-- PARLIAMENTARY SESSION NOVEMBER 13-14? - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2023/10/18/ -- THE NEW GOVERNMENT'S FIRST TASK WILL BE TO UNBLOCK KPO FUNDS - DOROTA BAWOŁEK IN GAZETA.PL: "It may actually be easier to unblock Poland's KPO by speaking directly with Brussels than by counting on the good will of the president or the Constitutional Tribunal controlled by PiS, suggests Jakub Jaraczewski from the Berlin-based organization Democracy Reporting International in Politico. 'Perhaps Tusk's strategy will be to attempt to resume negotiations on milestones and reach a new agreement with the European Commission,' he assesses. Moreover, as Andrzej Halicki explains in an interview with jedennewsdziennie.pl, changes need to be made to the KPO, increasing the role of local governments in the distribution and control of these funds." https://jedennewsdziennie.pl/article/88 -- KPO, OR DONALD TUSK'S FIRST TEST - TOMASZ PIETRYGA IN RZ: "If Donald Tusk does not reach an agreement with the EU, for example, by renegotiating the agreement and the nature of the milestones, it will not look good politically. The question is, how flexible are the EU commissioners and will they want to accommodate a politician they supported in the campaign?" https://www.rp.pl/opinie-prawne/art39283261-tomasz-pietryga-kpo-czyli-pierwszy-test-dla-donalda-tuska -- 'THE PiS SYSTEM' HAS BEEN BROKEN, IT WILL NOT CLOSE AGAIN - JERZY BACZYŃSKI, MARIUSZ JANICKI IN TYGODNIK POLITYKA: "One way or another, 'the PiS system' has been broken, it will not close again. After losing power, the entire structure of the authoritarian state will begin to crumble, though probably onto our heads as well. However, that is a concern for the coming days and weeks – today, the most important thing is the joy of victory. The greatest triumph of Polish democracy since the beginning of free Poland." -- THE POISON OF CONTEMPT AND HATRED TOWARDS PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT APPEARANCES OR VIEWS, POURED FOR YEARS AND ADMINISTERED IN HORSE DOSES - CONTINUES BACZYŃSKI AND JANICKI: "The level of nonsense and lies was terrifying, especially since it gave PiS the support of over a third of Poles. This poison of contempt and hatred towards people of different appearances or views, poured for years and administered in horse doses before the elections, circulates and will continue to circulate in the PiS electorate for a long time, and detoxification will be arduous, requiring as much decisiveness as empathy." -- THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT PiS IS ENDING, WHICH HAS BEEN PREMATURELY ANNOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. KACZYŃSKI WILL STILL HAVE A LARGE CLUB IN THE SEJM AND WILL TRY TO DESTABILIZE - CONTINUES THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF OF TYGODNIK POLITYKA: "This does not mean that PiS is ending, which has been prematurely announced several times before. Kaczyński will still have a large club in the Sejm and will try to destabilize the new government, using every opportunity to sow discord among today's opposition, weaken it, and pick out its weakest links. PiS is adept at this, as evidenced by cobbling together the junk coalition that has functioned on the edge of a majority for many months." https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/2231298,1,smak-nadziei-system-pis-zostal-zlamany-juz-sie-nie-domknie -- THE TRANSFER OF POWER WILL OBVIOUSLY BE PAINFUL FOR THE PiS NOMENKLATURA, WHICH HAS OCCUPIED THE STATE AND MADE PRIVATE FORTUNES FROM IT. BUT THE PURELY POLITICAL PROSPECTS OF PiS DO NOT LOOK BAD AT ALL, THIS EMPIRE WILL COUNTERATTACK AGAIN - RAFAŁ KALUKIN IN TYGODNIK POLITYKA: "The transfer of power will obviously be painful for the PiS nomenklatura, which has occupied the state and made private fortunes from it. But the purely political prospects of PiS do not look bad at all. After all, they hold President Duda in their grasp and are unlikely to hesitate to use him for obstruction. The same goes for Przyłębska's tribunal, the prosecutor's office, and 'public' media. It is probably only now that we will see what lies behind the propaganda slogan of 'total opposition'. A party terrified of being held accountable should consolidate even more around Kaczyński's leadership. With the largest club in the Sejm, practically without