-- MARSHAL ANDRZEJ WIELOWIEYSKI TURNS 96 TODAY! Photo: Mieczysław Michalak, KARTA Centre archives, 1st National Congress of the Civic Movement - Democratic Action (ROAD). From left: Zofia Kuratowska, Jacek Kuroń, and Andrzej Wielowieyski. -- 7 YEARS AGO – the beginning of the so-called parliamentary crisis, known as the coup. -- 18 YEARS AGO, outgoing President Aleksander Kwaśniewski granted a pardon to former Deputy Interior Minister Zbigniew Sobotka, convicted for his involvement in the so-called Starachowice affair. -- MOBILIZATION IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS, LOCAL AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS, IS CLOSER TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE – PRZEMYSŁAW SADURA IN A CONVERSATION WITH AGNIESZKA KUBLIK IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “Voter turnout among women aged 18-29 was 71.5%, and among those aged 30-39 – 77.3%. This was higher than four years ago, by as much as 25 percentage points in the 18-29 age group. – And it didn't last. Mobilization in the upcoming local and European Parliament elections is closer to what it was before. 33% of people aged 18-29 declare a definite intention to participate in the European elections, while 25% say they "rather will participate." 26% of young people declare a high or very high interest in politics. Men interested in politics are twice as numerous as women.” -- WE DEALT WITH HUGE MOBILIZATION, BUT OFTEN A ONE-OFF AND LAST-MINUTE EFFORT – PRZEMYSŁAW SADURA CONTINUES TO AGNIESZKA KUBLIK IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “The poll showed us the visibility and effectiveness of turnout-boosting campaigns; they are visible in the groups they targeted. And finally, we saw that incomparably more respondents than in previous elections declared that they made their voting decision in the last week, even in the last days of the campaign. So, we were dealing with huge mobilization, but often a one-off and last-minute effort. Many people were convinced at the last moment to go to the polls, which does not mean that voter mobilization will last into the future. This is a task for the new, democratic majority, to maintain it through the style of conducting debates, but above all, through the style of governance. And this will be a significant undertaking, as the new team received a one-time credit of trust, and now there will be a great "test" from the younger generation.” -- I DO NOT SEE A REVERSAL FROM POLARIZATION, NOR DO I SEE THE PIE CAMPAIGN AS COMPLETELY OFF-TARGET, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT – SADURA CONTINUES TO KUBLIK: “The poll data shows an increase in Trzecia Droga's ratings and an increase in the sense of agency among Poles. But I do not see a retreat from polarization, nor do I see the PiS campaign as completely off-target, because it was not. It turned out that there is a significant group of people who until now either were not interested in politics, or were not interested enough to go to the polls, and whom they managed to convince for a one-time participation.” -- IT MAY TURN OUT THAT SOMEONE APPEARS IN THE SEJM WHO WILL TRY TO OVERSHADOW HOŁOWNIA, OR AT LEAST CHALLENGE HIM – SADURA STILL TELLS AGNIESZKA KUBLIK: “Hołownia treated the Sejm and the role of Marshal as a vehicle for his presidential ambitions from the beginning. It is unknown who will be KO's candidate, and whether, for example, an investigative committee or one of the ministries will become a springboard for increased popularity. It may turn out that someone will emerge in the Sejm who will try to overshadow Hołownia, or at least challenge him, and also try to leverage their popularity in the Sejm to start campaigning for the presidency.” -- THE SEJM SQUABBLES WITH MARSHAL HOŁOWNIA ARE ATTRACTING SO MUCH ATTENTION AND RELIEVING SOME OF THE NEED FOR RECKONING – SADURA CONTINUES TO KUBLIK IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “And such a political reckoning can appeal to a superficially understood sense of justice or revenge. And that is why these symbolic, parliamentary skirmishes with Marshal Hołownia are attracting so much