-- A YEAR AGO, THE LAW AND JUSTICE PARTY DECISIVELY WON THE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS. -- THE PRIME MINISTER IS SURPRISED THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IS NOT AS INTERESTED IN THE JUDICIARY IN OTHER EU COUNTRIES AS IT IS IN POLAND – MORAWIECKI'S INTERVIEW IN TODAY'S FAZ: https://300polityka.pl/news/2020/05/25/premier-morawiecki-w-wywiadzie-dla-faz-nie-ma-lepszej-i-gorszej-europy-jest-jedna-europa-ktora-potrzebuje-solidarnosci-i-wspolpracy-bo-tylko-tak-moze-wyjsc-z-tego-kryzysu-silniejsza-pmm-wbija-szp/ -- GRODZKI CONVENES THE SENATE FOR MONDAY, TRZASKOWSKI PUBLISHES ASSET DECLARATIONS OF HIMSELF AND HIS WIFE, KAMIŃSKI ON ELECTIONS IN JUNE BEING AGAINST THE LAW – 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2020/05/26/ -- ORBITOWSKI ENDS COLLABORATION WITH TVP KULTURA – as he wrote on FB: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have decided to end my collaboration with TVP Kultura. It was a fantastic journalistic adventure, for which I thank my colleagues, program guests, and viewers. I will not comment on the reasons for this decision. I believe we will meet again on television in better times, when the full freedom of thought and expression is respected." -- THE BUSINESS OCTOPUS OF THE SZUMOWSKI BROTHERS – GAZETA WYBORCZA'S FRONT PAGE: “An audit at the National Centre for Research and Development showed that OncoArendi, a company run by Marcin Szumowski and in which the minister Łukasz Szumowski's wife indirectly holds shares, received millions through connections and by violating procedures. The Szumowski brothers have been building a network of business ties for over a decade.” -- GAZETA WYBORCZA ON THE CBA AUDIT: “The CBA audit lasted from January 12 to June 30, 2017, covering 14 contracts, including five with OncoArendi. We know its results from the draft audit report – the report itself is in the investigation files, and based on this, everyone refuses to disclose it, even MPs. The findings are devastating. In the NCBR, there was no system for selecting expert reviewers that clearly indicated criteria. In some competitions, the selection of experts to evaluate applications was completely arbitrary: there were no requirements regarding education, scientific achievements, and the experts themselves could recommend other individuals as experts and reviewers. As a result, some reviews were written by people without qualifications, poorly written, or plagiarized from someone else.” https://katowice.wyborcza.pl/katowice/7,35063,25972882,biznesowa-osmiornica-braci-szumowskich.html -- GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS CAPITALIZED SO MUCH ON RHETORIC ABOUT FIGHTING PATHOLOGIES – PAWEŁ BRAVO IN TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY: Some of the abuses discussed in this thread occurred long before Łukasz Szumowski decided to get involved in politics. There have always been many such "resourceful" people in Polish politics, skillfully navigating – without breaking the law – between business and government institutions, whose favorable attention facilitates their interests. This is an immutable reproach against every ruling team for not introducing increasingly effective legal restrictions (such as those concerning asset declarations of officials' families), without waiting for a sudden surge of decency. These grievances must be particularly directed at the current government, which has built so much capital on its pronouncements about fighting pathologies. And the fact that the current focus on the Szumowski family is a campaign tactic aimed at undermining the current minister's popularity will not change this. https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/obrotna-rodzina-ministra-163493 -- THE DEFENSE OF SZUMOWSKI IS A SIGNAL THAT PIS PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID – WITOLD GADOMSKI IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “Perhaps it's about pre-election tactics. He decided that PiS would suffer less reputational damage by standing by the minister than by getting rid of him a month before the election. Or perhaps there is something more behind it. Kaczyński is convinced that PiS will never give up power once it has gained it, so no one will hold his activists and officials accountable for breaking the constitution, violating laws, or for simple corruption. This information has now been conveyed downwards to his party.