-- THE PRESIDENT TURNS 48 TODAY. -- GRZEGORZ PRZEMYK, MURDERED BY COMMUNISTS, WOULD HAVE TURNED 56 TOMORROW. -- PRIME MINISTER'S BRIEFING IN SILESIA AFTER 1 PM. -- THE NEW FILM BY THE SEKELSKI BROTHERS HAS ALREADY BEEN WATCHED ALMOST 90,000 TIMES ON YOUTUBE WITHIN A FEW HOURS. MORE THAN 100,000 WATCHED IT LIVE. https://youtu.be/T0ym5kPf3Vc -- KACZYŃSKI HAS A HIGHER LEVEL OF SENSITIVITY TOWARDS WOMEN - JAN ROKITA'S REFLECTIONS ON POLSAT NEWS: “What unites all these 'female politicians' is their submissive readiness to be used and exploited. However, it must be admitted that, unlike Tusk and his successors in Civic Platform, Kaczyński in Law and Justice (PiS) adheres to a slightly higher level of sensitivity towards those who allow themselves to be exploited. Kaczyński, however, has enough personal subtlety towards women not to expose his adherents to such humiliating spectacles as the Platform leaders have now subjected Kidawa to.” -- SUCHOCKA UNEXPECTEDLY GAINED AGENCY, HGW PROVED AN UNSINKABLE POLITICIAN - ROKITA CONTINUES: “But of course, Polish politics also offers different types of female role models in the highest offices of state. The first female prime minister in Poland (and Central Europe), Hanna Suchocka, also assumed her office deus ex machina, but not because some party leader plucked her out of a hat, but when it turned out that the specific liberal-Catholic mix of her views was a unique common denominator for a seven-party coalition at odds from day one. This meant that although she lacked experience in state affairs (but who didn't at the time?), she unexpectedly gained agency, being able to decide herself whose advice she wanted to heed as prime minister and whose she did not. In turn, the prime minister's friend, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, can be a universal model of a politician who is, in a way, 'unsinkable,' and who so perfectly managed her career that successive high positions and offices simply fell at her feet. And it was she who knew how to use male politicians, seemingly flattering them while actually taking everything she could from them.” -- ROKITA ON GIELOWSKA: WILL EMILEWICZ, WHO SHOWED HER CLAWS, FOLLOW HER PATH?: “But this distrust towards the intentions of party colleagues, the fear of being exploited, not only benefited her but in essence built her authority. When Tusk tried to use her for his own intrigues in Civic Platform, she abandoned the party she had built (few remember this now) from day one, as one of its most important figures, with male pride, overnight. And when Kaczyński called her after her conflict with Tusk, she went to him. But it wasn't she who took his orders from then on; rather, he became obedient to her, at least when it came to the liberal economic strategy of his government. It is worth remembering that it was due to Gilowska's controversial decisions to liberalize social security contributions and lower taxes that we subsequently owed our status as a 'green island' during the global financial crisis. Observing current politics, I sometimes get the impression that today's Deputy Prime Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz, who is only at the beginning of her career, might follow in Gilowska's footsteps. But she has already shown real political claws recently, playing a behind-the-scenes, though essentially leading, role in overcoming the severe crisis surrounding the presidential election date.” https://tygodnik.polsatnews.pl/news/2020-05-15/sytuacja-kidawy-blonska-nie-jest-wyjatkiem-jan-rokita-o-kobietach-w-polityce/ -- TRZASKOWSKI WILL HELP DUDDA MOBILIZE THE CONSERVATIVE ELECTORATE; DUDDA'S BIGGEST THREAT WAS ELECTORATE DEMOBILIZATION - PIOTR TRUDNOWSKI IN AN INTERVIEW WITH DO RZECZY: “Nominating Trzaskowski will allow Duda's campaign team to mobilize the right-wing electorate, as all worldview issues and disputes over values will now be highly emphasized. Duda's biggest threat is the demobilization of his own electorate. I think this would have been likely if the president were fighting Hołownia or Kosiniak-Kamysz in the second round. However, when it's Trzaskowski, the right-wing electorate will mobilize and vote for Duda. On the other hand, the president is currently on a downward trend, as attitudes towards the government are