-- WE LIVE UNDER THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT POLISH AID FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IS EXCEPTIONAL. IN REALITY, IT'S AMONG THE WORST IN EUROPE - KAJETAN WRÓBLEWSKI IN GW: "The media do not care that refugee infants have nothing to eat, and that disabled individuals lack care, not even medical care, but hygienic care, while waiting for departure from Poland (there are no places for them here), or the complete lack of aid for animals. Amidst this widespread lack of interest in refugees, the political class is deaf to reality. Therefore, I sound the alarm, a little bell (do not ask whom the bell tolls for: it tolls for you). (...) A proper reception and relocation center must be established in Warsaw, providing comprehensive assistance, just like in Berlin, Oslo, Utrecht, Copenhagen, or Helsinki. Since we lack a national aid system, let's help people move on. This is a minimum of what Ukrainian refugees need, 90% of whom, for obvious geographical reasons, pass through Poland." https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,30474632,polska-zostawila-uchodzcow-z-ukrainy-bez-pomocy.html -- THE WEST IS TIRED OF UKRAINE. A DANGEROUS IMPASSE IN SUPPORTING KYIV - JĘDRZEJ BIELECKI, ANDRZEJ ŁOMANOWSKI, RUSŁAN SZOSZYN IN RZ: "Experts agree that without American support, Ukraine would have lost the war with Russia long ago. But Kyiv's situation is even worse. The paralysis in Washington coincides with a similar blockage in Brussels. Here, the approval of a 50 billion euro package at the summit on December 13 is not certain. Not only Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán threatens a veto – many other countries, like Italy, are linking aid for Ukrainians to an increase of another 50 billion euros in the EU budget for other purposes, e.g., protecting the Community's external borders. Germany, mired in a financial crisis, does not want to hear about this. They announce a veto of anything beyond aid for Ukraine itself." https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art39523361-zachod-zmeczony-ukraina-niebezpieczny-impas-we-wspieraniu-kijowa -- RUSSIA BELIEVES IT CAN WIN THE WAR AGAINST UKRAINE - ANDRZEJ ŁOMANOWSKI IN RZ: "Moscow is encouraged by reports of growing difficulties for the Ukrainian army, deprived of US and EU support (Hungary is blocking the EU aid package, of which 20 billion euros was intended for military assistance). The prospect of a harsh winter for Ukraine on the front lines leads the Kremlin to develop diplomatic actions aimed at encouraging the West to completely abandon Ukraine. It is not addressing Kyiv's closest neighbors (e.g., Poland or the Baltic states) but the major Western powers, believing that if they make a decision, others will have to comply." https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art39523481-rosja-uznala-ze-moze-wygrac-wojne-z-ukraina -- HOŁOWNIA: I WILL PROPOSE TO THE PRESIDIUM THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH DAY OF SESSIONS WE HAVE STATEMENTS FROM CLUBS AND THE COALITION ON CURRENT MATTERS - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2023/12/06/ -- WILL PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEES HELP HOLD THE PIS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE? THE NEW COALITION AND ITS VOTERS HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THEM, BUT FOR THEM TO BE EFFECTIVE, THEY MUST OPERATE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN THOSE IN THE PAST - RAFAŁ KALUKIN IN TYGODNIK POLITYKA: "But should we expect a mass spectacle like in the Rywin era because of this? That is rather doubtful; it would be a success to move beyond the bubble of the most engaged supporters of the democratic side and capture the attention of those less interested in political life. However, it is difficult to count on the conversion of right-wing supporters on a wider scale: in the already cited United Surveys poll, only 13% of PiS voters supported the commissions now being established. It would therefore be risky to predict that the commissions' activities