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,25967415,za-poprzednich-rzadow-wystarczylo-podejrzenie-korupcji-by-zawiesic.html -- EVERYTHING IS RETURNING TO PRE-PANDEMIC TIMES, INCLUDING POLLS – DR RAFAŁ CHWEDORUK FOR SE: “- Mathematically, with 38% and five parties in the Sejm, there will be no single-party majority – Professor Chwedoruk tells „Super Express”. And he explains that these results are not extraordinary or incomprehensible. – Everything is returning to normal before the epidemic, including the polls – says the political scientist. He argues that the slightly lower results for both leaders (with KO in second place) are the effect of the presidential campaign's problems, as well as fluctuations in turnout due to the pandemic.” https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/polityka/kaczynski-musi-zaczac-drzec-o-wladze-pis-owi-spada-poparcie-aa-aSgK-VP3G-48wi.html -- WE WON ONE CAMPAIGN, NOW WE NEED TO SHOW IT WASN'T A COINCIDENCE – SZYMON HOŁOWNIA IN CONVERSATION WITH TOMASZ SAWCZUK IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: “It wasn't one moment. PiS put us through such a rollercoaster that new information kept appearing: that the elections would happen, that they wouldn't, that maybe later. After the debate, I thought to myself that it was probably meant to be – we won one campaign, so now we will have to prove it wasn't a coincidence. We have to do it all over again.” -- I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST TRZASKOWSKI, BUT I DON'T LIKE THIS PARTY MONOPOLY OF THE CIVIC PLATFORM – HOŁOWNIA CONTINUES: “I personally have nothing against Rafał Trzaskowski, but I don't like this party monopoly. When there's a Civic Platform candidate, suddenly everyone is supposed to rally around him. But why? The Civic Platform has been promising to free Poland from PiS for five years. So far, they have lost five times. What has changed for them to win the presidential election?” -- WHY SHOULD I BE FUEL FOR OPPOSITION PARTIES? – HOŁOWNIA ASKS: “Why should I be fuel for opposition parties? For a long time now, they haven't been able to deal with PiS. I can submit to their moral blackmail or try to do something about it. And I am doing so in the way any Polish citizen who wants to exercise their rights enshrined in the Constitution can. I do not intend to vouch for the incompetence of others.” -- A MOVEMENT WILL BE FORMED, OF WHICH I WILL BE A PART – HOŁOWNIA STATES: “Certainly, a movement will be formed, of which I will be a part. After the presidential elections, the movement will be formalized. It will not be a political party, because there is no need to establish a party at this time. And I will be fully committed to this movement. I don't intend to get angry at the world or leave. I will continue to be active.” -- GOOD LUCK FINDING THE CIVIC PLATFORM'S PROGRAM, THE OPPOSITION STILL RESPONDS TO KACZYŃSKI'S MOVES – HOŁOWNIA CONTINUES: “PiS correctly understood the state Poland was in in 2015. There was a need for the state to start thinking about the citizen differently, to be more socially oriented than before. PiS also skillfully played on creating a community against someone, rather than a community for something – the latter being turned into a flimsy construct for Warsaw intellectuals. The impotence of the opposition contributed to this. The opposition to this day responds to Kaczyński's moves instead of generating its own. After Kaczyński's 'five', there was immediately a 'six' from the Civic Platform – and good luck to anyone who can present the Civic Platform's program today.” -- MAINTAINING 500+ BUT WITHOUT NEW FISCAL ADD-ONS – HOŁOWNIA CONTINUES: “Regarding social programs, I am in favor of maintaining the Rodzina 500 plus program, but not additional one-off financial handouts that the current government disburses before elections. In terms of attitude towards entrepreneurs, the state should treat them as collaborators, not suspects. However, I do not currently see room for changing the tax scale. I also do not see room for discussing a change in the retirement age at this time. By leaving everyone a choice, we can clearly show people that longer contribution periods mean higher benefits.