becoming critical, and perhaps in a month, Trzaskowski will be able to put up an even fight with Duda. But even if that happens, Trzaskowski is still a more convenient opponent for Duda than anyone aspiring to second place.” -- TRUDNOWSKI BELIEVES THAT AFTER TRZASKOWSKI'S NOMINATION, THE SENATE WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ACCELERATE PROCEEDINGS: “To sum up, I assume that the Senate will consider it within a week at most, because delaying this bill will be an action favoring Andrzej Duda's re-election. And Civic Platform has already made one move that benefits the president – they changed the candidate.” https://www.dorzeczy.pl/kraj/140278/trudnowski-sztab-andrzeja-dudy-moze-podziekowac-po.html -- "I LISTENED TO KAZIK WITH ENVY" - IN A THREE-MINUTE SONG HE CAPTURED THE PHENOMENON MORE FORCEFULLY THAN I DID IN DOZENS OF TEXTS - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “I don't belong to a mafia, I don't belong to a sect.” Kazik always stayed ahead of analysts because he had an excellent ear for social and political matters. And this time, his ear did not fail him. That's why I eagerly listened to his new single. And perhaps I wasn't the only one, as in three days "Your Pain Is Better Than Mine" garnered a million views on YouTube alone. It's a song written in the name of the sovereign, three stories of people who wanted to go to the cemetery on the anniversary of April 10th, to shed a tear over the graves of loved ones, but only "He" could do it. "Two limousines, one, the whole cemetery is yours, bigger than mine." And as Konstanty Pilawa of the Jagiellonian Club noted, this song is more powerful than all calls for the end of democracy, because it simply shows the alienation of power, which first gave ordinary people dignity, but at some point lost its social ear. This time, however, I listened to Kazik with envy. Because in a three-minute song, he captured a certain phenomenon more forcefully than I have in dozens of texts, analyses, or commentaries. And I felt like meeting him again and asking for a selfie.” https://www.rp.pl/Szalenstwa-tego-swiata/305159991-Michal--Szuldrzynski-Selfie-z-Kazikiem.html -- THE RUINS ARE A FACT, BUT ONE CAN LIVE AMONG THEM FOR MANY YEARS - PIOTR ZAREMBA IN RZ: “This is happening, however, in a cemetery. Or perhaps among ruins, on a vast pile of rubble. I am far from predicting a swift defeat for the ruling camp, although such a scenario is also possible (it's conceivable in the case of early parliamentary elections in the autumn). However, prophets of PiS's definitive end have already discredited themselves numerous times. But the ruins are a fact, except that one can live among them for many years. So, what has been definitively shattered, and what only partially?” -- THE PHENOMENON OF KAZIK'S SONG MAY BE A PRELUDE TO DEFEAT - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: “The phenomenon of Kazik Staszewski's song 'Your Pain Is Better Than Mine' is perhaps a prelude to defeat. Recently, I thought that the uproar surrounding the crossing of all boundaries on April 10th, when Jarosław Kaczyński and his entourage, breaking epidemiological norms, first entered Piłsudski Square and then cemeteries, was episodic in nature. Today, I am no longer so sure. It has been moved into the sphere of pop culture. The rebellion against the monarchical posturing of this government, against its arrogance, may prove to be deeper and more lasting.” -- KACZYŃSKI IS OBSESSED WITH PURE POLITICS - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: “At the same time, we know that Kaczyński is obsessed with pure politics and views his power in symbolic terms. True, he has retreated, but he may be looking for opportunities to marginalize the troublesome Gowin. We already know the first tool: deepening the division within Porozumienie itself.” -- ZAREMBA ON KACZYŃSKI AND TERLECKI'S PSEUDO-MONARCHICAL SYSTEM: “Why, then, if things are so good, is the opposition still faring so poorly? Why don't Poles trust them? I have the impression that it's not for what the opposition parties are presenting now, but for what they are generally associated with. The idea that they will be more effective in fighting the epidemic and more efficient in mitigating the effects of the crisis still exceeds the