-- TOMORROW'S SPEECH SHOWDOWN: HOŁOWNIA AT 1 PM IN CRACOW, TRZASKOWSKI AT 4 PM IN POZNAŃ: https://300polityka.pl/live/2020/05/29/pierwsze-tak-wazne-wystapienie-holowni-po-10-maja-i-odmrozeniu-gospodarki-jutro-wystapienie-w-krakowie/ -- JAKI ON SOROSIAN NOMENCLATURE AND PINK POLITICS, KAMIŃSKI ON BUDA'S AGREEMENT TO ELECTIONS AFTER AUGUST 6, THE PRIME MINISTER WITH BOŃEK ON UNFREEZING STANDS - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2020/05/29/ -- NACZELNA FAKTU ON THE GOVERNMENT'S SWIFT ACTIONS - as Katarzyna Kozłowska writes: “The swift actions of the Polish government, as well as the responsible attitude of Poles in the first phase of the crisis – the epidemic – ensured that the plague did not spread here as it did, for example, in Italy or Spain. However, in the second phase – recession, we will not be able to win alone. Our condition depends too much on the condition of others. Therefore, the news coming from Brussels about the economic recovery fund worth 750 million euros is very welcome. It shows that the European Union countries are ready for cooperation, solidarity, and sacrifice for a common goal.” https://www.fakt.pl/wydarzenia/polityka/katarzyna-kozlowska-solidarnosc-od-nowa/x9t7wsl -- KAZIK STASZEWSKI ON JACEK CIEŚLIK'S QUESTION ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS REGARDING HIM - IN AN INTERVIEW FOR RZ: “If I could dare to give the president some advice, I would advise him not to speak on matters he doesn't understand. Moreover, there are no people who understand everything. I don't understand many things and I don't comment on them. If President Duda knew what the costs of making records are today – the statement about the millions I would earn could be considered a good joke. But let's remember that a joke repeated too often stops being funny.” -- THE FURTHER WE GO, THE LOWER ANDRZEJ DUDA'S CHANCES GET - KAZIK CONTINUES IN RZ: “It is not good for the country when all branches of power are in the hands of one faction. Unfortunately, I don't find any favorite among the opposition candidates. Unfortunately, the incumbent president is not among such favorites either, and I hesitate whether to go to the elections, as I generally haven't. But to break the monopoly of power, one should go and vote. In the first round, it doesn't matter whom from the opposition. And if there is a second round, it will not be an election, but a plebiscite. The further we go, the lower Andrzej Duda's chances get.” https://www.rp.pl/Muzyka/200529253-Kazik-Nie-moglem-pozostac-obojetny.html -- WPOLITYCE NOTES THE WEAKENING OF DUDA'S CANDIDACY IN ITS POLL: “In confrontation with the most probable rival, Rafał Trzaskowski, Andrzej Duda would get 51%, and the Civic Coalition candidate 49% (in the previous wave of our research, 54% versus 46%).” -- IT WILL BE A VERY CLOSE BATTLE - WPOLITYCE HEADLINE ON THE POLL: https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/502371-ii-tura-najnowszy-sondaz-to-bedzie-bardzo-wyrownany-boj -- IT IS NOT THE POLICE'S ROLE TO SUPPRESS DEMONSTRATIONS, BUT TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO DISPERSE - ADAM BODNAR IN AN INTERVIEW WITH EWĄ IVANOVĄ IN GW: “What we have observed recently on the streets of Warsaw is absolutely incomprehensible. I believe that if gatherings occur, it is not the role of the police to reach for the proverbial truncheon. It is not their role to suppress demonstrations. If a protest is peaceful, even if it has not been properly registered, all possible measures should be taken to disperse such a gathering peacefully and persuade participants to leave.” -- IT IS WORRYING THAT THE POLICE USE THE INSTITUTION OF PREVENTIVE DETENTION - BODNAR CONTINUES: “It is worrying that the police use the institution of preventive detention. And that they so readily resort to coercive measures when circumstances do not require it. This indicates that it is not really about the safety and health of citizens during the epidemic, but about not allowing any manifestation of expressing one's beliefs in the public sphere. The RPO office continuously sends letters to police commanders, demanding explanations in these matters. But the police are unwilling to cooperate.” -- I DON'T KNOW ANYONE PUNISHED FOR PUBLICLY UNDERTAKING ACTIONS FAVORING THIS GOVERNMENT - BODNAR CONTINUES IN GW: “I'll put it this way: I don't know anyone punished for publicly undertaking actions favoring the current government. Somehow, the cases that reach me mainly concern people expressing a critical attitude towards the authorities or concern about the state of the rule of law in Poland.