-- SASIN APOLOGIZES TO GOWIN, TERLECKI STATES THERE WILL BE NO VOTING BOOTHS, KOWALCZYK ON THE FINANCIAL CUSHION - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2020/04/02/ -- UKRAINIANS LEFT BECAUSE THEY FEARED BEING TREATED AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS - MAŁGORZATA NOCUŃ in Tygodnik Powszechny: “Thousands of Ukrainians left Poland in panic. Old sins came back to haunt us: lack of reliable information in foreign languages and a lack of empathy. Those leaving feared that during the epidemic they would be treated as second-class citizens. Swietłana and Nadia work in Poland on a rotating basis: they come for a few months, and after that time they switch with their colleagues. What did they feel when they heard about the approaching epidemic? Fear, uncertainty, loneliness. After some time, panic too. They were afraid that they would be stuck in Poland after the border closure (and their visas and residence permits would expire during this time). They were afraid of getting sick. They were also afraid for their charges – the elderly and infirm.” https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/polska-choroba-162909 -- THE EU LOST THE MATCH BY FORFEIT, THE CONCEPT OF "FOREIGNERS" HAS RETURNED - OLGA TOKARCZUK IN A TRANSLATION OF HER TEXT FROM FAZ: “In doing so, sad truths have been revealed to us – that in times of danger, thinking in exclusionary and outcasting categories of nations and borders returns. At this difficult moment, it has become clear how weak the idea of a European community is in practice. The EU essentially surrendered the match by forfeit, handing over decisions in times of crisis to nation-states. I consider the closure of national borders to be the greatest failure of this wretched time – old egoisms and the categories of 'us' and 'them' have returned, precisely what we have been fighting against for years with the hope that it would never again shape our minds. The fear of the virus automatically invoked the simplest atavistic conviction that some foreigners are to blame and that they always bring danger from somewhere. In Europe, the virus is 'from somewhere,' it's not ours, it's foreign. In Poland, everyone returning from abroad became suspicious. The wave of slammed borders, monstrous queues at border crossings were likely a shock for many young people. The virus reminds us: borders exist and are doing well.” -- BEFORE OUR EYES, THE CIVILIZATIONAL PARADIGM THAT WE ARE THE MASTERS OF CREATION AND THE WORLD BELONGS TO US IS DISSIPATING LIKE SMOKE - TOKARCZUK CONTINUES: “I also fear that the virus will quickly remind us of another old truth, how unequal we are. Some of us will fly home by private jet to an island or to a secluded forest, while others will remain in the cities to operate power plants and waterworks. Still others will risk their health working in shops and hospitals. Some will profit from the epidemic, while others will lose the savings of their lives. The coming crisis will likely undermine the principles that seemed stable to us; many countries will not cope with it, and in the face of their decomposition, new orders will emerge, as often happens after crises. We sit at home, read books, and watch series, but in reality, we are preparing for a great battle for a new reality, which we cannot even imagine, slowly understanding that nothing will ever be the same as it was before. The situation of forced quarantine and housing the family together at home can make us realize something we would not want to admit: that family is a burden, that marital bonds have long since rotted away. Our children will emerge from quarantine addicted to the internet, and many of us will realize the senselessness and futility of a situation we are mechanically and by inertia stuck in. And what if the number of murders, suicides, and mental illnesses increases? Before our eyes, the civilizational paradigm that has shaped us for the last two hundred years is dissipating like smoke: that we are the masters of creation, we can do anything, and the world belongs to us. New times are coming.” https://www.facebook.com/OlgaTokarczukProfil/posts/2716151888513431 -- A SCENARIO WITHOUT ELECTIONS IS THE WORST OPTION AND CHAOS WHEN WE ARE FIGHTING TO EMERGE FROM THE CRISIS - MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI: “In reality, it's the opposite: a scenario without presidential elections is the worst possible news for Poland, a prospect of chaos at the worst possible moment – when we are fighting to emerge from the crisis.” -- IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO POSTPONE ELECTIONS WITH THE TOTAL OPPOSITION - KARNOWSKI CONTINUES: “It's impossible to seriously, calmly postpone elections with the total opposition. It's a zero-one choice: stability and focus on fighting the crisis, or a hysterical, hellish campaign, likely lasting a year.” -- ANNULING ELECTIONS IS THE HELL OF ANARCHY - KARNOWSKI CONTINUES: “From this perspective, the May 10 elections, though difficult and demanding, may be the price to pay for Poland's continued development, for not wasting what we have achieved in recent years. A seemingly attractive and simple postponement may mean the hell of anarchy, and consequently, a permanent descent to a lower orbit. I emphasize: if the opposition succeeds in this new putsch, this attempt to annul the elections, Poland will face chaos during the most difficult period of fighting to emerge from the crisis. Think. Choose. Don't be fooled. See who has suddenly become "concerned" about Poles.