-- DISTANCES COULD HAVE BEEN GREATER - ŁUKASZ SZUMOWSKI ON THE OBSERVANCES - he said on Radio Zet. He also spoke about opening up the country: “I think it's a matter of slowly releasing areas and sectors, as you said, Madam Editor. Well, some shops might need to be opened. Finally, we can apply certain rigor in entering such a shop – whether, I don't know, footwear, or haberdashery, or clothing, right, or furniture, or… well, here I can… household appliances. Well, there are many such areas where we can slowly start…” https://wiadomosci.radiozet.pl/Gosc-Radia-ZET/Gosc-Radia-ZET.-Lukasz-Szumowski-Sklepy-odziezowe-Powoli-mozemy-je-uruchamiac -- EUROPE HAS AN OBLIGATION TO HELP ITALY, IT WAS BORN IN ITALY - PRIME MINISTER MATEUSZ MORAWIECKI IN AN ARTICLE FOR LA REPUBBLICA: “Europe has an obligation to help Italy. Europe was born right here in Italy. What would our continent be without Roman law, without the spiritual guidance of Rome, without the genius of Michelangelo? Only through solidarity can we pass this great exam as a community. The current crisis has unexpectedly and deeply affected the economic fabric, concerning entrepreneurs, employees, citizens, states, and local governments. The devastation that has been wrought is like deep wounds that will be difficult to heal.” -- POLISH PRIME MINISTER ON THE PLAN FOR THE EU: BASTA! LET US NOT TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE WRONGS OF THE MIGHTY OF THIS WORLD: “The European Union has effective instruments to combat the economic crisis. We need an ambitious EU budget, an ambitious cohesion policy, and a Common Agricultural Policy that will help rebuild the Union's economy. We must find new, fair sources of funding for the EU budget based on sectors that benefit most from the common market. We need bold solutions to increase investment and improve the labor market situation, which will concern all 27 member states. Half-measures are no solution today. Europe must show the will to change – by curbing the grey economy, fighting the VAT gap. Tax havens reduce the revenues of EU member states by approximately €170 billion per year. Let's say BASTA together! We cannot allow the weakest to pay for the crisis while turning a blind eye to the wrongs of the mighty of this world.” -- IT IS A SHAME THAT HIERARCHS WARNING AGAINST THE RAINBOW PLAGUE CANNOT TODAY EXPLAIN THE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF FAITH TO CATHOLICS - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “Why does God permit evil? Did he send the plague upon the world? Why did the coronavirus pandemic appear? Does what is happening to us today have a purpose? Not only children are asking their parents such questions in recent days, taking advantage of spending more time with them. They also appear in the minds of many adults. And it is a great shame that such a clear answer rarely comes from the Church on this matter. It is a shame that the Episcopate has not issued a separate document on this subject, which would remind people what it means to be a Christian. It is a shame that those who, on a daily basis, warn against the rainbow plague and gender, cannot today explain the fundamental truths of faith to Catholics.” -- WHERE THE CHURCH'S AUTHORITY DOES NOT PROVIDE ANSWERS, PEOPLE SETTLE FOR OVERLY SIMPLE CONCLUSIONS - SZUŁDRZYŃSKI CONTINUES: “They would have an opportunity to remind people that a Christian trusts God but is also a rational being, seeking meaning, trying to understand what tasks Providence sets for each of us, for our local, national, European community, but also for humanity as a whole. Many preachers have touched upon this topic in their speeches, homilies, retreats, or Lenten online reflections. But this voice has not resonated, especially at a time when such questions are becoming one of the biggest challenges. It is a shame, because where the Church's authority does not provide a clear answer, people begin to wander. And they settle for overly simple conclusions.” https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus/304109992-Michal-Szuldrzynski-Zaklecia-i-wiara-w-cud-nie-zastapia-higieny.html -- WE SHOULD BANISH SADNESS, THESE ARE JOYFUL HOLIDAYS - SISTER MAŁGORZATA CHMIELEWSKA in conversation with Dorota Kowalska in PTT: “And at the same time, we should use this time for deep reflection on the meaning of these holidays. For many of us, holidays are associated with external pomp, but here we have been suddenly forced by the situation to delve deep into the meaning of love, the meaning of existence, the meaning of our lives, our relationships. Perhaps for those