attention and alleviating some of the need for settling scores, for holding accountable those who abused their power, broke the law and the rules of the rule of law over the past eight years.” -- IN REALITY, EVERYONE SAID THEY WANTED RECKONING AND JUSTICE, BUT ULTIMATELY EMPHASIZED THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE OVERDONE, THAT IT SHOULD NOT BECOME THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK FOR THE NEW MAJORITY, THE NEW GOVERNMENT. BECAUSE THE MAIN THING IS TO FIX THE STATE – KUBLIK TELLS SADURA: “Firstly, because it's Poland, and one knows how this system works. Secondly, it's still the world of politics, and everyone promised it would be this way; even PiS promised to hold Tusk accountable, to hold the liberal governments accountable, but in reality – the research participants said – little came of it. So, if even an undemocratic PiS was unable to do it, what can be expected from democrats who have more scruples? And thirdly, everyone actually said they wanted reckoning, justice, but in the end emphasized that it should not be overdone, that it should not become the most important task for the new majority, the new government. Because the main thing is to fix the state, to improve the standard of living, not to wage wars with predecessors. Besides, if we put them all in prison, who will pay for it? The taxpayer. And this is a kind of folk wisdom regarding reckonings.” -- I FEAR WHETHER THE THIRD WAY, OR SZYMON HOŁOWNIA, THINKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AND BELIEVING HE CAN APPEAL TO A MODERATE ELECTORATE, AND NOT GIVE IN TO POLARIZATION, WON'T BE A BIT OF A BRAKE – SADURA AGAIN: “I fear whether the Third Way, or Szymon Hołownia, thinking about the presidential campaign and believing he can appeal to a moderate electorate, and not give in to polarization, won't be a bit of a brake. Just as the Third Way acted as a brake in the process of uniting the opposition before the elections and presented society with blackmail, saying, 'either the Third Way, or PiS's third term.' That was blackmail. Research we conducted with Sławek Sierakowski shows how many people succumbed to this blackmail.” https://wyborcza.pl/magazyn/7,124059,30499976,socjolog-o-fenomenie-sejmflixa-mamy-dzis-nowy-rodzaj-obcowania.html -- EMOTION IMPOSED BY POWERFUL MEDIA, ONLINE, BY CELEBRITIES, TURNED OUT TO BE STRONGER – MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI: “No one there is postulating that there should have been 'more positives.' Everyone there knows there were many, that it was the only basis for the campaign in the field, but Poles, as if, no longer wanted to listen. The echo of subsequent programs, funds, investments, and announcements, which were credible, was very, very weak. The emotion imposed by powerful media, online, by celebrities, turned out to be stronger. My interviewees believe, despite feeling bitterness, that they still achieved a powerful result, only 400,000 votes weaker than in 2019. This is thanks to a change in course in the final stretch and undertaking a comparative campaign, recalling Tusk's "achievements" from the previous term.” -- THE EMOTIONS STIRRED UP BY THE "EIGHT STARS" WILL QUICKLY PASS, THEY ARE ALREADY PASSING. SUCH A SURGE OF TENSION HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME – KARNOWSKI CONTINUES: “Amidst this sea of bad news, there is also good news. The emotions stirred up by the 'eight stars' will quickly pass, they are already passing. Such a surge of tension happens from time to time. On the other hand, in terms of communication (not the message itself, but the tools to reach people with it), PiS must quickly move into the 21st century, build professional teams accumulating experience and knowledge, and develop tools. This area, however, has been neglected.” -- POLES DID NOT REJECT THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC POLICY PURSUED BY JAROSŁAW KACZYŃSKI'S CAMP – KARNOWSKI CLAIMS: “Most importantly, Poles did not reject the socio-economic policy pursued by Jarosław Kaczyński's camp. Both from my conversations and from polls, it appears that they assess it well and want its continuation. The last eight years were an excellent period for Poland. Great achievements were made that will pay off, especially in contrast to the lack of seriousness and skills of the people who have taken power.