perception of many Poles. This guarantees Kaczyński the longevity of his pseudo-monarchical system. And the chances for further embarrassing spectacles that turn the Polish parliament into a parody. Deputy Speaker Ryszard Terlecki set the speaking time in the debate on the new electoral law at 5 minutes. He did not even put the Confederation's justified protest to a vote, and in retaliation shortened the speeches to… 3.5 minutes. He can do anything he wants. He won the elections. Let him think about what awaits him after his defeat.” https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus/305159997-Piotr-Zaremba-Dworskie-intrygi-w-pseudomonarchii-PiS.html -- ANDRZEJ STANKIEWICZ ON THE FACT THAT THEORETICALLY THE MAIN RIVALS IN CIVIC PLATFORM SHOULD WAIT FOR THE NEXT ELECTION, BUT THEIR INSTINCT TOLD THEM THAT DUDDA AND PIS CAN BE BEATEN NOW - he writes in Onet's bulletin: “This race for nomination might suggest that the two leading presidential contenders of Civic Platform have lost their minds. Instead of running – as they planned – in five years, to give themselves a chance for the presidency after Duda, they were ready to take the risk today, when the president has about 50 percent support in polls. But it could just as well mean that political instinct, supported by social research, tells them that now is the time to beat PiS and Duda. Something tells me this will be a brutal campaign.” -- THE QUESTION IS WHO WILL WIELD THE BANNER OF ANTI-PIS LIBERALISM - TRZASKOWSKI OR HOŁOWNIA? - PIOTR ZAREMBA in Polsat news magazine: “The question is whether the cosmopolitan Trzaskowski is the best offer for the majority of Poles. However, if he is only fighting to stop Hołownia's offensive, i.e., for second place, this problem is not so fundamental. The question of his place in confrontation with Hołownia is a question of who will wield the banner of anti-PiS liberalism.” -- WHAT DO POLES NEED - A BETTER PIS WITHOUT ITS EXCESSES OR ITS COMPLETE REJECTION? - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: “The question of what the proportion of votes between him and Kosiniak will be is the key to answering what Poles who dislike PiS need most today. A better PiS, without its political, revolutionary excesses, or its complete rejection. Regardless of what Trzaskowski declares today about social spending, 500 plus, and other achievements of this era.” -- HISTORICAL OPPOSITION TO THE RULERS IS VALUED TODAY, EVEN KOSINIAK ABANDONED A BALANCED TONE AND WENT FOR A FRONTAL ATTACK - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: “Reportedly, this final nomination was preceded by research. If we are to believe the leaks, Trzaskowski is the best candidate for the Civic Platform electorate, not one who will win 51 percent of all Poles. And this is the measure of this party's aspirations. The goal is to win against Szymon Hołownia, who adds the label of celebrity non-partisanship to a somewhat tearful negation of everything PiS does. Trzaskowski might be slightly more substantive, but he is certainly not non-partisan. And he will probably follow the same path, that of hysterical opposition to the rulers. Which seems to be valued today. Even Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, influenced by Hołownia's emotions during the TV debate, took the path of a frontal attack, rather than a more balanced tone.” https://tygodnik.polsatnews.pl/news/2020-05-15/rywal-holowni-czy-dudy-zaremba-o-kandydaturze-trzaskowskiego/ -- TRZASKOWSKI MUST BREAK FREE FROM THE "ENLIGHTENED POLAND" / "FOLK POLAND" DICHOTOMY - PAWEŁ BRAVO IN TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY: “Civic Platform's 'research showed' that the Mayor of Warsaw could potentially defeat Duda in the second round. This example perfectly illustrates how closely watching what 'research shows' can be a curse for politics, instead of assessing the real situation happening in real-time, not in a vacuum of focus groups. There is simply not enough time – even for Trzaskowski, however skillful, to devise a formula that would pull his candidacy out of the 'Enlightened Poland' / 'Folk Poland' dichotomy. Because in such a game, PiS remains effective; only Donald Tusk once knew how to appeal simultaneously to proud local identity and inferiority complexes, charming those