who are confined in small homes with their families, it will be and is a difficult period, but it will also be a great lesson in love, quite simply, because we are forced to be with people, even our closest ones, 24 hours a day. One needs a bit of a sense of humor, a bit of looseness. Above all, however, one must banish sadness – these are joyful holidays that tell us, first, that evil has not won in this world, and second, these are the holidays of the Resurrection, indicating to Christians that life in this world is not the only life, that it is merely a path to a better world. And in this way, we can gain perspective on things we thought we couldn't live without until now.” -- FREE OURSELVES FROM LIFE'S GADGETS - SISTER CHMIELEWSKA CONTINUES: “That's what I'm talking about, life here on earth is a journey, and in a sense, perhaps these holidays will allow us to free ourselves from a whole host of life's gadgets that we considered essential for existence. They will allow us to free ourselves from our small habits, our way of thinking about ourselves and others, and generally about life, the meaning of life. This time can be treated from a Christian perspective as a school of poverty – we are not on this earth forever, regardless of whether we live for another month, two, five, or ten years. If we use this period well, we can emerge from it free.” -- ONE CAN BE A GOOD CATHOLIC WITHOUT BLESSING EGGS - S. CHMIELEWSKA AGAIN: “We emphasize rituals, but one can truly be a good Catholic without blessing Easter eggs. One can be a good Catholic without being in church. Excuse me, but are people who have been bedridden and paralyzed for years, and who receive communion once a month from a priest, not Catholics? Yes, they are, often better than those who rush to church every Sunday.” https://polskatimes.pl/s-chmielewska-przestanmy-rozpaczac-katastrofy-byly-sa-i-beda-wyciszmy-emocje/ar/c15-14910014 -- WE LACKED THE IMAGINATION THAT THIS BUSY WORLD WOULD NOT FUNCTION INDEFINITELY ON THE OLD RULES - OLGA TOKARCZUK in conversation with Michał Nogaś in GW: “I meant what many of us felt – deep down we knew we had hit a wall and something had to happen. However, I think most people in the world never imagined that a pandemic could stop and paralyze the world. Nothing truly dramatic had happened for a long time, so our imagination had fallen asleep. If, not so long ago, on Christmas, Cassandra had sat down at the table with us and said: 'In three months, you will be standing in queues, two meters apart, wearing masks, and most of you will be confined to your homes,' no one would have believed her. But we also lacked the imagination to admit that this global, busy, people-filled world would simply not function indefinitely on the old rules.” -- PERHAPS IMAGINATION NEEDS TO BE EXERCISED IN SPECIAL CLASSES? - TOKARCZUK CONTINUES: “Perhaps imagination needs to be exercised in special classes, just as the body is exercised in physical education classes?” -- SOMETHING IS TESTING US - TOKARCZUK SAYS: “If I were to try to find a metaphor for what we are currently experiencing – regardless of geographical latitude – I would say we are undergoing a test. Something is testing us. I don't know if it's fate, a demon, Nature, God, something impersonal, chance? It is testing us on many levels. It says: 'I'm checking!'. On an individual level, we are discovering those needs of ours that we have forgotten – for peace, solitude, detachment, reflection, boredom. By being confined at home, we can look closely at ourselves and our boundaries.” -- I DREAM OF A GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT AND TOLERANCE - OLGA TOKARCZUK CONTINUES: “I dream of a government that would treat citizens with respect and genuine tolerance, trying to reconcile different, often conflicting needs. I know, I hear myself. It sounds naive, but naivety is not always foolishness; it often expresses a foreseen natural ideal obviousness. I am tired of the kind of politics we have in Poland. 