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,25983831,bodnar-nie-odpuszczajmy-domagajmy-sie-respektowania-naszych.html -- FURTHER ABSURD IDEAS FOR POSTPONING THE DATE - PIOTR TRUDNOWSKI IN FAKT: “The solution proposed by the National Electoral Commission is not ideal, but it is acceptable. Today, we are dealing with the escalation of conflict through further, absurd ideas for changing the election date. If we are in a legal vacuum and cannot call elections before the end of Andrzej Duda's term, we will be even more so after August 6. I remind you that Article 131 of the constitution contains a precise enumeration of situations in which the Marshal of the Sejm can perform the functions of the head of state. It does not mention a situation where elections have not been held. Even less does it mention the possibility of the Marshal of the Senate holding office. I fear that in such a situation, we could find ourselves in an even more serious crisis than we are in today.” -- IN SUCH TURMOIL, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER POLLS - TRUDNOWSKI CONTINUES: “We are in a situation where social moods are very volatile. It is difficult to seriously assess polls today. Some of them appear to build a vision of specific candidates' chances. There are also those commissioned by candidates and their campaign teams. The trend, which shows that more and more Poles want to participate in the elections, tells us much more. Not long ago, the number of people declaring their intention to vote was significantly lower. This shows that it is difficult to predict anything today.” https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2020/05/28/trudnowski-rozwiazanie-zaproponowane-przez-pkw-nie-jest-idealne-ale-akceptowalne/ -- LUDWIK DORN SEES NO RATIONALITY ON THE PART OF THE SENATE OPPOSITION - as he tells Fakt: “– I see no sense in it and cannot perceive any. These moves are beyond any rationality – he assesses. He admits that some amendments to the election bill are justified, such as limiting the term of the Marshal of the Sejm. – But these amendments should be submitted and forwarded to the Sejm on Monday. And that's it – he points out.” https://www.fakt.pl/wydarzenia/polityka/ludwik-dorn-apeluje-do-opozycji-ogarnijcie-sie/tb02rwx -- TRZASKOWSKI CAN WIN, BUT HE MUST CONDUCT A DIFFERENT CAMPAIGN - PROF. RADOSŁAW MARKOWSKI IN AN INTERVIEW WITH AGNIESZKA KUBLIK IN GW: “He can. But he must conduct a completely different campaign. A blitz campaign – a simple message with the key issue of restoring Poland's dignity on the international stage and democracy in the country. And the fundamental issue – 51% of Poles believe that the government and people associated with it 'are making dubious deals and earning a lot of money during the pandemic'; only 13% hold the opposite opinion. The message should be simple, clear, without boredom. This requires campaign know-how; if the new team can do it, they can win. A few campaign blows that will allow him to enter the second round. And there, Duda can get support only possibly from some of Bosak's voters.” -- PEOPLE WITH LOWER EDUCATION ARE LESS MOBILIZED - MARKOWSKI CONTINUES ON RESEARCH CONDUCTED FOR SWPS: “Educated people are much more mobilized now than those with lower education. This means that among less educated voters there is significant mobilization potential, although it must be remembered that they are not easily mobilized.” -- TRZASKOWSKI MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY REACHING THE AVERAGE VOTER - MARKOWSKI CONTINUES: “He may have difficulty reaching the average voter. His education, sophisticated way of talking about political dilemmas, interesting depiction of alternatives, all this is a great advantage, but it can be difficult for many. He needs to simplify the message. Our research shows that Trzaskowski has the oldest electorate of all candidates, with people over 55 years old definitely dominating.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,25965970,badanie-swps-prof-radoslaw-markowski-kaczynski-juz-wie-ze.html -- NON-PARTISAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM GREATER POLAND SUPPORTED HOŁOWNIA, INCLUDING THE MAYOR OF GNIEZNO FROM THE CIVIC PLATFORM: https://poznan.wyborcza.pl/poznan/7,36001,25975071,szymon-holownia-z-poparciem-samorzadowcow-wsrod-nich-byly-prezydent.html -- JACEK KARNOWSKI EXPLAINS WHY, IN HIS OPINION, TRZASKOWSKI QUESTIONS THE CONSTRUCTION OF CPK - IT'S A SIGNAL THAT POLAND WILL SETTLE FOR THE ROLE OF A HARMLESS CLIENT: “So why does he say what he says? Just to be against the ruling party, to denounce what is 'PiS-like'? Not impossible. But the essence of the matter lies elsewhere. Opposition to investments is actually a signal directed outwards. It is a promise that Poland will not want to be great, that it will settle for the role of a harmless client. Of course, if Trzaskowski wins.” -- TRZASKOWSKI'S MICROMANIA - KARNOWSKI ON THE CIVIC COALITION CANDIDATE'S ACCUSATION OF "MORAWIECKI'S GIGANTOMANIA": “Two years ago, Rafał Trzaskowski made a statement that has already gone down in the history of Polish micromania.