-- GRODZKI ON SENTIMENTS IN THE SENATE, BIELAN ON 3 YEARS WITHOUT ELECTIONS TO REBUILD THE ECONOMY - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2020/04/17/ -- GOOGLE LAUNCHES JOURNALISM EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND: Google has announced the launch of the Journalism Emergency Relief Fund, designed to financially support local media outlets affected by the coronavirus crisis, which are simultaneously providing reliable information on the pandemic. Small and medium-sized newsrooms, including those operating in Poland, can receive between a few and several tens of thousands of dollars in support after meeting the application requirements. Submissions are accepted until April 30, 2020. https://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/google-dziennikarski-fundusz-ratunkowy-wesprze-media-w-kryzysie-koronawirusa-dlaczego-jak-uzyskac-wsparcie-gdzie-aplikowac# -- MORE INFORMATION ON GOOGLE'S EMERGENCY FUND FOR MEDIA: https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/journalism-emergency-relief-fund/#funding -- GW ON THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH ENVELOPES - by Dominika Wielowieyska, Piotr Miączyński: “There is a huge problem, however, with the production of over 90 million C6 format envelopes and their addressing. Such an envelope is 114 mm by 162 mm, and can fit a sheet of A4 paper folded into quarters. – A large printing house can produce 2-3 million shipments per month. Even if we include printing houses of all state-controlled companies like banks, energy sector, and add private telecom operators, there still won't be enough time – comments our interviewee. Our information suggests that China was considered for envelope production, as no one else can fulfill such a large order in such a short time. In any case, the brainstorming continues. Neither Minister of State Assets Jacek Sasin nor government spokesperson Piotr Müller answered our question whether envelope production has already begun and who is responsible for it.” -- WIELOWIEYSKA AND MIĄCZYŃSKI ON THE PRESSURE FROM NOWOGRODZKA STREET: “For Kaczyński, delaying the elections means too great a risk of losing power. Nowogrodzka Street has therefore issued an order to involve other state-owned companies, such as energy companies, in the process. But no one knows exactly how it's supposed to look, who is responsible for what. There are three weeks left until the elections.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,155287,25876006,wybory-niewykonalne-tlumaczy-kaczynskiemu-morawiecki-to.html -- UNITED RIGHT IN ITS CURRENT FORM HAS NO LONG FUTURE - PIOTR TRUDNOWSKI IN THE JAGIELLONIAN CLUB PODCAST: “United Right, in the form we have known it so far, has no long future ahead of it. This is all because for several weeks Jarosław Kaczyński has likely been considering only two scenarios. The first is one where he uses the epidemic state to increase his power, aiming to eliminate all doubts about his influence on the shape of the Polish political scene. This would justify the strong push to hold elections in May. The Law and Justice camp realizes that the further from this date, the harder it will be to fight for Andrzej Duda's victory. The emotions accompanying months of economic crisis will likely cause voters to turn away from the United Right camp.” -- TRUDNOWSKI ON THE SYMBOLIC CLOSURE OF POWER IN THE SUPREME COURT: “Today, the leader of Law and Justice is examining his base and checking who is fully loyal to him. This is all to ensure he can implement all the directions that Nowogrodzka Street is convinced of. The situation is compounded by the fact that in the coming weeks, there will be a symbolic closure of the power system created by Jarosław Kaczyński's party. April 30 marks the end of the term of the First President of the Supreme Court. This is the moment when the last redoubt of the old order will fall. We can assume that the new president will be a judge favorable to the ruling camp. This is particularly important in the pre-election period, as it is the Supreme Court that decides on the validity of elections.” https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2020/04/15/trudnowski-oboz-zjednoczonej-prawicy-rozwaza-dwa-scenariusze/ -- JACEK GĄDEK ON GOWIN AND KACZYŃSKI'S COLLISION COURSE - writes in Gazeta.pl: “Source from Gowin's party: - Kaczyński? He is extremely determined. From Kaczyński's circle: - Gowin? I don't recognize Jarosław today. From PiS: - Gowin really isn't backing down. Today, Gowin and Kaczyński are on a collision course. The expected moment of head-on collision is the vote in the Sejm on the Electoral Code, which will return from the Senate. This could happen on May 7 (after the 30 days the Senate has to consider the bill). But it doesn't have to. Why? Because Gowin's compromise offer is postal voting in August. Kaczyński, however, prefers to 'pluck' Gowin's MPs and organize elections in May.” -- EVERYTHING IN GOWIN'S HANDS - GĄDEK continues: “A PiS MP says: - Everything is in Gowin's hands. We are aware of the parliamentary math. To reject the Senate's veto, an absolute majority of votes is needed. When passing the bill, five of Gowin's MPs voted against or abstained. In May, if they vote the same way, the bill will fail, and with it, the elections in May.” -- GĄDEK ON GOWIN'S PARLIAMENTARY POTENTIAL: “Loyalty is key today. According to our information, before the talks with the PiS leader, Jarosław Gowin checked if he had enough 'sabers' to put on the table for Kaczyński a list of his MPs who were ready to leave