will significantly impact the polls, although much will depend on the investigators' abilities. However, this should not be the decisive aspect. We already know very well that a commission designed as a vehicle for political narratives and controlling daily 'game states' risks self-discrediting, and the audience quickly gets bored with it. Therefore, it is good to avoid taking unnecessary risks." https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/2237462,1,jak-skutecznie-rozliczyc-pis-czy-komisje-sledcze-wystarcza-i-co-moga-wykryc.read -- THE TIME FOR ACCOUNTABILITY BEGINS. THE FIRST INVESTIGATIVE COMMISSION POSSIBLE AS EARLY AS DECEMBER 12 - PAWEŁ WROŃSKI IN GW: "A representative of the Sejm Analysis Bureau, in turn, noted that the Sejm can investigate the activities of the administration, but not private enterprises, the National Electoral Commission, or local government bodies that are not subject to private control. It was pointed out that the same applies to the investigation of Sejm bodies and commercial law companies." https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,30474454,zaczyna-sie-czas-rozliczen-komisje-sledcze-na-posiedzeniu-sejmowej.html -- THE MULTIPLICATION OF FIRES CAUSES WASHINGTON AND MANY EUROPEAN CAPITALS TO LOOK FOR ANY SIGNS OF HOPE. AND AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, DONALD TUSK'S CELEBRATION TODAY AS THE NUMBER 1 POLITICIAN IN EUROPE SHOULD PRIMARILY BE SEEN - JAROSŁAW KUISZ IN INTERIA: "The temptation arises to say that proclaiming Tusk the most powerful man in Europe was more apt in 2007, or perhaps 2011 (incidentally, it was in 2010 that this politician received the Charlemagne Prize for his contributions to promoting European ideas). However, only now is it clear how desperately the West needs political hope. This does not please me at all. Especially since we know that taking over executive power from PiS is perhaps the most politically difficult moment in Tusk's biography. It resembles wading through mud. The demining of these legal mines will take place millimeter by millimeter." https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-dlaczego-donalda-tuska-nazwano-napotezniejszym-czlowiekiem-w,nId,7191502 -- BY ACCUSING THE CONTROVERSIAL LAW, THE COALITION ADMITS ITS MISTAKE, BUT MINIMIZES THE LOSSES ASSOCIATED WITH CRITICISM FROM THE PIS, WHICH IS MOVING INTO OPPOSITION - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: "It is a form of admission of a mistake by the new coalition. And mistakes in politics have consequences, and this matter will likely continue to cause trouble for a long time. However, if the coalition had not withdrawn from it, it would have harmed it more than nipping the issue in the bud. -- WE CAN TREAT THIS LAW AS A GOOD PROGNOSIS FOR HOW THIS TERM WILL LOOK; THE IMPRESSION WAS TO BE CREATED THAT OTHERS MESSED UP, AND THE FUTURE PRIME MINISTER IS CLEANING UP AFTER THE OTHER COALITION PARTNERS - SZUŁDRZYŃSKI FURTHER IN RZ: "We can treat this law as a good prognosis for how this term will look. The coalition partners – although quite loyal and trying to play as a team – will try to shift the blame onto each other in crisis situations. We saw this clearly when PO politicians argued that the withdrawal from the wind energy bill was a decision made personally by Donald Tusk. The impression was to be created that others had messed up, and the future prime minister – as the only adult in the room – was cleaning up after the other coalition partners out of a sense of responsibility." https://www.rp.pl/komentarze/art39520411-michal-szuldrzynski-dlaczego-tusk-i-holownia-wycofali-sie-z-ustawy-wiatrakowej -- WIND TURBINES MAY JUST BE THE BEGINNING OF TURBULENCE - MICHAŁ KOLANKO IN RZ: "Starting next week, Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz will be able to strengthen his position, as he will be responsible for the key Ministry of Defense at this moment, and for Polish security policy. Kosiniak-Kamysz will also be responsible for relations with President Andrzej Duda within the framework of cohabitation and has unique opportunities