'Fishing in troubled waters,' pushing particular interests with an ironic smirk. Tiny midnight coups. Shameless cynicism.” -- WHAT WE DO TO ANIMALS IS A DARK METAPHOR FOR WHAT WE DO TO THE WORLD - TOKARCZUK CONTINUES: “For me, this is one of the most glaring proofs of human degradation – animals are mistreated, tortured, killed in the most cruel ways. I hope that the pressure of world public opinion will force the closure of this nightmarish business, not only in China, as this phenomenon is unfortunately widespread throughout Southeast Asia, from the Indochinese Peninsula to Indonesia and the Philippines. I think that what we do to animals is a dark metaphor for what we do to the world in general.” -- THE DEFINITION OF PRESENCE WILL CHANGE - OLGA TOKARCZUK AGAIN: “– And I think, and this will also be 'new,' that we will learn to live more remotely. The definition of presence will change, we will become less physical. It will turn out that there is no need to fly to a two-day conference on the other side of the world; one can participate in it from one's own kitchen. Technical possibilities for such remote participation will further develop rapidly, and any deficits in this type of communication, which are still felt today, will disappear. This is the seed of a completely new culture.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75410,25862088,olga-tokarczuk-cos-nas-testuje.html -- Photo. Resurrection (Noli me tangere) – a fresco by Giotto di Bondone painted around 1305 for the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. *One of the 40 frescoes painted by Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel, belonging to the cycle of scenes depicting the lives of Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary and Christ. The fresco depicts the scene of Jesus' resurrection according to the words in the Gospel of John. Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb, and when she saw the open tomb, she called the disciples Peter and John. When they saw that Jesus' body was not there, they returned home. Mary remained at the site: Mary Magdalene, however, stood before the tomb, weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb and saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain—one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. (John 20:11-14). In her left hand, she holds a banner with the inscription "VI[N]CI/TOR MOR/TIS" (Victor mortis - Conqueror of death). With her right hand, she gestures to stop him, saying, “Noli me tangere” – “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father” (John 20:17). Magdalene, depicted in the center of the fresco, kneels before the Lord with her hands outstretched towards him. The background of the scene is a rocky landscape with withered trees. They symbolize the period before the Resurrection. Under Jesus' feet, new green trees are growing, symbolizing the coming of redemption.* -- A BRILLIANT POLISH RADIO BROADCAST ABOUT GIOTTO (Michał Montowski, Grażyna Bastek) – available as a podcast on the Polish Radio player: https://www.polskieradio.pl/8/406/Artykul/931849,Legendarny-fresk-Giotta-di-Bondone -- MAŁGORZATA KIDAWA BŁOŃSKA ON PIŁSUDSKI - in conversation with Donata Subbotko in GW: “No, Kaczyński is not like Piłsudski. Although I evaluate Piłsudski negatively in many respects, he was a completely different type of person. Józef Piłsudski had more strength, temperament, and courage – even though my great-grandmother Maria considered herself braver, she used to laugh at him, but she could, because they were friends from youth, they worked together in the PPS, Piłsudski introduced her to my great-grandfather. In any case, what Piłsudski did at the beginning of his career proves that he was a courageous man with a vision. Kaczyński lacks courage. Would he be capable of the kind of conspiracy Piłsudski engaged in?” -- KIDAWA ON SUBBOTKO'S QUESTION ABOUT SLIPS OF THE TONGUE: “– No other candidate has had all their statements so thoroughly scrutinized. People on Twitter make sure I know exactly what wrong I've done. It's not about substantive errors – because I understand that – but about mocking ordinary slips of the tongue, which happen to others as well. At first, I was bothered by it, but when I thought about how many years I've been in politics and how many times I've made mistakes, I can truly sleep soundly. It seems to me that many of these remarks would not have been made if I were a man. I'm not saying I'm treated completely differently, but with the other candidates, who are all men, certain things go unnoticed.” -- KIDAWA ON COMPARISONS TO SOFIA LOREN: “– That's nice. A wonderful actress. I love Italy; it's hard to watch what's happening there now. I like Sophia Loren from Vittorio De Sica's film 'Matka i córka' (Mother and Daughter), but she could also play comedic roles. Italians were fortunate to have outstanding actresses; there were Giulietta Masina, Monica Vitti, and now they have Monica Bellucci... I even attended the theater school as a free listener once. I was influenced by Swinarski; I used to go to his plays in Krakow – I've never seen such a good 'Wyzwolenie' (Liberation) as the one with Jerzy Trela. I really wanted