competition in the opposition, PiS will monopolize all social opposition to the new government. This empire will counterattack again." -- THE CARNIVAL OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT WILL BE EXCEPTIONALLY SHORT THIS TIME - CONTINUES KALUKIN: "Above all, however, the winner of the 'most important elections since 1989' – assuming a change of government occurs within constitutional deadlines – will face an enormous scale of challenges. The carnival of the new government will be exceptionally short this time. First of all, Prime Minister Tusk will undoubtedly carry out a major personnel purge of ministries and state-owned companies, showing the PiS 'cat litter boxes' the door. Simultaneously, he will launch a diplomatic offensive, cleaning up relations with the European Union (unblocking KPO!) and the strategic partnership with Ukraine, which was weakened by PiS during the campaign. However, passing laws will not be so simple, making it even more crucial to find a way to bypass Duda's and Przyłębska's obstruction." -- NO OTHER LEADER HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH COMPARABLE AMPLITUDE OF UPS AND DOWNS, BUT THE PERSISTENT HOŁOWNIA HAD HIS WAY, THE EXPERT ETHOS OF HIS FORMATION WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE USEFUL TO THE NEW SYSTEM - CONTINUES KALUKIN: "No other leader had to struggle with comparable amplitude of ups and downs, but the persistent Hołownia had his way. However, he should be aware that his success at the finish line owes as much to himself as to Donald Tusk, who not only eased the political pressure on the Third Way but even threw it – along with many KO voters – a lifeline. Tactical voting for Hołownia likely brought this formation 2–3 percentage points. Therefore, one can expect that the leader of Poland 2050, who has a tendency to carry his grievances, will now prove to be a disciplined coalition partner. The expert ethos of his formation will undoubtedly be useful to the new ruling system. In the long run, however, there will be tensions, as Hołownia is unlikely to give up his presidential ambitions, which sooner or later will put him on a collision course with (likely) Rafał Trzaskowski." https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/2231302,1,trudne-zwyciestwo-polska-po-rzadach-kaczynskiego-jest-ciezko-chora-co-czeka-opozycje.read -- IT WILL TAKE PRECIOUS TIME FROM THE WINNERS OF SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS, AND THIS WILL MEAN THEY COULD APPOINT THEIR OWN CABINET ONLY AT THE VERY END OF THE YEAR - MAREK KĘSKRAWIEC IN TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY: "Even an unsuccessful mission by PiS to form a parliamentary majority will take precious time from the winners of Sunday's elections, and this will mean they could appoint their own cabinet only at the very end of the year. This, in turn, means that only one month will be left to pass the budget (otherwise the president can dissolve parliament) – and these will be works on difficult material, as the budget was prepared by PiS, with huge expenditures, moreover, crammed into strange places." -- IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT EVEN SINGLE OPPOSITION DEPUTIES WOULD DECIDE TO JOIN THE SINKING PiS NOW - CONTINUES KĘSKRAWIEC IN TYGODNIK: "This whole arrangement looks very naive, as it is hard to believe that even single opposition deputies would decide to join the sinking PiS now, let alone entire parties. So, either we are dealing with an act of desperation in the face of losing thousands of positions in offices, agencies, and companies (and criminal liability in some cases), or it is solely about maliciously putting a spoke in the wheels of the new team." https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/koniec-wyscigu-tak-bedzie-wygladal-nowy-parlament-185047 -- THE MOST URGENT TASKS FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT: HOLD PiS ACCOUNTABLE AND CONVINCE THE YOUNG - CEZARY MICHALSKI IN GW: "The legitimacy of the winners is based on holding PiS accountable and fulfilling promises without causing additional chaos in the budget. The survival of the democrats' power in the next elections depends on success on both these fronts. (...) The key to holding PiS accountable is taking power as quickly as possible; the opposition preparing a personal and