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2020/05/26/holownia-wygralismy-jedna-kampanie-wygramy-druga/ -- HOŁOWNIA TO ADMINISTER OATHS TO 3 CONSTITUTIONAL TRIBUNAL JUDGES – STANISŁAW ZAKROCZYMSKI, ADVISOR TO THE CANDIDATE IN OKO PRESS: “On his first day after being sworn in, President Szymon Hołownia will invite Roman Hauser, Andrzej Jakubecki, and Krzysztof Ślebzak, who are the legally elected judges of the Constitutional Tribunal from 2015, to the Presidential Palace and will administer their oaths. Duda began his term with disobedience to the law and the constitution; Hołownia will begin with a symbolic restoration of the rule of law.” https://oko.press/holownia-prezydent-roznych-polakow-to-szymon-ma-najwieksze-szanse-wygrac-z-duda-wywiad/ -- HOŁOWNIA'S POLL DECLINES ARE A RETURN TO HEALTH – RAFAŁ WOŚ IN SE: “For a brief moment, it seemed that Szymon Hołownia might reach the second round of the presidential elections. However, I predict that his ratings will only fall from now on. This is by no means the candidate's fault. Rather, it is proof that after a temporary weakness, Polish democracy is returning to… health. (…) Indeed, there are moments when the party system becomes corrupted. This happens when the dispute between the main political forces is illusory, and one can only repeat (according to the anarchist Emma Goldman) that 'if elections had any meaning, they would have been forbidden long ago.' Then there may be many parties, but what's the point if they remain deaf to the needs of a large part of society. In such a situation, independent protest movements do have a role to play. But (and this is the punchline of this whole story): if, after a brief commotion, Hołownia returns to the back of the line, it shows that 2020 is not such a moment in Poland.” https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/polityka/holownia-kontra-demokracja-rafal-wos-dla-czytelnikow-super-expressu-aa-qmqS-7D3s-Y97S.html -- POLITICS WITH CLASSIC PARTIES HAS EXHAUSTED ITSELF – WŁADYSŁAW KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ IN CONVERSATION WITH JAKUB BODZIONY IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: “I also know that the formula of politics involving only classic parties has exhausted itself. Now an initiative is needed that shows that if we can agree within a diverse coalition, we will conduct the same dialogue while governing Poland.” -- KOSINIAK COMPARES HOŁOWNIA TO WAŁĘSA'S ANTI-PARTY PRESIDENCY: “An independent president sounds very nice, but in reality, a president without parliamentary backing is the easiest recipe for a permanent political crisis. Especially when the president – as Szymon Hołownia's statements suggest – is to be explicitly 'anti-party'. Poland has already gone through a similar story during Lech Wałęsa's presidency. And was it truly ideal back then?” -- I WANT TO CONVINCE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH MY STYLE, I DON'T LOOK FOR ENEMIES – KOSINIAK CONTINUES in conversation with Jakub Bodziony: “Superficially, my opponents may seem easier to accept. However, I would like to convince young people with my political style, according to which I defend my views but do not look for enemies. I am open to arguments, I don't have any bitterness.” -- MY WIFE CONVINCED ME THAT REFUNDED CONTRACEPTION IS BETTER THAN THE MORNING-AFTER PILL – KOSINIAK CONTINUES: “Recently, we talked a lot about contraception, education, and sexual awareness. My wife convinced me that education and refunded contraception are better than the idea of a 'morning-after' pill available without a prescription.” -- WKK ON BODZIONY'S QUESTION ABOUT THE CHOICE OF PROSECUTOR GENERAL: “Do you think it's better for the Prosecutor General to be accountable to citizens or to Jarosław Kaczyński? Zbigniew Ziobro, who currently holds this position, is an MP, a minister, and the leader of a party that is part of the ruling coalition. The constitution did not protect us from the devastation of the civil service, the total politicization of public media, and the limitation of local government competencies. When, 20 years after the enactment of the fundamental law, people came to power who disregard its norms, all we can do now is protest. And we should have the option to block changes in the judiciary, for example, through a referendum day.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2020/05/26/ludowy-znaczy-powszechny-kosiniak-kamysz/ -- THE FIRST PRESIDING JUDGE APPOINTED BY ZIOBRO – headline in Gazeta Wyborcza. -- WILL SHE PUSH JUSTICE INTO THE ABYSS OR DEFEND IT – TOMASZ PIETRYGA IN RZ ABOUT MANOWSKA: “Manowska must break free from any dependence on political power. She can no longer be the head of the National School of Judiciary and Public Prosecution, which is supervised by the Ministry of Justice. In the Supreme Court, she cannot represent the interests of only the new judges appointed during the PiS era. She must win over everyone, including the 'old' judges. She must respect their positions, legal assessments, including those critical of judicial changes. The new Presiding Judge is taking over a Supreme Court divided as never before in history. (...) Małgorzata Manowska will have to contend with this from the very first