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/494019-jesli-opozycji-uda-sie-ten-nowy-pucz-polske-czeka-chaos -- THE ENTIRE POLITICAL CLASS IS FAILING A CIVILIZATIONAL EXAM, THE CONSEQUENCE WILL BE DEEPENED POLARIZATION AND FURTHER EROSION OF SOCIAL CAPITAL - RYSZARD BUGAJ in RZ: “The responsibility lies primarily with the ruling party, which is treating the crisis as an opportunity to gain political dominance. Pushing for presidential elections in May is a clear manifestation of this. However, the stance of the liberal-left opposition is also not dialogical. When I hear statements from, for example, MP Izabela Leszczyna (PO/KO) or MP Krzysztof Gawkowski (Lewica), it is difficult for me to resist the impression that the barriers to agreement are not only on the side of the rulers. At this moment, the political class is failing a historical exam. The consequence may be a further deepening of not only political but also social polarization, as well as the erosion of social capital.” https://www.rp.pl/Publicystyka/304019905-Ryszard-Bugaj-Klasa-polityczna-oblala-historyczny-egzamin.html -- DR PIOTROWSKI TELLS DGP ABOUT THE INCONSISTENCY OF THE NEW DRAFT WITH THE CONSTITUTION: “This is a law entirely inconsistent with the constitution and therefore should not be passed. It refers to elections already called by the Marshal of the Sejm. And after they are called, no changes can be made to their organization, and this would be fundamental. Even if – as a result of the introduction of a state of emergency – voting were postponed, the further electoral calendar would be implemented after its cessation.” https://prawo.gazetaprawna.pl/artykuly/1465976,piotrowski-glosowanie-korespondencyjne-niezgodne-z-konstytucja.html -- KACZYŃSKI HAS RALLYED HIS TEAM FOR A CHARGE TOWARDS THE WALL OF REALITY - DR JAROSŁAW FLIS in conversation with Jacek Gądek on Gazeta.pl: “On a common-sense level: it makes no sense. I am not insightful enough to find one. Jarosław Kaczyński has rallied his team for a charge towards the wall of reality. This moment of charging is fantastic because everyone listens, tries, mobilizes, and has adrenaline in their veins, but the wall is inevitably approaching. Closing your eyes does not make the impact of hitting the wall at full speed any less painful.” -- THEY ARE CREATING ENEMIES FOR THEMSELVES AND BRINGING THEMSELVES CLOSER TO DEFEAT - FLIS CONTINUES: “Undoubtedly, however, the actions of the ruling camp regarding the elections are bringing them closer to defeat. They are creating enemies for themselves and undermining trust. The attempt to push through the May 10 elections may indicate that they are simply afraid – as they themselves believe they will not cope with the possible economic crisis.” -- THESE ARE NOT OVERSTATED FEARS - FLIS ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ELECTIONS: “Feasible, but after long and careful preparations, carried out with general consent, without political conflict, and in calm times. In the current situation, even normal elections are not feasible – local governments are rebelling because they feel opposition from rank-and-file officials, school administration, and that part of active citizens who usually staffed the polling stations. People are reading news from France about infected commission members. An analysis of infections in Germany suggests that these are not overstated fears. Bavaria, where elections were held two weeks ago, has now taken the lead in the number of infections per capita.” https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,25836998,flis-jaroslaw-kaczynski-skrzyknal-swoja-druzyne-do-szarzy-ku.html -- Photo. Gustave Courbet, The Desperate Man. The painting (self-portrait) is in the collection of BNP Paribas. Analysis of the French realist's work: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-probing-gustave-courbets-inner-thoughts-the-desperate-man -- POLITICAL GAIN FOR PIS GREATER THAN POTENTIAL LOSSES - ANDRZEJ STANKIEWICZ: “However, public sentiment can be variable. If Kaczyński manages to hold the elections in May despite everything and secure Andrzej Duda's place in the presidential office for another 5 years, then PiS's political gain may be greater than the potential losses. This is about over 3 years of electoral calm, which Kaczyński can devote to stabilizing the situation after the epidemic to defend PiS's political dominance on the political scene.” -- ALTHOUGH