to go into theater directing, but back then you had to finish university first, so I chose sociology. And when I was finishing it, martial law broke out, I met Jasiek – one director in the family is enough.” -- WE BELIEVED WE WERE IMMORTAL - KIDAWA CONTINUES TO SUBBOTKO: “Just a short while ago, we were living as if we were immortal. We believed that humans were strong and in control of everything – now we have realized that we are not in control of many things at all. We feared wars, new types of weapons, but we forgot that a single virus could cause greater chaos. We read about such epidemics in literature from the 19th or early 20th century and had the impression that it didn't concern us. Meanwhile, the virus has affected modern, wealthy countries, theoretically prepared for everything. For now, we don't know what will happen in a week or two, how long it will last, and how much it will affect our social and economic life, both in our country and in other countries in Europe. We have lost our sense of security. The world has become a bit like a science fiction movie, and we don't know what tomorrow will bring. How to explain to children that they are not going to school or that something might happen to a loved one soon. For now, we are moving blindly. In situations of isolation, people cope worse with loneliness. It is a challenge even for families. Perhaps something good will emerge from this, but many people may be left scarred. And they will need to be taken care of.” https://wyborcza.pl/magazyn/7,124059,25857090,malgorzata-kidawa-blonska-zylismy-tak-jakbysmy-byli.html -- TODAY'S "THEM" ARE IN THE SAME PLACE AS TORANSKA'S "THEM" - KAROLINA WIGURA IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: “'Them' is a very important category in our country's politics. That was the title of one of Teresa Torańska's great books, containing interviews with people from the previous system. In the previous system, the term 'Them' referred to a group of people in power, detached from society and its ailments, and above the law. Whether they want it or not, today's 'Them' are in the same place.” -- POWER IS NOT WEAKENED BY ITS GROTESQUENESS; THE DATA SPEAKS FOR ITSELF - WIGURA RETURNS TO LORENZETTI'S FRESCO ALLEGORY IN SIENA - “On Lorenzettti's famous fresco in Siena, which metaphorically depicts good and bad governance, the bad ruler is as terrifying as he is grotesque. Eyes raised to the heavens, a face contorted with suffering – all this creates an image of grotesque. But power is not weakened by grotesqueness. On the contrary, grotesque and irrationality reinforce each other. I see posts on social media that point out Kaczyński's inconsistencies. Someone wrote that the same person who warned about bacteria carried by refugees now does not believe in viruses. But PiS is strong not in spite of its irrationality, but because of it. And for precisely this reason, the photos from Piłsudski Square, like other cases where PiS scandals and irrationalities were revealed, will have a consolidating effect on the party's voters, not the opposite. I wish I were wrong, but the data speaks for itself.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2020/04/10/cwiczenia-z-posluszenstwa/?fbclid=IwAR0z6VlpgDL7EKZgz20hSy7DXoetVc8fMIHF6XC7mVRTYFol_UpvQmP2DmQ -- NIEZLASZTUKA.NET WEBSITE ON LORENZETTI'S FRESCO IN SIENA: “The Allegory of Good and Bad Government is one of the most magnificent works of Sienese and Tuscan art of the 14th century. The Hall of the Nine Crowns the tour of the Palazzo Pubblico (further on, there is only a room where a few restored sculptures can be viewed). Lorenzetti's frescoes on the three walls of the chamber are a masterpiece worth spending hours admiring. The artist depicted secular themes here, with religion, still present in life, taking a backseat. This alone makes the work innovative. The task entrusted to Lorenzetti was to depict an ideal civic life, the realization of which is the most important duty of the City Council. The personification of the city is a bearded man (Comune Senarum) in the upper right part of the wall. The legendary founders of the city, the sons of Remus (hence the she-wolf in Siena's coat of arms), are depicted as playing boys at the feet of the bearded man.” https://niezlasztuka.net/o-sztuce/ambrogio-lorenzetti-alegoria-dobrych-i-zlych-rzadow/ -- PIOTR ZAREMBA ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY - PIS POLITICIANS WERE RELIEVED OF AN UNCOMFORTABLE DUTY - he writes in RZ: “The epidemic thwarted plans for the tenth anniversary of the Smolensk tragedy, whether on Russian soil or