program concept for the future government even before the first session of the Senate and Sejm; and at the first sessions of both chambers of parliament, the opposition efficiently electing their new presidiums. Their composition must be complementary to the government's composition, ensuring that each of the opposition parties receives in it what results from its competencies and strength." https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,30312562,najpilniejsze-zadania-dla-nowej-wladzy-rozliczyc-pis-i-przekonac.html -- THE NATION TOLD JAROSŁAW KACZYŃSKI: "ENOUGH!". WE WENT TO THE BALLOT BOXES. AND WE PROBABLY SET AN ELECTORAL TURNout RECORD IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF POLAND - JAROSŁAW KUISZ IN INTERIA: "Although it is hard to believe, escaping populism turned out to be more important than escaping communism. In the first round of the legendary parliamentary elections in 1989, only 62.7% of eligible voters participated. Later – in the conditions of a sharp post-communist division – fewer voters also went to the presidential elections (68%)." -- POLAND IS NOT HUNGARY. LACK OF MODERATION IN ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF POWER AND CROSSING FURTHER BOUNDARIES OF DECENCY - CONTINUES KUISZ IN INTERIA: "Poland is not Hungary. The lack of moderation in enjoying the fruits of power and crossing further boundaries of decency in communication with citizens proved unbearable. It reached a point where it was difficult to watch the news from Poland and abroad on public television with children." https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-panu-kaczynskiemu-juz-dziekujemy,nId,7092871 -- IT WAS POLISH WOMEN WHO CHASED KACZYŃSKI AWAY. IN THE SEJM ELECTED BY POLES, PiS WOULD GOVERN WITH KONFEDERACJA - PIOTR PACEWICZ IN OKO.PRESS: "If only Poles voted, then in the Sejm PiS would govern with Konfederacja, having a safe majority of 240 seats. If only Polish women voted, the pro-democratic opposition would have a giant majority of 260 seats. It's not just in Poland that women are for democracy. (...) Women went to these elections more mobilized than men; according to exit polls, turnout among Polish women was 73.7%, among Polish men 72%*. Pro-democratic parties recognized the growing role of women in shaping public opinion and civic activity for several years, while right-wing parties underestimated it. This was reflected in men, who still dominate, giving way to women." https://oko.press/to-polki-pogonily-kaczynskiego -- THE PRESIDENT IS RECONCILED TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE GIVING UP POWER. NOW HE IS DOING EVERYTHING TO ENSURE WE SURVIVE IN THE OPPOSITION UNITED, BECAUSE ONLY THEN WILL WE MAINTAIN THE PRESIDENTIAL VETO IN THE SEJM - WE HEAR FROM POLITICIANS OF UNITED RIGHT-WING - IN AGATA KONDZIŃSKA'S ARTICLE IN GW: "Kaczyński's second scenario involves preparing the party for next year's local and European elections. PiS is not counting on large cities, as they showed in the parliamentary elections that they are closer to the parties of today's opposition. - We need to rebound in municipalities, districts, and rural areas. And our structures must do that,' says a PiS MP. He adds that the recent revolutions in party structures, intended to turn PiS into a corporation, have failed. - It turned out that it didn't work. If 300 people came to the rally in Sandomierz, where we ended our campaign, what were the party ranks doing? Can't we bring a thousand activists by bus? - asks our interlocutor." https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,30312628,kaczynski-przygotowuje-pis-na-czas-w-opozycji.html -- KACZYŃSKI SEES A CHANCE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS - JACEK GĄDEK IN GAZETA.PL: "But the PiS leader considered something else to be the most important thing requiring the greatest mobilization: the presidential campaign in 2025. According to Gazeta.pl information, Kaczyński spoke about the fight for the Presidential Palace in about a year and a half as an opportunity for PiS to get back on the path to power. He considered the 2025 presidential campaign to be the most important goal, but to think about winning these elections, the party must first fundamentally transform itself into a modern formation composed of people who 'want to,' and put forward someone with a real chance