who aspire and those who are content in their little corner – but that was a long time ago, and for now, Civic Platform is burdened by the curse of being an elite party.” -- BRAVO ON CIVIC PLATFORM, WHICH CALCULATES UNTIL THE NEXT BREAK IN THE MATCH AND CARES MORE ABOUT INTERNAL BALANCE THAN ABOUT AN IDEA FOR GOVERNANCE: “No one can predict today how voter sentiments will shift and whether, busy digging themselves out of the pandemic chaos, they will want to focus their attention on the campaign and notice that a new candidate has emerged. Therefore, nothing certain can be said today about where we will be in two months, immediately after the presidential elections. But one thing is certain today: Civic Platform has proven to be short-sighted, even at a time when the context of an extraordinary situation facilitates bold decisions. Rafał Trzaskowski, even if he were to win unexpectedly, will have behind him a party that only calculates until the next break in the match and cares more about the internal balance of its factions than about an idea for governing the country.” https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/co-wyszlo-platformie-163386 -- KACZYŃSKI EFFECTIVELY PLAYS THE WAR OF ELITES VERSUS THE PEOPLE - SŁAWOMIR SIERAKOWSKI ON ONET: “The war of elites versus the people continues, a war that Jarosław Kaczyński is effectively playing. Will Trzaskowski be able to reach not only the elites? It's hard to imagine him dancing disco polo. The pandemic might excuse him from this, but without such gestures, winning the presidential election in Poland might be impossible. Perhaps it's the case that we still don't know if Trzaskowski is (or can be) 'folksy' or not. In interviews, he has always denied this and said that besides knowing five languages, he also learned the language of the street and spent a lot of time there in his youth. There has been no suitable challenge in his political career so far. He has always run from Warsaw or Krakow. This will be the first real opportunity to see if he can find common ground also at street markets or in factories, assuming the pandemic allows it at all.” -- SIERAKOWSKI INTERESTINGLY POINTS OUT THAT, UNLIKE OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, ONLY 8% OF VOTERS LIVE IN THE CAPITAL IN POLAND: “The problem might also be that the presidency in Warsaw always involves a host of decisions about which the rest of Poland simply knows nothing. Unlike in most European countries, only 8% of voters live in the capital. It's easy to convince 92% that Trzaskowski is stealing here, raping, slacking off, and has filled all positions with his family and friends. And there's no way to refute this, deny it, or appeal to common sense, because it simply doesn't work. In the war of elites versus the people, fake news is worth as much as real news. The Karnowski brothers will say he's stealing. Sakiewicz will say the Karnowskis are lying because Trzaskowski steals much more, and 'Do Rzeczy' will hint that there's something to it.” -- HOŁOWNIA CAN BE POPULIST AND HE EXPLOITS IT - SIERAKOWSKI CONTINUES: “Hołownia will be a very difficult opponent because he can be populist and he exploits it. He has no sense of embarrassment, and that's a big asset in today's politics. Crying over the constitution, recording it, and uploading it to the internet – meaning, not spontaneously and not on a stage when someone is dying or ill, but over the constitution – means that Hołownia can dance disco polo even without music during a presidential debate. Trzaskowski cannot be suspected of having such a high level of tolerance for such behavior.” -- BIEDROŃ IN KIDAW A'S SHOES? - SIERAKOWSKI CONTINUES: “The easiest opponent is Robert Biedroń (Sikorski would be much more convenient for a Lewica candidate). But even Biedroń can be folksy and will dance and sing if necessary. However, his support comes from the elites, not the people, so Trzaskowski can take a lot from him. It's hard to imagine Biedroń also starting to attack Trzaskowski over fabricated scandals in Warsaw, as PiS does. However, he might look for mistakes in the governance of the capital and will certainly do so, otherwise, he might swap places with Kidawa-Błońska and become a threat to his own party.