for good cooperation here, especially compared to other leaders of the ruling coalition. Donald Tusk, as head of government, and Civic Platform, as a party with institutional memory of a coalition operating on completely different principles than the previous one, will have to take all of this into account." https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art39519921-michal-kolanko-wiatraki-to-byc-moze-dopiero-poczatek-turbulencji -- "WHO IS THIS?" "WHERE IS HOŁOWNIA?!" ASK DISAPPOINTED, OR PERHAPS SLIGHTLY ANNOYED VIEWERS. BECAUSE SOMEONE DIDN'T GIVE THEM WHAT THEY'RE WAITING FOR. AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR PARLIAMENT, BUT IN HOŁOWNIA'S VERSION - AGATA SZCZĘŚNIAK IN OKO.PRESS: "This phenomenon, which is gaining momentum, has nothing to do with me or another MP, or some other event," Hołownia admitted on Tuesday. And yet, it has something to do with Hołownia himself. This is evident, for example, in the comments on YouTube when Deputy Speakers Piotr Zgorzelski or Włodzimierz Czarzasty lead the sessions. "Who is this?" "Where is Hołownia?!" ask disappointed, or perhaps slightly annoyed viewers. Because someone didn't give them what they're waiting for. And they are waiting for Parliament, but in Hołownia's version. And he skillfully uses his many years of experience in organizing a television spectacle. Because parliamentary sessions are also a spectacle – and even politics itself. Strangely, it seems that PiS politicians have forgotten this." https://oko.press/dlaczego-tyle-osob-oglada-sejm-holownia-ma-odpowiedz -- IN A SENSE, IN HOW HOŁOWNIA CONDUCTS THE SESSIONS, ONE CAN SEE ECHOES OF THE TELEVISION TALENT SHOW FORMULA - JAKUB MAJMUREK IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA: "In a sense, in how Hołownia conducts the sessions, one can see echoes of the television talent show formula. The real stars of this format are not the 'talents' fighting to fulfill their dreams, but the judges. Especially those who brilliantly know how to 'put down' the claims to fame and career of people who should never have deluded themselves into thinking they actually have a chance. When Hołownia silences MP Suski, outmaneuvers PiS with his knowledge of the regulations, cuttingly retorts to Czarnek's impertinence, or sends Kaczyński, who is trying to get to the podium, back to his seat, he takes on the role of such a judge. Only in a game for power, not television fame." -- I EXPECT THIS WAVE OF INTEREST TO START TO RECEDE EVENTUALLY, CERTAINLY AFTER THE TUSK GOVERNMENT IS FORMED AND THE NEW MAJORITY STABILIZES. HOWEVER, I HOPE THAT SOME PART OF THE INCREASED INTEREST IN PARLIAMENT WILL REMAIN - MAJMUREK FURTHER IN KRYTYKA: "I expect this wave of interest to start to recede eventually, certainly after the Tusk government is formed and the new majority stabilizes. However, I hope that some part of the increased interest in Parliament will remain. Of course, it's not about Parliament being a fascinating series. Parliament is not meant to be a source of entertainment, but a place for making laws and representing the diverse interests that make up a given political community. Nevertheless, a situation where these interests are represented in a spectacular and attractive form increases interest in politics and citizen engagement. Democracy is made not by viewers, but by participants. The real challenge for politicians is how to turn viewers attracted by the broadcasts of the High Chamber into more active participants in democratic processes, citizens active not only during elections." https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/sejmflix-chill/ -- PKO BP ANALYSTS ON THE PISA TEST: EIGHTEEN COUNTRIES ACHIEVED RESULTS ABOVE THE OECD AVERAGE, AND AMONG THEM, DESPITE A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE, POLAND STILL REMAINED: https://300polityka.pl/live/2023/12/05/analitycy-pko-bp-o-tescie-pisa-osiemnascie-krajow-osiagnelo-wyniki-powyzej-sredniej-oecd-a-wsrod-nich-mimo-duzego-spadku-wciaz-znajdowala-sie-polska/ -- BIRTHDAYS: Konrad Szymański, Janusz Wojciechowski, Paweł Bravo.