in Poland. There will be no further, perhaps the most important, monthly commemoration, although they always took place. It is hard not to get the impression that – to put it somewhat brutally – PiS politicians, especially Jarosław Kaczyński himself, have been relieved of an uncomfortable duty thanks to this. Because what would they tell their supporters who are still waiting for the Smolensk verdict?” -- FAKE NEWS VERSUS MARTYRDOM - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: “On one side, we had the trivialization of events, and even recourse to various fabricated fake news. As early as 2012, the left-wing politician Marek Borowski was able to quote in the Sejm an alleged statement by one of the Polish pilots: 'Let's show them how the pros fly.' Nothing like that was said; it's not on any version of the cockpit conversation recordings. They clung to conspiracy theories that President Kaczyński was forcing the crew to land. To this day, many serious Polish intellectuals believe that Jarosław Kaczyński was behind it all, urging his brother to hurry. There is no evidence for this either. On the other hand, we had an increasingly strong drive to document martyrdom, which was expressed in increasingly strong language, in talk of the 'fallen' and the 'assassination.' This group of people, led by the president, simply could not be victims of an ordinary coincidence, an ordinary catastrophe. A kind of Smolensk religion was created, which also became a test of loyalty for anyone aspiring to a more important place in that camp. The result was the tearing apart of the community, mutual contempt, and dislike bordering on hatred.” -- HOW FAR WERE FOREIGN DEVILS ACTIVE HERE - COMPROMISE OF THE STATE AND SPIRIT - ZAREMBA'S CONCLUSION: “For years, Smolensk became a symbol of irrational cruelty, with which one part of Poles denied another dignity and good intentions. I did not want to participate in such a 'debate' and still do not want to. I do not want to assign praise and blame after years, especially since in the case of Jarosław Kaczyński, and in part the entire PiS, we are dealing with understandable trauma after personal loss. This does not change the overall impression: the Smolensk catastrophe gave Poles a paradoxical chance to be better, to overcome their flaws. At least politicians, as well as journalists and intellectuals, did not take advantage of this opportunity. Regardless of how far foreign devils were active here, for me, it is a compromise of the Polish state and the Polish spirit.” https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus/304109997-Katastrofa-smolenska-Fake-newsy-kontra-meczenstwo.html -- IN THOSE DAYS LIES RESILIENCE - MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI: “In the memory of those days lies the secret of the great resilience of the pro-Polish, patriotic camp against later manipulation, witch hunts, and external pressure. Many of us took an oath then that Poland could never again fall into the hands of people who lie, who insult her, who are not worthy of her. An entire generation understood what was at stake. This is also the testament of the victims of the Smolensk tragedy. Likewise, the policy of the Polish state in terms of strengthening political and economic sovereignty, persistently building the Republic's position in the region, fighting for its rightful place in the European Union, strengthening key relations for security with the United States, appreciating NATO – this is the state philosophy of President Lech Kaczyński. Successfully implemented in recent years by Jarosław Kaczyński's political camp. This tragedy, this death during a state mission, was not in vain. It carries a living legacy of service to Poland. It remains a great commitment.” https://wpolityce.pl/smolensk/495250-testament-ofiar-10-kwietnia-to-wielkie-zywe-zobowiazanie -- EVEN THE "EUROPEAN" OPPOSITION WAVES THE WHITE AND RED FLAGS - JACEK KARNOWSKI: “Today, 10 years after that April, Poland is a different country. Patriotism, once reviled, has become commonplace, and even the 'European' opposition waves the white and red flags. There is no trace of pink balloons or chocolate eagles. The awareness that we must have a strong state has become widespread. The pedagogy of shame is dying even in the pages of 'Wyborcza.' It has been a long decade, and a very difficult one at that. But we had no other choice. Poland must exist, and it can only exist if Poles want it to.