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/opinie/slawomir-sierakowski-tor-przeszkod-trzaskowskiego-zrobily-nam-sie-wybory-opinia/rdhj2ll -- TRZASKOWSKI IS CONVENIENT FOR PiS, KIDAWA-BŁOŃSKA FOR THE REST OF THE OPPOSITION - MICHAŁ SUTOWSKI IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA: “What changes in this arrangement with the replacement of Kidawa-Błońska by Trzaskowski? The new contender has a chance to reach the second round, thanks to the support and work of the still strong Civic Platform structures and liberal media. The latter will switch from a disgruntled mode to enthusiastic support for the 'new hope of the opposition.' But once the Civic Platform candidate faces Duda directly, he will have to attract not only 'non-Platform' voters but ideally all of Hołownia's supporters. This is not an easy task, as they desire a new broom in Polish politics, not just an eloquent man in his late forties. It will be even harder for him to convince the conservative-folk electorate of the Polish People's Party (PSL).” -- TOTAL MOBILIZATION OF PiS VOTERS - SUTOWSKI CONTINUES: “Despite everything, a saber might not be enough against Duda, especially since the Civic Platform candidate in the second round means total mobilization on the side of PiS voters.” -- SUTOWSKI ON THE LEFT'S PROBLEM: “From the perspective of Polish democracy, it would be better if Kidawa-Błońska remained in the race. Firstly, Warsaw would not be threatened by a folksy commissioner from PiS; secondly, Kosiniak-Kamysz or Hołownia are more reliable contenders against Duda. And for the Left? Well, even Trzaskowski's candidacy will not make Biedroń's life easier nor improve his result. And his relative success would keep Civic Platform alive, whose weakness benefits the Left. A single-digit result for Kidawa-Błońska would favor a restructuring of the power balance towards a two-bloc system: with the PSL as the Christian-democratic-conservative wing and the Left with the potential to build a second wing.” https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/komentarz-sutowski-trzaskowski-wygodny-dla-pis-kidawa-blonska-dla-reszty-opozycji/ -- ACCORDING TO RESEARCH, TRZASKOWSKI WIPES OUT BIEDROŃ - KAMIL DZIUBKA ON ONET: “According to our sources, Trzaskowski performed better than the former foreign minister in almost every category. And, importantly, he took the most from Szymon Hołownia, who in recent polls has emerged as the deputy leader in the race for the Presidential Palace. This is not all. As many as one-fourth of those who declare support for Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz would be willing to transfer their votes to the Mayor of Warsaw. Trzaskowski would also have a chance to wipe out most of the support for Robert Biedroń.” -- DZIUBKA REPORTS ON THE COURSE OF THE CIVIC PLATFORM BOARD MEETING AND THE DECISION TO USE THE STRATEGIC RESERVE: “At one point in the discussion, the argument was made that Trzaskowski is a strategic reserve for Civic Platform, which might be worth saving for later. As a politician, he is still quite young. However, the opinion prevailed that the times are extraordinary, and Civic Platform is fighting for its survival.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/wybory-prezydenckie-2020-kulisy-wyboru-rafalatrzaskowskiego/lndrq3z -- CIVIC PLATFORM'S FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE NO LONGER NEUTRALIZES THE ADVANTAGE ONLINE - LESZEK JAŻDŻEWSKI ON ONET: “He will almost certainly not regain it in full. A lot depends on how much the campaign returns to normal, and how much it will be conducted almost exclusively online, where Szymon Hołownia has an advantage over all candidates that Civic Platform's budget and still significant personnel resources do not neutralize. The need to compete with Hołownia pushes aside the prospect of removing Duda from power. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz or Hołownia himself, unburdened by being Civic Platform candidates who mobilize the PiS electorate in the second round, would have a better chance here.” -- JAŻDŻEWSKI ON THE RISK OF TRZASKOWSKI BEING DEFINED BY PiS PROPAGANDA: “Trzaskowski represents Civic Platform as it could and should be – a modern party of people with aspirations. The thing is, it is not, which will be a significant burden for him if he gets the nomination. There is a considerable risk that the currently undefined and therefore more attractive Trzaskowski will be defined by PiS propaganda. Civic Platform's ability to push its narrative has permanently vanished with Tusk's departure. Since then, opposition media have been ineptly trying to replace it.” -- JAŻDŻEWSKI WRITES THAT CIVIC PLATFORM MUST STOP LYING: “If the new candidate follows the old, worn-out narrative of simple anti-PiS sentiment and moral blackmail of all who do not stand obediently behind the party – a path that has brought the party a series of defeats in five consecutive elections – then perhaps it will allow Civic Platform to maintain its position as the most important opposition formation, but the prospect of removing PiS from power will recede. Just as the prospect of renewing Polish politics, without which Poland will not return to the democratic path, will recede. If Civic Platform still wants to fight to regain its electorate in these elections, it must stop lying. You need to come out and admit the mistake with Kidawa's candidacy and the idea of a boycott (both were party decisions). Changing the candidate is not enough. Only sincerity can save you.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/opinie/leszek-jazdzewski-po-walczy-o-swoja-przyszlosc-opinia/mepzmnf -- TUSK IS A HARMFUL ICON FOR CIVIC PLATFORM, JUST AS WAŁĘSA WAS FOR THE RIGHT - JACEK KARNOWSKI: “Tusk is to Civic Platform what Wałęsa was to the right until his defeat in 1995, and what Wałęsa would have been if he hadn't lost to Kwaśniewski. That is, a well-known icon, valued by some, strong, influential, but at the same time very harmful. By not leaving the stage, and not trying to fully return to it, he fuels decaying processes. He deceives, misleads, gives false hope and easy answers. He blocks the process of maturation, prevents reflection and fully independent thinking. In essence, Tusk destroyed this candidacy, and it seems he wants to destroy his former party as well. Perhaps in accordance with the known temptation of overly ambitious people: if something cannot be mine, let it not be at all.” -- TUSK DESTROYED KIDAWA - KARNOWSKI AGAIN: “It was he who encouraged and fueled the absurd idea of boycotting the elections. An idea that could have been effective in 2006, when Civic Platform was the hegemonic party on the opposition side, when it confidently went for power. Today, when Civic Coalition is just one of many players on the side of the Third Republic camp, and increasingly weaker, increasingly irritating to either the Left or the PSL. The smaller parties have also started to have ambitions, and no longer want to listen to advice that are commands. Tusk probably didn't see this, or didn't want to see it.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/500353-tak-naprawde-kandydature-kidawy-blonskiej-zamordowal-tusk -- AGATA SZCZĘŚNIAK ON THE THREAT OF THE "REPLAY OF KIDAWA" LABEL: “Of course, the situation is not easy, but perhaps it's for the better, because it requires full consolidation and energy from us,” said the candidate. Trzaskowski's Warsaw campaign was full of stumbles, yet he won against Patryk Jaki by a huge margin. However, Warsaw is Civic Platform's territory. It will be harder in the general elections. And how important a good campaign is was shown by those that failed – Bronisław Komorowski's and Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska's. Any stumble by Trzaskowski now risks the label of 'replay of Kidawa,' and Civic Platform voters will not forgive that.” -- SZCZĘŚNIAK WRITES WHAT IS BEING SAID IN HOŁOWNIA'S CAMPAIGN TEAM ABOUT TRZASKOWSKI - HE WILL BE A STRONG THIRD PLACE: “'Trzaskowski will be a strong third place,' says a person from the leadership of Szymon Hołownia's campaign team to OKO.press. 