders on this occasion. Can Russia refuse to allow the President of Poland to visit Smolensk?” https://www.rp.pl/Wybory-prezydenckie-2020/302169968-Smolenska-pulapka-przed-wyborami-prezydenckimi.html -- TOMASZ KRZYŻAK ON ANOTHER OF PUTIN'S MANEUVERS AGAINST POLAND: “Such a scenario is indeed very probable. But Vladimir Putin knows he must let Poles into Smolensk. If he didn't, he would harm himself on the international stage. He will delay, try to force our politicians to grovel, to make concessions, but ultimately he will agree. And the Polish side knows this too. The most important thing now seems to be to contain emotions. However, our politicians have a great problem with this.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/200219522-Tomasz-Krzyzak-Smolensk-moze-zawazyc.html -- MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI ON THE PHENOMENON OF THE OWNERS OF POLAND: “The source is the conviction of the broadly defined camp of the Third Polish Republic that they are the owners of Poland. That they are not pretenders to power, but its holders. That the only healthy democracy is one in which they rule. And when only media close to them scrutinize politicians, and only those they dislike. Opposing views may exist, but in niches, surrounded by sanitary walls. But for THEM to rule? They had a majority in parliament? It's unthinkable.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/487275-kto-ma-prawo-mowic-czego-oczekuja-polacy -- CONSERVATIVE TELEVISION ON THE FEELINGS OF SINGLES - PIOTR ZAREMBA ON THE PREMIERE OF TELEVISION THEATRE TODAY: "It's funny, a television considered conservative tells us about the feelings of singles who by no means live 'exemplarily'. The text introduces a bit of order into their lives, but it doesn't lecture anyone, it doesn't convert anyone. This coming Monday, you will simply meet some nice people who should finally succeed. One feels like cheering for them. Like Komarnicka and Solarz, so that there are as many of them as possible on screen.” https://wpolityce.pl/kultura/487221-spiewajmy-starszych-panow?fbclid=IwAR2IkYhODPP62kzYK0sCEwmtPWUDJgII6vpmranSWKD5FKSMhENlmEVWFZA -- PIOTR ZAREMBA ON FACEBOOK ABOUT THE FAREWELL OF JERZY GRUZA: “He did several things for theatre, but above all, especially in the 70s, he was the creator of television theatres. 'Artur Ui's Career,' almost a youth play, yet faithful to the author of 'Romeo and Juliet,' a truly great 'The Inspector General' with Łomnicki and Fronczewski, 'Erik XIV' with Walczewski' – these were productions that drew me forever to the theatre, shaped me. He literally brought theatre to our doorsteps, to our m2 and m3 flats. I myself am indebted to Mr. Jerzy. And I managed to tell him this, by bothering him about the film 'Gulczas, and how do you think.' He didn't get offended by criticism, by the way. And there was reason to shower him with gold, to celebrate him, which he didn't experience. I will tell anecdotes in a separate text. Again, a poignant feeling that a part of me, my associations, my imagination is leaving. Sad. May he rest in peace, Lord.” -- BIRTHDAYS: Ludwik Turko, Marek Beylin, Cezary Kucharski, Joanna Skrzydlewska, Krzysztof Kosiński.