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/smolensk/495302-to-byl-wybor-miedzy-krzyzem-sprzed-palacu-a-krzyzem-z-puszek -- ERNEST SKALSKI ON THE OPPOSITION'S GAME - THERE SHOULD BE AN ESCAPE ROUTE FOR PEOPLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT CAMP - he writes in GW: “This opposition should have an understanding of the government camp, know who the weak link is, and offer them the possibility of functioning outside the ranks of loyal PiS service. To work towards the disintegration of the power structure, the language must be changed. This should be the task for opposition politicians and opinion-making centers. Meanwhile, they themselves whip each other up with harsh insults and accusations, with announcements of terrible punishments. Yes, such a message allows the defeated to vent their humiliation and powerlessness. And to remain powerless, even when they have significant assets in hand.” -- SKALSKI ON THE OPPOSITION DRIVEN BY SELF-SATISFACTION WITH ITS MORAL STANCE AND UNABLE TO ENGAGE IN THE GAME: “The opposition should realize that the year 2020 is difficult and dangerous for the government as well. Dealing with an increasingly dangerous pandemic exceeds its capabilities. Pushing for elections in May causes resistance from three-quarters of society. This includes potential Duda voters who would like to elect him, but at a different time. Driven by self-satisfaction with its moral stance, the opposition is unable to notice and utilize the opportunity to improve its position at the expense of the government. It is not always possible, or even necessary, to persuade someone from the opponent's ranks to your side. Neutralization is also a benefit. It can even be useful to establish contact with someone and reach an agreement on some point. Clearly, this is now about Gowin and his Agreement. Later, others may appear there.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,25862088,ludziom-wladzy-trzeba-wskazac-droge-ucieczki.html -- ANDRZEJ STANKIEWICZ CHECKED THE DEADLINES FOR FOREIGN EXPERT OPINIONS ON THE SMOLENSK CATASTROPHE - as he writes on Onet: “On the 10th anniversary of Smolensk, the prosecutor's office issued a statement that it is 'completing the opinions of foreign scientific institutes to which physicochemical analyses of samples taken from the crash site have been commissioned.' This is not precise information. As Onet checked with selected foreign laboratories, the deadlines for conducting the analyses have passed. For example, the Forensic Science Northern Ireland (FSNI) laboratory responded that they signed a contract with the Polish prosecution on October 10, 2017, for two years of research. Therefore, the results of the sample analyses are already in Poland. What do they show? The prosecutor's office communiqué says nothing about this, and Pasionek and Bednarczyk are, of course, silent.” -- THEY BEHAVE AS IF THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT SMOLENSK - STANKIEWICZ: “Before the elections, PiS constructed a precise narrative. According to it, Smolensk is most likely an assassination, before the flight the Tusk government conspired with the Russians, and then covered up the causes of the catastrophe by falsifying the government report of the Miller commission and leading the prosecutorial investigation astray. For four years in government, having all services and documents at its disposal, the ruling camp has not been able to prove even one element of this narrative. The last year clearly showed that in this situation, PiS decided to downplay Smolensk. Leading politicians of the ruling camp no longer suggest an assassination, they no longer talk about explosions on board or Tusk's machinations with Putin. They simply behave as if they have forgotten about Smolensk.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/katastrofa-smolenska-prokuratura-ukrywa-wyniki-ekshumacji/3n3pmqk -- WE GAVE OURSELVES AND OUR PARTNERS TIME - JAROSŁAW GOWIN IN CONVERSATION WITH JUSTYNA SUCHECKA AND SZYMON JADCZAK IN MAGAZYN TVN24: “Anyone who said that certainly did not participate in the meeting. We had the following dilemma to resolve: the vast majority of the Agreement's members believe that the elections should be postponed. On the other hand, there was a serious risk that voting against the correspondence voting bill in the Sejm would lead to the collapse of the ruling coalition. Thus, a government crisis would be added to the health and economic catastrophe. We decided that, as long as possible, we should postpone such a risk. Therefore, we appointed the necessary number of MPs who voted for sending the bill to the Senate. When it returns from there, we will make a final decision. Thus, we have given ourselves and our partners