'Trzaskowski is entering at a difficult moment, but everyone will be talking about it for the next few days. This is a game in his favor. It will be a story about fighting the system – will he collect signatures? Will he win against the PiS establishment that is preparing unfair elections?' we hear in Hołownia's team. His entourage assures that their candidate will maintain second place until the end. At the same time, they emphasize Trzaskowski's strengths: the support of local government officials and online influencers.” https://oko.press/ide-sie-bic-o-polske-czy-trzaskowski-zagrozi-dudzie-i-holowni/ -- THE CITY BOY HAS TO GO TO THE PROVINCES - TOMASZ KASPROWICZ IN LIBERTE: “Hołownia and WKK are conservatives who have a chance to take voters away from PAD, who is not harmed even by a slight shadow of a mist. Their chances of winning in the second round were much greater than Trzaskowski's. Undoubtedly, Trzaskowski is a candidate for young, educated people from cities, and he will win them back for Civic Platform. However, this is not enough to win the election. The question is whether Trzaskowski will fight for the rest – especially under ideological attack. Trzaskowski has shown that he can fight and defeat PiS – the sight of Jaki defeated in the first round still warms the hearts of liberals. However, the fight in the capital differs significantly from the fight in the provinces. The new candidate must be careful not to alienate himself with his urbanity – just as MKB did with her aristocratism. He must find a way to reach voter groups he hasn't even had to think about before.” -- A DEBATE BETWEEN TRZASKOWSKI AND DUDA COULD TIP THE SCALES IN TRZASKOWSKI'S FAVOR EVEN IF HE CAME WRAPPED IN A RAINBOW FLAG - KASPROWICZ'S CONCLUSION: “Meanwhile, one thing is certain – there will be no debate between Trzaskowski and Duda. The difference in their level of sophistication, intelligence, and brilliance is so staggering that such a clash could tip the scales in Trzaskowski's favor even if he came wrapped in a rainbow flag.” https://liberte.pl/52868-2/ -- "THE PARTY IS NOT YET LOST" - PIOTR BENIUSZYS IN LIBERTE ON THE LOOK OF THE OLD GREAT PARTY: “Because the menacing look of the old, great party, which wants to hold onto the baton of primacy among the 'democratic opposition' by employing a scorched-earth policy, is evident here at every step for now.” https://liberte.pl/jeszcze-partia-nie-zginela/ -- DUDA HAS SOMEONE TO LOSE TO - BŁAŻEJ LENKOWSKI IN LIBERTE: “And who will reach the second round? Will Trzaskowski break Civic Platform's streak of bad campaign actions? I hope so. He should listen to his political instinct. In any case, we are in for a fascinating duel between Trzaskowski, Hołownia, and Kosiniak-Kamysz for a spot in the second round. We have the comfort that all three are good candidates for the office of President of the Republic of Poland. Andrzej Duda now has someone to lose to.” https://liberte.pl/dzisiejsza-decryzja-po-zdecydowanie-tak/ -- PHOTO. David with the Head of Goliath – a painting by the Italian Baroque artist Caravaggio, one of the artist's last works, probably sent to Cardinal Scipione Borghese as a plea for pardon. It is housed in the Borghese Gallery. In 1606, Caravaggio, known for his violent temper, committed a crime, killing a young man in a duel, possibly unintentionally. The painting depicts David holding the severed head of Goliath in his left hand. The titular figure emerges from deep darkness into sharp light, holding a naked sword in his right hand, on which the inscription "H-AS OS" is visible, an abbreviation of the Latin proverb Humilitas occidit superbiam (Humility kills pride). David's body is illuminated diagonally by a strong stream of light that highlights his left arm, raising the head of the defeated giant. His face is sad, pensive, not expressing joy or pride in his victory. The composition of the painting focuses the viewer's attention on Goliath's head, which, thrust forward, seems to leave the frame of the painting. The blood-dripping face expresses defeat, and in the half-open eyes, a dying spark of life still flickers. In the center of Goliath's forehead, a bloody mark is visible from the stone that felled him. Goliath's head – this separate creation, a monstrous figure – is none other than a self-portrait of the painter himself – Caravaggio, the audacious innovator, the uncompromising great creator, who, risking his talent and bravado, trampled on the centuries-old principle of 'decorum' (propriety) – a seemingly immutable artistic formula. https://niezlasztuka.net/o-sztuce/caravaggio-dawid-z-glowa-goliata/ -- BIRTHDAYS: Andrzej Duda, Krystyna Zachwatowicz, Krzysztof Brejza, SUNDAY: Beata Małecka-Libera, Igor Sokołowski, Marta Poślad, Janusz Moszyński, Ben Stanley.