of winning the fight for the Presidential Palace." -- KACZYŃSKI'S DIG AT TERLECKI - CONTINUES GĄDEK IN GAZETA.PL: "Kaczyński also stated that the PiS club in the Sejm did not function well. This was interpreted as a dig at the head of the PiS club in the outgoing term, Professor Ryszard Terlecki. Moreover, in the ruling camp, jokes are made about Terlecki that if he were to guard two chickens, they would run away. - That's half true. If he had two chickens, he would manipulate them first, and only then would they run away - corrects one of the interlocutors. Terlecki will be a member of parliament again in the new term (to save his mandate, he was the lead candidate in an absolute PiS stronghold, and was still overtaken on the list). https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,30312513,ujawniamy-kulisy-spotkania-na-szczycie-pis-wiemy-jak-kaczynski.html -- MORAWIECKI. THE FACE OF DEFEAT - BOGUSŁAW CHRABOTA IN RZ: "What will be the prime minister's future? I see it as quite weak. There is no return to the role of an expert. In the party, they probably also understand that he is a used card. Soon, he will become more of a reputational burden for PiS than a political asset. In opposition circles, he is persona non grata. And he will likely become the object of brutal reckonings." -- HIS ENTIRE POLITICAL PATH, STARTING FROM 2015, IS A CONTINUOUS OBSESSION WITH GAINING CREDIBILITY IN KACZYŃSKI'S PARTY - CONTINUES CHRABOTA: "But that ended quickly. When? When in the 2019 election campaign, he irrevocably took on the role of one of the main propagandists. Did he have to? Probably not. But he wanted to, believing that there was no other way. Why? Because his entire political path, starting from 2015, is a continuous obsession with gaining credibility in Kaczyński's party. He failed not only to build a faction but even personal credibility. For many 'old guard' members of the PC order, he remained a banker hired by the leader. And his personal hostage. In some situations, a bumper; in others, a successor candidate." https://www.rp.pl/wybory/art39283751-boguslaw-chrabota-morawiecki-twarz-porazki -- KONFEDERACJA DID NOT SUFFER A DEFEAT. IT ALMOST DOUBLED ITS REPRESENTATION IN THE SEJM - STEFAN SĘKOWSKI IN TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY: "Konfederacja's result is better than what the party achieved four years ago. At the same time, it is, of course, below its aspirations and capabilities. If it's so good, why is it so bad? Expectations were much higher. They were fueled by polls, which for months (especially during the summer) showed that Konfederacja could count on over a dozen percent of the votes. With a strong representation of several dozen people, it was supposed to be a kingmaker, on whom it would depend who would govern Poland." https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/konfederacja-nie-poniosla-kleski-podwaja-niemal-swoja-reprezentacje-w-sejmie-185046 -- BIEJAT AND ZANDBERG CAN OPEN CHAMPAGNE TODAY. RAZEM DOMINATED LEWICA - MICHAŁ PŁOCIŃSKI IN RZ: "The first reflections are that young, strongly left-wing voters were more mobilized and looked for specific names of Razem party activists on the lists. They engaged in 'election tourism,' meaning they organized group or individual trips to constituencies where Razem activists had a chance to fight for a mandate. In short, they did everything to ensure that true socialists, rather than post-communists and so-called lib-ers (activists more liberal than pro-social), got into parliament. And with such commitment, they can indeed change Lewica from within." https://www.rp.pl/komentarze/art39279731-michal-plocinski-magdalena-biejat-i-adrian-zandberg-moga-dzis-otwierac-szampany-razem-zdominowalo-lewice -- KAMIL DĄBROWA CONSIDERED AS PRESIDENT OF POLISH RADIO: https://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/kamil-dabrowa-prezes-polskie-radio-anna-godzwon-agnieszka-rucinska -- NASK SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT WITH THE INSTITUTE OF POWER ENGINEERING TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT TO ENTITIES IN THE ENERGY SECTOR IN THE FIELD OF CYBERSECURITY https://300polityka.pl/live/2023/10/17/nask-wesprze-podmioty-z-sektora-energetyki-w-zakresie-cyberbezpieczenstwa/ -- BIRTHDAYS: Andżelika Borys, Lech Dymarski, Zdzisław Podkański, Dobromir Sośnierz.