from PiS a few more weeks for talks, for seeking some compromise. We will know much more at the beginning of May. For example, whether Poczta Polska is prepared to conduct the elections – as PiS politicians hope – or is unprepared, as I suspect. And most importantly, we will know the stage of the epidemic. Unfortunately, the forecasts I have are not optimistic.” -- SHOULD I BE IN THE SAME GOVERNMENT AS THE MARXIST ZANDBERG? ABSURD RUMORS - GOWIN CONTINUES: “Hand on heart – I haven't discussed anything like that with anyone. It's an abstract idea. In this Sejm, the only stable, majority government can emerge from the United Right. Can you imagine me, a free-market Thatcherite, in the same government as a sincere Marxist, Adrian Zandberg? Seriously, these rumors are completely absurd. There have been no such talks, there are no such plans. We want to remain within the United Right, though not at any cost.” -- A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR A SHORT TIME IS CONCEIVABLE - GOWIN CONTINUES: “I do not rule out that it will be necessary to introduce a state of emergency for a short period. And that is conceivable. But we certainly cannot 'run with' this solution until next spring.” -- I AM IN FAVOR OF CORRESPONDENCE ELECTIONS, BUT NOT AT THIS TIME: “Let's be precise. I didn't say anything about President Kaczyński, and I meant elections conducted by traditional methods. The proposal to introduce correspondence voting came later. I emphasize again: I am a staunch supporter of adopting a law enabling correspondence voting. It can be amended in the Senate, but it must involve postponing the election date.” -- TUSK STARTED BY DISCUSSING POLLS, KACZYŃSKI IS NOT CONCERNED WITH THEM AT ALL - GOWIN CONTINUES: “It depends on which politicians are guided primarily by polls. Donald Tusk, for example, indeed. When I went to see him as a minister, the latest polls were usually the first topic. He studied them with great passion, great insight, and made decisions based on them. The policy of warm water in the tap was actually a policy of surfing on the waves of poll support or lack of support for certain solutions. Once Donald Tusk made a decision clearly against public opinion, i.e., he raised the retirement age. As it turned out, he made a mistake – from his point of view. Jarosław Kaczyński, on the other hand, is not that type of politician at all. He deeply believes in the rightness of what he is doing; polls do not concern him at all.” https://tvn24.pl/magazyn-tvn24/gowin-byc-premierem-w-czasach-pandemonium-to-misja-stracencza-ale-oczywiscie-podjalbym-sie,265,4643 -- REALIZE EXPECTATIONS TOWARDS BRUSSELS - MARCIN FIJOŁEK: “The pandemic crisis that has affected the EU may allow us to temper our expectations of the EU project: and this is not about questioning integration or dismissing the obvious benefits of our membership in the community. But rather that today's policy in the EU cannot be based solely on adopting the perspective of the Northern countries (or only the Southern countries). And that either the EU will want to move to the next level, embracing greater ambitions (including budgetary ones), focused on the pragmatic problems of member states, or these countries will turn solely to themselves in every difficult moment.” https://wpolityce.pl/m/polityka/495248-kryzys-pandemiczny-moze-urealnic-nasze-spojzenie-na-ue -- FRAGMENT FROM ŁUKASZ PAWŁOWSKI'S BOOK FROM BIBLIOTEKA KULTURY LIBERALNEJ ON 300POLITYCE ABOUT THE NEGLECT OF PUBLIC SERVICES AND THE ACTUAL SECOND WAVE OF PRIVATIZATION: “This state of affairs, contrary to the assurances of those in power, does not combat inequality but shifts it to another level. Those who can afford private transport, healthcare, or education still pay for them. Those who until now could not afford such services are starting to pay because the public system, instead of functioning better and better, is sinking into escalating chaos.” -- THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE AS AN E-BOOK FOR A PROMOTIONAL PRICE OF 16 PLN ON PUBLIO: http://www.publio.pl/druga-fala-prywatyzacji-lukasz-pawlowski,p483532.html?fbclid=IwAR2vcMZVuw0ITPIANha9U89ql0ErACmpYVqmReI0ZMsgFhuEEvbObUEVj0g -- BIRTHDAYS: Stefan Chwin, Mirosława Marody, Zdzisław Krasnodębski, Piotr Bratkowski, Krzysztof Gawkowski (turning 40), Janusz Kowalski, Stanisław Tyszka, Grzegorz Wasowski, Bożena Szydłowska, Łukasz Borowiak, Damian Raczkowski, SUNDAY: Joanna Mucha, Jarosław Kalinowski, Tomasz Bielecki, Jerzy Slezak, Stanisław Szwed, Wojciech Tochman, MONDAY: Jacek Świderski, Jarosław Gugała, Maciej Knapik, Robert Biedroń.