the PiS club and form a separate Porozumienie club in the Sejm. – 14 MPs were ready, and four were not – describes our interviewee. Creating a club requires a minimum of 15 MPs. However, 17 or 14 votes don't make a big difference, since with full mobilization in the Sejm, Gowin only needs five votes to block the elections in May. Hence the pressure on Porozumienie MPs.” -- POROZUMIENIE POLITICIAN ON THREATS: “A person from Porozumienie: – So far, there's talk of dismissals. Few, incidentally, are to be dismissed, but the threats are there. Despite the threats, almost all MPs will vote as Gowin recommends.” -- THE CHAMBER OF APPEALS IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT NOMINEES THAN THE DISCIPLINARY CHAMBER - GĄDEK continues: “However, there is another factor that has not yet been emphasized. In a scenario where PiS gets its way and pushes for elections in May, but they are held in chaos, all eyes will be on the Supreme Court – as it is the body that rules on the validity of elections. Specifically, the Chamber of Extraordinary Review and Public Affairs of the Supreme Court. This chamber includes a group of young professors. They are entirely different nominees than those appointed to the Disciplinary Chamber by Zbigniew Ziobro. In the ruling camp, one can hear that the judges for the Chamber of Extraordinary Review and Public Affairs were recommended to President Andrzej Duda by none other than Jarosław Gowin. These are not loyalists, so the decision to confirm the validity of the presidential elections – especially if they are chaotic and Andrzej Duda wins by a narrow margin – will be an open question. Such a ruling would mean another crisis – political and constitutional.” https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,25875793,kulisy-wojny-o-wybory-prezydenckie-kaczynski-chce-oskubac.html -- OPPOSITION POLITICIANS HAVE BECOME SO ENTANGLED IN THEIR NARRATIVE THAT THEY HAVE STOPPED THINKING RATIONALLY - TOMASZ KRZYŻAK IN RZ: “Paradoxically, both sides in their arguments constantly invoke concern for the life and health of Poles. In essence, this is not what is most important. What seems most important is who outplays whom in this game. Jarosław Kaczyński the opposition, or the opposition Jarosław Kaczyński? So far, the PiS leader seems to be on top, because the opposition politicians have become so entangled in their narrative that they have stopped thinking rationally. Jarosław Gowin's proposal to change the constitution, extend the current president's term by two years, and establish that henceforth the head of state will be elected for a single seven-year term, is on the table. The PiS leader has not said 'no.' The MPs of his formation supported this proposal. And the opposition? It does not try to engage in any substantive discussion, but repeats like a mantra that a state of disaster should be declared. It makes no other sensible proposals. True, there is little time, but surely enough to finally engage in a substantive debate about Poland – even if the proposals seem unrealistic.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/304169872-Tomasz-Krzyzak-Wspolne-dobro-czy-kto-kogo-ogra.html -- THE GALLOPING MAJOR, INTERESTINGLY, ABOUT GIERTYCH: “Imagine you're going back to 2003, Roman Giertych isn't yet sitting in the virtual forest and handing down virtual verdicts of Tuskov's Underground State against the PiS regime. Instead, he's urging you to vote against the EU. And you agree. Where would you be today? The Union is currently offering 100 billion euros just to combat unemployment. I don't trust this government, but I believe this money must be spent on maintaining jobs, otherwise it will be lost. And yes, that gives me hope too.” -- THE POLISH GOVERNMENT IS RELUCTANTLY STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THIS - MAJOR CONTINUES HIS CRITICISM: “Yes, we are in a much better situation than in 2008. The economy is much stronger, measured by the debt-to-GDP ratio (only 47.1% in the previous year). Money is distributed much better, more fairly, directly to people. We just need to endure these, hopefully, few more weeks, and the economy will start to thaw. That's why it's so important that the patient doesn't succumb to the cold during this time. The Polish government is reluctantly starting to understand this, but most importantly, other countries, including the European Union, understand it. I place my hope in them. Not for the first time in Polish history, incidentally.” https://krytykapolityczna.pl/felietony/galopujacy-major/troche-nadziei/ -- MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI ON TUSK DILUTING HIMSELF ON SOCIAL MEDIA: “Everything in the form of allusions. It's not about whether Tusk is right or wrong – he often is. The problem is whether the former prime minister can't do better? There are many politicians, experts, celebrities who have squandered their authority on social media. There are many frustrated political retirees there, does Tusk want to be another one? Or is he succumbing to the temptation of another famous Donald – Trump – who has made Twitter his main tool for communicating with the public, fighting opponents, or conducting foreign policy. Tusk has every right to bitterness – from the perspective of his camp, the situation in the country looks dire: PiS, with madness in its eyes, is rushing towards elections, violating the rule of law, and the environment he himself once created is in disarray. However, with malicious posts on social media, Tusk will not change this situation for the better.