-- SE: PIS TO FIELD A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE? “It would be a political earthquake. Rumors are swirling within PiS. - Jarosław Kaczyński (71) is losing patience. There are whispers that we will field a different presidential candidate – says a source close to the party leader. What’s behind this potential change? A meeting between the PiS leader and Andrzej Duda ended in an argument. (...) - To put it mildly, the leader left that meeting very angry. He is losing patience. Various scenarios are being considered, including withdrawing support for Andrzej Duda in the presidential election – adds our informant from Jarosław Kaczyński’s circle”. https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/polityka/jaroslaw-kaczynski-zastanawia-sie-nad-zmiana-kandydata-na-najwyzszy-urzad-w-panstwie-duda-straci-poparcie-pis-aa-7RCi-m5UU-9zfT.html -- THE SE PUBLICATION WAS DENIED THIS MORNING ON TRÓJKA BY JACEK SASIN. https://300polityka.pl/live/2020/03/05/sasin-kandydatem-pis-na-prezydenta-jest-prezydent-andrzej-duda-doniesien-jednego-z-tabloidow-nie-nalezy-traktowac-powaznie/ -- WILL THE VETO SHOT FIRE? - TOMASZ ŻÓŁCIAK AND GRZEGORZ OSIECKI IN DGP: “On the other hand, a veto could help the president’s campaign team detach him from his mother party – which is precisely Andrzej Duda’s main problem today. Moreover, even now, the more suspicious observers are asking if the exchange of words between the Palace and Nowogrodzka is a form of political theater designed to amplify this impression and prove the head of state’s political autonomy. The president himself emphasizes at his campaign rallies that he has occasionally vetoed bills presented by PiS, and that his party colleagues were grateful for it afterward. The president’s image damage can also be limited by the coronavirus issue, which as of yesterday is officially also in Poland and around which the opposition has built a not very credible narrative that the government and services are hiding the truth about the first infection cases from the public”. -- A MILESTONE IN THE CAMPAIGN - CONTINUED BY ŻÓŁCIAK AND OSIECKI: “If we can speak of any milestones in the election campaign, the president is approaching one of them. Tomorrow is the deadline by which he must decide what to do with the famous PLN 2 billion for TVP and Polish Radio. People close to Andrzej Duda told us yesterday that the most likely scenario at the moment is to veto the bill”. https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/artykuly/1457540,prezydent-zawetuje-2-mld-dla-tvp.html?fbclid=IwAR2TybMg1i_Y-oPlwTNHWBEToEbkXmQU0EZdfk7HLLiZ7q1qr3RxxPYhlM0 -- INTENSIFYING DUEL BETWEEN PO AND PSL - ZUZANNA DĄBROWSKA IN RZ: “Since the Civic Coalition (KO) candidate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, is not exactly dazzling with her result – just over 23 percent – we can already speak of an intensifying duel between former coalition partners: PO and PSL. This is especially true since public appearances show that it is the leader of the peasant party who is on the offensive, while the KO candidate is not necessarily. This was observable on Wednesday, during a morning interview on TVN 24, where she avoided clear statements and was reluctant to reveal her views on important social issues, such as pensions or the tragic situation of refugees in Turkey. Perhaps this is a temporary dip in form, but there is little mercy in politics. Kosiniak-Kamysz must capitalize on this situation”. https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/303049883-Dabrowska-Czy-Kosiniak-Kamysz-dojdzie-po-swoje.html -- DWORCZYK ON THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO SMOLENSK: https://300polityka.pl/live/2020/03/05/ -- KIDAW'S FEAR OF PI'S NARRATIVE ON REFUGEES - MICHAŁ SUTOWSKI IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA: “Kidawa-Błońska’s statement – planned or instinctive, we don’t know – was likely dictated by the fear that PiS will again leverage a potential refugee crisis to its advantage. However, in these matters, PO, KO, or their presidential candidate will never be better than the ruling right-wing and its extreme flank. Such stories and accusations, on the other hand, strengthen the debate framework favorable to PiS: here we have another invasion of Europe, with Muslims arriving in Poland through porous borders. With such enemies, PiS has nothing to fear but friends and itself”. https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/malgorzata-kidawa-blonska-uchodzcy/ -- OKO.PRESS ALSO CRITICIZES KIDAW FOR HER WORDS ABOUT REFUGEES - as Marta K. Nowak writes: “‘What is happening is very dangerous,’ said the presidential candidate, and she warned: under PiS, 19,000 people ‘arrived,’ and the borders are not safe. These 19,000 are refugees, mainly from Russia, who managed to apply for asylum; several times fewer received protection. Spreading fear and repeating stereotypes is truly dangerous”. https://oko.press/na-granicy-turcji-z-grecja-atmosfera-pogromu-a-malgorzata-kidawa-blonska-straszy-uchodzcami/ -- CELEBRITIES USE FAN SYMPATHY TO HELP THE WEAKER, SAVE THE CLIMATE, NOT TO FIGHT FOR POWER - JACEK ŻAKOWSKI ON HOŁOWNIA IN GW: “In established democracies, it is easy to observe the principle that a person without political experience does not seek the highest offices, and if they try, serious people will not support them. Without this principle, the European Council would consist of actors, footballers, and YouTubers. With predictable results. The cage of rules means that celebrities use fan sympathy to save the climate and help the weaker, but not to fight for power”. https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,25757385,klatka-zasad.html#S.main_topic-K.C-B.3-L.2.glowka -- TARCZYŃSKI IS A PRODUCT OF PiS