STANKIEWICZ DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE REALITY OF THE MAY ELECTIONS: https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/senat-moze-zablokowac-glosowanie-korespondencyjne-analiza/gp2zkbs -- JACEK NIZINKIEWICZ IN RZ COMPARES THE MAY 10 ELECTIONS TO THE SMOLENSK CATASTROPHE: “The numbers of deaths and infections due to coronavirus are underestimated, there is a lack of equipment, doctors are being 'gagged,' people are losing their jobs, recession is hitting Poland, and in recent years PiS and President Duda have done little for healthcare and have not secured sufficient resources for a time of crisis. Moreover, the May 10 presidential elections could be easily challenged, and the organizers could be sued for endangering life and health. The issue of elections is a popular substitute topic, diverting attention from the government's growing problems. And even if President Kaczyński insisted on the elections, he knows that a repeat of the potential tragedy, exactly one month after the tenth anniversary of the Smolensk disaster, cannot be allowed.” https://www.rp.pl/Kraj/304019900-Nizinkiewicz-Nieudolnosc-rzadu-a-fikcyjne-wybory.html -- KACZYŃSKI DID NOT PREPARE POLAND FOR THE CRISIS - CEZARY MICHALSKI in WIADOMO.CO: “Jarosław Kaczyński, during over four years of his undivided rule, did not prepare Poland for this crisis. He did not prepare it for any crisis, because throughout that entire time, he was solely concerned with consolidating his personal power and the power of his party. Without any thought for the future of the Polish state and the Polish community. By allocating all the reserves and resources of the state built over 30 years to political corruption in the interest of PiS. Destroying the institutions, laws, and norms that stabilize Polish democracy, built over 30 years. Pursuing a purely ad hoc policy, not focused on the future.” -- THIS IS CARACAS IN WARSAW - MICHALSKI CONTINUES: “Maduro in Venezuela still has his version of PiS's 'hard electorate,' which, armed with batons and rifles, keeps him in power in a totally bankrupt and destroyed country. As you can see, it will be difficult to escape from such a Venezuelan Poland, once it is created, for us and our children. Therefore, today we must do everything possible (in cooperation with our 'experts,' i.e., politicians and leaders of the parliamentary opposition) to prevent or at least hinder Kaczyński's construction of not Budapest, but Caracas in Warsaw.” -- MICHALSKI ON SUPPORTING KO: “Therefore, relying on the authority of experts from the political, party opposition – if they order a boycott of the May 10 elections, I will boycott them; if they propose participation in voting for a joint candidate or an opposition candidate – I will go and vote for him or her; if neither a boycott nor an agreement on a common candidate is successful – I will vote for the candidate of PO and KO (because it is the party and coalition closest to me).” https://wiadomo.co/cezary-michalski-caracas-w-warszawie/ -- TAKE AWAY GRANDMA'S KEYS - THE MESSAGE ABOUT THE ISOLATION OF THE ELDERLY SOUNDS HEARTLESS - KINGA DUNIN in conversation with Michał Sutowski in Krytyka Polityczna: “Separating an entire social group under the banner of solving a problem makes that group associated with illness. Old people – coronavirus – death. Simple, right? Social isolation promotes segregation, and that's already the first big step towards discrimination, every social psychologist knows that. And I want to state clearly that I do not deny the need to consider various possible solutions. I am only saying how it looks from the perspective of someone who could be subject to such restrictions. The message about isolating the elderly looks and sounds simply heartless. Like some campaign of 'take away grandma's keys.'” -- THE OLD ECONOMY WILL RETURN - DUNIN CONTINUES: “I read various scenarios, from building eco-socialism on the ruins of capitalism to the belief that there will rather be a return to a more traditional society, thinking in national terms, that the right will benefit from it. I fear that it will rather be business as usual under conditions of economic shock. The belief that we will consider economic growth some kind of fetish, and instead, we will learn to live cheaper, better, more equitably, seems rather illusory – the pandemic may rather delay ecological solutions, because when the virus subsides, we will have to frantically boost what exists again, and our economy is not ecological. It's likely that postponed consumption will pick up, which also won't necessarily be very conscious and sustainable. And, of course, what happens to society will be influenced by the economic situation.” https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/michal-sutowski-kinga-dunin-koronawirus-strategie-dylematy/ -- BIRTHDAYS: Ludwika Wujec, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, Krzysztof Skórzyński, Krzysztof Skowroński, Roman Młodkowski.