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/304169868-Michal-Szuldrzynski-Zabierz-Donaldowi--dostep-do-Twittera.html -- IF THE UNION EXISTED IN THE FORM KACZYŃSKI DREAMED OF, POLAND WOULD BE TRULY ISOLATED - JAKUB BODZIONY IN KL: “If the Union existed in the form Kaczyński dreamed of, an adequate response to the crisis would be hindered, and Poland, this time truly, and not according to PiS's party narrative, would be alone in the fight against the epidemic and economic collapse. Pushing for such ideas during ongoing budget negotiations is simply reckless. It already works to Poland's disadvantage that our country is not in the eurozone. There is a significant risk that a large part of the support will be limited to the 19 eurozone countries. Currently, countries without a common currency have very limited opportunities to benefit from support for the financial sector, provided by the European Central Bank at over 4 trillion euros, or a credit line worth 240 billion euros, which will soon be launched under the European Stability Pact.” -- IRRESPONSIBLE RHETORIC INSTEAD OF RESPONSIBLE CONTRIBUTION - BODZIONY continues in KL: “The Union has repeatedly proven that it reforms itself through crises. It is likely that this will be the case this time as well. The Polish government should make a positive contribution to these processes so that the next arrangement is as beneficial for us as possible. Instead, from the most important politicians of the state, we hear irresponsible rhetoric that fuels internal political conflict and in no way strengthens Poland's position in the EU.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2020/04/17/unia-europejska-pis-koronawirus-kryzys-bodziony/ -- CAN A CATHOLIC CONSERVATIVE SUPPORT PIS - MAREK JUREK IN RZ: “PiS consistently sabotages the fight for life. Can a Catholic conservative support such a party? One can assume so, provided internal honesty is maintained: remembering the sabotage of the fight for life, and even the inaction in enforcing the current law, the Lisbon Treaty, the European policy based on the assumptions: 'we want Poland like the EU,' 'we have nothing in common on values.' In short, PiS remains one of the options for the Catholic public; one can, like Gowin: vote, but don't rejoice. Without any enthusiasm for this party, with full awareness that alternatives to it are not only legitimate but also sought after and desired.” https://www.rp.pl/Publicystyka/304169894-Marek-Jurek-Katolicy-przed-wyborem.html?cid -- CARDIOLOGIST FROM MSWiA HOSPITAL ON UNDERREPORTING INFECTIONS - Dr. Marzena Pietraszek tells OKO.PRESS: “Earlier, when I heard that the official data wasn't as it should be, I took it with a grain of salt. I thought it was just demonization. But when I saw the numerical data regarding infections and deaths in Poland, I changed my mind. According to the ministry, there were seven deaths nationwide on a given day. How is that possible when there were four in our hospital alone? I think the data is not a few, but several dozen times underestimated.” -- DOCTOR ON EMPLOYEE TESTING: “In our Clinic, as far as I know, three people have been tested. In other clinics, this percentage is significantly higher. Waiting for results takes more than 24 hours, not the four hours we were promised.” -- DOCTOR ON DAILY LIFE AFTER A SHIFT: “I feel psychologically strong, even though I am personally at high risk. I have asthma, and an infection is potentially a major threat to me. I have young children, a husband. I had to create a ritual for returning home. First, I shower at work, and upon arrival, I tiptoe through the house to avoid contact with my children. I take another bath, put my clothes in the washing machine, disinfect everything that needs to be disinfected. And only then do I greet my loved ones. The first few days were difficult. It's not easy to tell a child: 'don't hug' or 'don't come near.' But I have the conviction that this extraordinary state will last for months, so complete lack of contact with children would be too difficult. Not only for the children, but also for me. Of course, we have a hotel assigned. If it turns out to be so difficult that we cannot ensure the safety of our loved ones, we can live there. Some people are already doing that. Or they take their families to their in-laws, to their country houses, and return to empty apartments.” -- PHOTO: Christ on the Sea of Galilee – painting by the Italian artist Jacopo Tintoretto. Christ appeared to his disciples several times after the Easter events. According to the Gospel of John, he did so three times. One of these events took place on the Sea of Galilee/ Sea of Tiberias. The Gospel of St. John tells how several former disciples were engaged in a fruitless night of fishing: “And when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. And they cast it, and were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Then Peter said unto Jesus, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea (John 21:4-7). Tintoretto chose the moment when St. Peter leaves the boat and enters the water. The composition is filled with expression. The lake's waves are turbulent, and clouds gather in the sky. The boat rocks on them, and the wind blows into the sails. In the foreground, on the left, the enormous figure of Christ is visible, reaching out his hand towards the disciples. His size contrasts with the small figures of the apostles. The scene presented in this way is the painter's own interpretation. -- BIRTHDAYS: Marcin Święcicki, Adam Gierek, Paweł Śpiewak, Michał Wójcik.