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/502364-sprzeciw-wobec-inwestycji-to-sygnal-skierowany-na-zewnatrz -- MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI COMPARES ORLEN'S PROFITS UNDER THE PO AND PIS GOVERNMENTS: “For example, those showing that in 2014, PKN ORLEN had a net loss of PLN 5.8 billion. At that time, its CEO Jacek Krawiec earned PLN 2.9 million. Let's compare this with the situation in 2019, when the company generated PLN 4.3 billion, and the remuneration of CEO Daniel Obajtek for this period was PLN 2.1 million (PLN 1.2 million excluding the bonus for 2019). And two more pieces of information. First – the total net profit of PKN ORLEN in the years 2016-2019 (4 years) amounted to over PLN 23 billion. Second – the total net profit of PKN ORLEN in the years 2008-2015 (8 years) was less than PLN 3 billion.” -- HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS LEAKED THROUGH THEIR HANDS - KARNOWSKI CONTINUES: “Hundreds of billions also leaked through the fingers of the PO-PSL team due to the activities of VAT mafias and unmolested smuggling groups. It was from these funds recovered from thieves that pro-family and pro-social programs were financed. These and other data (even the decline in the stock market value of these companies due to the epidemic is lower than worldwide) can only be covered up by shouting. So they shout in the Sejm, and Donald Tusk shouts and insults.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/502384-po-debacie-w-sejmie-o-co-chodzilo-w-ataku-na-jacka-sasina -- THERE HAVE BEEN NO HONORARY RESIGNATIONS UNDER THE PIS GOVERNMENT, WE ARE APPOINTING A PARLIAMENTARY TEAM TO INVESTIGATE - WŁADYSŁAW KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ IN AN INTERVIEW WITH JACEK NIZINKIEWICZ IN RZ: “During the PiS government, there have been no honorary resignations yet. We are establishing a parliamentary team to clarify the Szumowski affair. We do not believe that the services will act, we do not believe in the prosecution. Only opposition MPs can clarify the matter.” -- TRZASKOWSKI IS A RESCUE MISSION FOR PO, HE HAS NO CHANCE IN THE 2ND ROUND AGAINST DUDA - KOSINIAK CONTINUES IN RZ: “Trzaskowski's start is a rescue mission for PO. The Platform decided that saving the party is most important, which is why they put their strongest representative, who previously did not want to run, into the election. Trzaskowski may get a very good result in the first round, and then lose the second round disastrously, because the opponent's electorate mobilizes more than his own. Opposition voters want the elections to be effective and won, and a candidate standing opposite President Duda to be the most effective. I have the greatest chance of defeating Andrzej Duda in the second round, which is why I will fight to the very end.” https://www.rp.pl/Wybory-prezydenckie-2020/305289881-Wladyslaw-Kosiniak-Kamysz-Tylko-ja-moge-pokonac-Andrzeja-Dude.html -- THE SENATE IS SABOTAGING TRZASKOWSKI'S CAMPAIGN - JAKUB BODZIONY IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: “Consequently, it seems that the Senate's insertion has dominated the media's image of the last few days and has slowed down Rafał Trzaskowski's very good campaign start. The inclusion of the Mayor of Warsaw in the race gave the Civic Platform new energy, a chance for an electoral restart, and allowed them to seriously consider victory over PiS again. As a result of the Senate's actions, Trzaskowski's successful move to reveal his and his wife's financial statements was overshadowed by another political scandal. While the desire of Lewica and PSL to weaken Trzaskowski can be understood, it is difficult to comprehend why Marshal Grodzki also joined this front.” -- A THOUGHTLESS DRIBBLE CAN END IN AN OWN GOAL - BODZIONY CONTINUES ON THE SENATE: “In this situation, PiS gained an opportunity to mobilize, and it is harder for the opposition to present its actions in terms of concern for the state. Senators have undertaken a very risky game that threatens to demobilize some voters, as was the case with Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska's extremely inconsistent message. A thoughtless dribble can end in an own goal.” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2020/05/29/rafal-trzaskowski-kampania-senat-wybory/ -- MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI ON SEJM GOSSIP ABOUT THE LUDOWCY'S INTRIGUE - writes in RZ: “What is all this about? Sejm gossip claims that the whole affair originated from an intrigue by the ludowcy, who decided to strike at Rafał Trzaskowski's well-developing campaign. According to this narrative – repeated by politicians from both the right and the left – PSL campaign strategists calculated that disrupting the plans of the capital's mayor would bring their candidate back into the game and give him a chance for a campaign restart, even hopes of reaching the second round. Thursday's move by Kosiniak-Kamysz in the form of a proposal for a pact for the June 28 elections shows that the PSL has changed its mind and realized it has overplayed its hand.” -- PIS CAN WAIT UNTIL THE OPPOSITION SETTLES ITS INTERNAL AFFAIRS, INCREASING DUDA'S CHANCES - SZUŁDRZYŃSKI CONTINUES: “However, the opposition has found itself in a trap. Undermining the legality of the June 28 elections may affect the turnout among the opposition's electorate, and consequently reduce the opposition candidate's chances in a clash with the incumbent president, who is the favorite of this race. PO has already stumbled once by calling for an election boycott. PSL and Lewica may suffer the same losses. From the perspective of political interests, all of this is most beneficial to Law and Justice. Instead of huffing at the opposition, PiS can wait until its politicians settling internal affairs increases the chances of Andrzej Duda's victory.” https://www.rp.pl/Komentarze/305289898-Michal-Szuldrzynski-Opozycja-w-pulapce.html -- BOSAK: I AM FUNCTIONALLY RECONCILED WITH THE FACT OF POLAND'S PRESENCE IN THE EU - KRZYSZTOF BOSAK IN ONE: “Fifteen years ago, I was against joining the European Union; today, to some extent, I am functionally reconciled with the fact of being in it. Our society has also come to terms with it; it has been bought with these EU funds. On the other hand, I think society will begin to notice the terrible ideological pressure, that it will notice how unfavorable the EU's industrial policy is for us, for example, in the energy sector. However, I see that this moment has not yet arrived. We must act wisely within the current framework and defend our interests under the conditions we are facing. The state of Poles' awareness and their belief in Polish independence must be taken into account. Will this change? Probably, but I don't know when.” https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/wybory-prezydenckie-2020-wywiad-z-krzysztofem-bosakiem/jzbkq9p -- LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FACE EUTHANASIA - MAYOR OF SOPOT JACEK KARNOWSKI IN BUSINESS INSIDER: “We face euthanasia. This ruling team does not like independence; if someone is independent, they destroy them – in this case, they will destroy us by starvation. This is a very difficult time for everyone. We should cooperate. Meanwhile, since the pandemic, the Joint Commission of the Government and Local Government has not met even once. We have not received any shield for opinion. Personally, I fear the worst-case scenario most, which foresees the introduction of commissioners in many municipalities. In such circumstances, President Andrzej Duda's statement in Garwolin is a slap in the face for the 30th anniversary of local government.” https://businessinsider.com.pl/finanse/samorzadowcy-oczekuja-wiekszej-pomocy-ze-strony-rzadu/8wwcf4y -- PHOTO. Sandro Botticelli's "Spring", Uffizi Gallery, Florence. As the title of the painting suggests, Sandro Botticelli depicted the arrival and celebration of spring. Interestingly, it was not the painter who named his work, but the Italian historiographer Giorgio Vasari, who was involved in describing the work of the Italian artist. The figure of Venus, compared to the other figures, appears to be pushed back into the painting, as if giving way to her retinue. By placing the goddess in the center and thanks to the cut of her dress, this figure can be identified with traditional fifteenth-century depictions of Mary. Furthermore, Venus makes a characteristic gesture of a blessing hand, which further evokes associations with the Mother of God. According to some, Mercury resembles Saint Sebastian. Botticelli's "Spring" is also considered an extraordinary botanical collection, as the painter depicted about 500 identified plants with almost 190 different flowers in his painting, and in the case of as many as 130, a specific species could be recognized. https://niezlasztuka.net/o-sztuce/sandro-botticelli-wiosna-primavera/ -- BIRTHDAYS: Maciej Łętowski, Krzysztof Wolfram, Igor Chalupec.