days, and these will determine how her presidency will be recorded in history. Will she push Themis into the abyss, or will she defend its territory against the encroachments of political power.” https://www.rp.pl/Opinie/305259939-Tomasz-Pietryga-Pierwsza-Prezes-na-polu-minowym.html -- MORAWIECKI REACTED QUICKLY – MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “Even the Minister of Health stated that the Prime Minister and other guests at the venue they were visiting should have maintained more distance from each other. Morawiecki reacted quickly to avoid contributing to the perception that in the PiS state, there are the equal and the more equal. The Prime Minister has undoubtedly learned from the events of April 10th.” -- IF SOMEONE HAD APOLOGIZED THEN, THERE WOULD BE NO KAZIK SONG – SZUŁDRZYŃSKI CONTINUES: “Interestingly, if someone from PiS had apologized then on behalf of the party leader, the situation would look completely different. First of all, the topic wouldn't have stayed in the media for so long. There would also be no Kazik song. And if Kazik hadn't recorded the song, it wouldn't have won the Trójka (Radio Three) Hit List, and there wouldn't have been an attempt to censor the track. It wouldn't have gained such enormous publicity, and as a result, there would have been no political and image crisis for the 'good change' camp. If the leader had admitted his mistake, if he had been able to apologize like the Prime Minister, PiS would not have had to pay a political price for the current commotion. But perhaps then Jarosław Kaczyński would not be Jarosław Kaczyński.” https://www.rp.pl/Analizy/305259894-Szuldrzynski-Morawiecki-woli-przeprosic.html -- I AM BREAKING SCHEMAS – KRZYSZTOF BOSAK IN CONVERSATION WITH JACEK NIZINKIEWICZ IN RZ: “We have a very large group of non-voters who a new leader can persuade. Stereotypically, it is commonly believed that half the population doesn't vote, but this reasoning doesn't consider that it's not always the same half. There is significant fluctuation between those who vote and those who don't. I gain votes from the group of disillusioned people, many from the Civic Platform, which was once a conservative-liberal party based on Christian values. PiS voters also have many reasons to be disappointed. I am breaking schemas by offering a concrete program. That is why, during this campaign, I have not once been invited for an individual interview to mainstream media, neither to TVP nor to TVN 24.” https://www.rp.pl/Wybory-prezydenckie-2020/200529558-Bosak-Jestem-powiewem-swiezego-powietrza.html -- A SYMBOL OF THE GOVERNMENT'S GROWING CENSORIOUS ARBITRARINESS – ANTONI MICHNIK IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA: “Regardless of Trójka's cultural significance (which Michał Sutowski, among others, described), we must remember the broader context of what has recently happened to the station. Firstly, the Trójka affair is becoming a symbol of the broader increase in censorious arbitrariness by the ruling camp in its fight for control over content in the media and public space. This is evident in various contexts: from TVP cutting out unwanted fragments of the Eurovision program – the presence of the transgender YouTuber NikkieTutorials – through editing out WOŚP (Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity) hearts or rainbow flags, to persecuting artists with 'sanitary inspections' for reconstructing Tadeusz Kantor's 'Letter' happening.” https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kultura/antoni-michnik-trojka-polskie-radio-radiodemolka/ -- PHOTO. Whistler's Mother (Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1) is an oil painting by the American painter James McNeill Whistler, painted in 1871, held in the collection of the Musée d’Orsay. It is the artist's most famous painting and one of the most famous American paintings outside the United States. The portrait depicts the artist's mother, Anna McNeill Whistler. When it was first exhibited, it was almost rejected, but later became a beloved portrait in America. It was underestimated for many years. When offered in New York for $1200, it found no buyer. When exhibited in London, it was ignored by the press. In 1934, the US Post Office honored the painting by issuing it on a postage stamp for Mother's Day. Whistler called his work 'Arrangement in Grey and Black' because he did not want the viewers to think specifically of his mother, but wanted his mother to represent all aging mothers. -- BIRTHDAYS: Krzysztof Warlikowski, Andrzej Milczanowski, Teresa Liszcz, Leon Kieres, Julia Pitera, Janusz Śniadek, Łukasz Schreiber.