IDEOLOGY - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “There is another place for a debate with historical figures. But perhaps MP Tarczyński, who has already become known for several uncivilized behaviors, does not know this. Nevertheless, it is truly difficult to conclude that this is an accident at work, or behavior that casts a shadow on Law and Justice. Dominik Tarczyński is simply a product of PiS ideology, a graduate of the historical policy created by Kaczyński”. -- HARASSING MICHNIK IS AN ACT OF COWARDICE, NOT BRAVERY - CONTINUED BY SZUŁDRZYŃSKI: “But accosting Adam Michnik on a train is an act of cowardice, not bravery. Especially since, as we wrote on Wednesday in ‘Rzeczpospolita,’ the prosecutor general from the martial law period was recently buried at the Military Powązki Cemetery, and a few weeks later, the PRL-era Deputy Minister of National Defense responsible for propaganda was laid to rest there. But it is easier to chase Michnik, whom he dislikes, on a train and shove a smartphone in his face than to engage in substantive work as an MEP”. -- CAN PRESIDENT DUDU AFFORD MACRON’S GESTURE? - JAROSŁAW KURSKI IN GW: “A year ago in Paris, during the ‘yellow vest’ protests, demonstrators hurled anti-Semitic insults at the right-leaning philosopher Alain Finkielkraut. France was politically divided over the ‘yellow vests’ and President Macron’s assessment. But Macron stood up for the insulted philosopher: – Alain Finkielkraut, the son of Polish immigrants who became a French scholar, is not only a significant writer but a symbol of the opportunities offered by the Republic. The anti-Semitic attacks he has fallen victim to completely deny who we are and what makes us a great nation. We will not tolerate this. Mr. President, today you can act like Macron or behave as usual”. https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,25758943,chamstwo-europosla-pis-czy-prezydenta-dude-stac-na-gest-macrona.html -- THE VIRUS CAN INFECT ANDRZEJ DUDA'S CAMPAIGN - JACEK NIZINKIEWICZ IN RZ: “In an election campaign, everything is politics. The coronavirus has also become politicized. Whether Poles feel informed and protected by the state will depend on the authorities’ reaction and honest reporting. The opposition’s behavior will show whether it is responsible or rather cynically exploiting misfortune for political gain. If the level of chaos and disinformation, as well as shortages in healthcare, continues to grow, the authorities will face public anger. And part of the authorities is Andrzej Duda, whose campaign could be infected by the virus”. https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/200309674-Nizinkiewicz-Jak-koronawirus-wplynie-na-kampanie-prezydencka-w-Polsce.html -- THE CORONAVIRUS LAW IS FIT FOR THE BIN - PROF. EWA ŁĘTOWSKA IN GW: “It’s disgusting political blackmail. But one must not be blackmailed. The opposition has no excuse. Of course, they would be criticized. I repeat: So what! Out of fear of criticism, one cannot agree to laws that harm entrepreneurs, allow universities to be closed, and disempower local governments, to whom the voivode will be able to dictate whatever he pleases. I see it darkly, but let someone prove to me that these regulations will not be used against disliked entrepreneurs and local governments. Experience speaks through me, because we have already seen what this government does to those it dislikes”. https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,25755535,prof-ewa-letowska-ustawa-o-koronawirusie-narusza-konstytucje.html -- PROF. ZAJADŁO ECHOES ŁĘTOWSKA ON THE SPECIAL LAW - in Oko: “First, there is no control over whether the application of the radical provisions of this law is justified; second, it is an attempt to circumvent the constitution and introduce a state of emergency ‘through the back door’; and third, an exceptionally low level of legislative technique”. https://oko.press/prof-zajadlo-trzy-grzechy-specustawy-dotyczacej-koronawirusa/ -- SŁAWOMIR DUDEK, WHO LEFT THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AFTER 23 YEARS, ON THE INFLATIONARY THREAT - says in an interview with Leszek Kostrzewski and Piotr Miączyński in GW: “– It’s worth looking at Romania’s example. There was also a similar strong increase in social transfer spending as here, and it ended with very high inflation – reaching 5 percent. It’s very similar in Hungary. The costs of servicing debt have also increased significantly, leaving less money in the budget to spend. We already have high inflation”. -- THE VAT GAP HAS INCREASED - SAYS DUDEK: “– Regarding VAT, according to my updated calculations using the methodology of the European Commission, i.e., verified indicators, the VAT gap in 2019 was 9.9 percent, meaning it increased compared to 2018. CASE has even higher estimates, speaking of 10.5 percent. The government planned PLN 7.5 billion in additional revenue from VAT ‘tightening’ in its expenditure rule. And preliminary estimates suggest that VAT may have even ‘loosened up’”. -- FINANCIAL STABILITY IS THREATENED - CONTINUED BY DUDEK: “Currently, public finance stability is threatened – if the economic situation deteriorates, we will end up with a deficit that may even exceed 3 percent, the limit allowed by the European Union. And then comes the excessive deficit procedure”. -- DUDEK PREDICTS A FISCAL TIGHTENING: “– The next areas for ‘tightening’ are PIT (personal income tax) and pension/disability contribution deductions, meaning, for example, introducing full contributions from civil law contracts. Theoretically, a cadastral property tax could also be introduced”. https://wyborcza.pl/7,155287,25734003,odszedl-po-23-latach-pracy-w-resorcie-finansow-i-zdradza-pisowskie.html -- BIRTHDAYS: Beata Biel, Barbara Piwnik, Marek Woźniak.