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/674727-o-wyniku-wyborow-z-innej-perspektywy-zaskakujace-wnioski -- IN REALITY, THE BRAUN AFFAIR SHOWED HOW FRAGILE EVERYTHING IS – CEZARY MICHALSKI IN INTERIA: “Grzegorz Braun's anti-Semitic outburst, at first glance, only delayed the approval of the new Polish government by the Sejm by two or three hours. But that's just an appearance; in reality, the Braun affair showed how fragile everything is. On what minefield, over what deep abyss is this YouTube spinning.” -- HE DEALT WITH MENTZEN, WHO POSED AS A PRAGMATIST, AND DESTROYED HIS OWN PARTY, ELIMINATING IT FROM REAL POLITICS, WHERE IT WAS JUST BEGINNING TO ESTABLISH ITSELF – MICHALSKI CONTINUES: “Incidentally, Braun behaved towards Konfederacja like Hamas towards the Palestinian inhabitants of the Gaza Strip. He dealt with Mentzen, who posed as a pragmatist, destroyed his own party (though people like Braun don't consider any institution their own, as they still live in the pre-institutional era), eliminating it from real politics, where it was just beginning to establish itself.” -- GOVERNANCE, ENSURING BUDGETARY AND ECONOMIC STABILITY WITH EVEN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF ELECTION PROMISES, IS TUSK'S GREATEST OPPONENT – MICHALSKI AGAIN: “There are no strong and dangerous candidates for Tusk. Within the coalition, too, there is peace for now. In this situation, Tusk can focus on governing, occasionally flicking Kaczyński on the cheek with a handkerchief out of reluctance. Governance (ensuring budgetary and economic stability with even partial fulfillment of election promises) is Tusk's greatest adversary. He will fail on this, or he will build his legend as a politician who twice saved the Republic (of course, in its liberal-democratic and pro-Western version).” https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-koniec-zabawy-w-piar,nId,7211330 -- THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER THE PHRASEOLOGY OF "FREEDOM AND PROGRESS" AND THE REPEATED FORMULA "THE TIME FOR A HAPPY POLAND HAS COME" WILL BE ENOUGH FOR VOTERS – PIOTR ZAREMBA IN RZECZPOSPOLITA: “The only question is whether the phraseology of 'freedom and progress' and the repeatedly used formula 'the time for a happy Poland has come' will be enough for voters. Or for how long. Polish polarization consists, among other things, in the fact that each side – speaking of electorates – will accept even economic hardship from 'their own.' However, they will not forgive it from 'the others.' Those who see support for the new coalition as a symbol of their life aspirations may forgive Tusk for many things. This is largely a war of cultural associations, of images, or even of Gombrowiczian grimaces.” -- LOUD ARGUMENTS OVER IDEOLOGY WILL DROWN OUT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE "BASICS": FINANCES, TAX SYSTEM, LOBBY INFLUENCES – ZAREMBA CONTINUES: “Speaking of which, Tusk quoted the 'Polish Pope' in his exposé. At the same time, he ensures that politicians who are as eager to drive out Karol Wojtyła as the feminist Rowling have significant influence on Polish minds within the coalition. Why does he do this? Due to arithmetic, but also because loud arguments over ideology will drown out discussions about the 'basics': finances, the tax system, lobby influences. Also, because left-wing fervor will be a whip against the right if it tries to re-emerge as a majority. Of course, he and his colleagues, comfortable cynics, will sometimes permit such campaigns and sometimes slightly curb them.” https://www.rp.pl/plus-minus/art39570581-donald-tusk-to-liberalny-wilk-w-socjalnej-skorze -- IF PIŚ IS TO RECOVER, IT WILL DO SO THANKS TO ANDRZEJ DUDA, BECAUSE TODAY HE, AND NOT, FOR EXAMPLE, PRZEMYSŁAW CZARNEK – ANOTHER CANDIDATE TO SUCCEED KACZYŃSKI – CAN BETTER ADDRESS THE EMOTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS OF PIŚ VOTERS – KATARZYNA PRZYBORSKA IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA: “The president's position may be strengthened now, with his minimal involvement. It is enough for him to graciously allow things and cut ribbons. He will appear calm and stable, not just amiable. A president cooperating with the government can also closely observe its missteps, exploit them, and review them – showing his distinctness from it. PiS is facing a huge competitor in the form of Trzecia Droga. The popularity of parliamentary broadcasts is greater than the patostreaming from the 9th term of the Sejm. This shows that voters, including conservatives, are tired of the circus and instability, and that they actually want politicians who play within established rules. If PiS is to recover, it will do so thanks to Andrzej Duda, because today he, and not, for example, Przemysław Czarnek – another candidate to succeed Kaczyński – can better address the emotions and expectations of PiS voters.” https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/to-moze-byc-dla-dudy-najlepszy-czas-uda-mu-sie-uratowac-pis/ -- IT IS WORTH CONDEMNING BRAUN WITH ALL MIGHT. BUT ALSO REMEMBERING THAT LEFT-WING EXTREMISTS ARE REWARDED FOR THE SAME THING. THIS IS THE EXAMPLE OF JOANNA SCHEURING-WIELGUS – PIOTR ZAREMBA IN INTERIA: “The MP was prosecuted for exactly the same act for which Braun is now accused: disturbing religious practices. In 2020, as part of the Women's Strike action, she entered St. James' Church in Toruń during mass. There were banners, there were shouts. The truth did not extinguish the candles, but the attitude towards religion was exactly the same. It would be wrong if only an attack on Mosaic religion entailed legal and moral consequences in Poland. And yet, the court acquitted her of punishment. This lady is, incidentally, confirmation of the thesis that every side of the political dispute in Poland has its extremists. I fear for Polish culture when any segment of it is administered or supported by someone like that.” -- THE CONFEDERATION DEPUTY IS SO INDIVIDUAL IN HIS PREJUDICES THAT NO ONE HAD TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO DO ANYTHING, AND CERTAINLY NOT THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE SEJM – ZAREMBA CONTINUES: “The accusation that Hołownia is turning parliamentary debates into a cabaret, a spectacle, sounds more convincing. I also have doubts about his expression, brought from the TVN talent show, combined with exaggerated narcissism. However, the connection between this expression and Braun's somber attack seems far-fetched to me. The Confederation deputy is so individual in his prejudices that, I repeat, no one had to encourage him to do anything, and certainly not the atmosphere in the Sejm.” -- WHEN THE ENTIRE MULTIFACETED RIGHT IS PUSHED TO THE MARGINS OF POLITICS BY INSISTENT PROPAGANDA, WHEN POLITICAL CORRECTNESS STARTS TO REIGN, MORE SPACE IS CREATED FOR BRAUNS – ZAREMBA'S CONCLUSION: “When the entire multifaceted right is pushed to the margins of politics by insistent propaganda, when political correctness starts to reign, more space is created for Braun-like figures. And the mirror image of their excesses becomes the excesses of radicals from the left. Such as Ms. Scheuring-Wielgus.” https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-posel-braun-cynikiem-czy-wariatem-na-pewno-nie-jedynym-ekstr,nId,7211336 -- HOŁOWNIA USES A DIFFERENT VOCABULARY – ESPECIALLY TOWARDS POLITICAL OPPONENTS. HIS LANGUAGE IS FILLED WITH METAPHORS AND JOKES. AND THROUGH ITS DIFFERENCE, IT BECOMES POSITIVELY SURPRISING – JUSTYNA BAKALARSKA-STANKIEWICZ IN OKO.PRESS: “Of course, Hołownia's language must be different from his predecessors'. That mode of communication was personalized and emotional, but in an aggressive way, demonstratively dismissive of political opponents and journalists. It was directed at a different audience. Therefore, unlike the narratives of his predecessors, Hołownia uses a different vocabulary – especially towards political opponents. His language is filled with metaphors and jokes. And through its difference, it becomes positively surprising. On the one hand, this is a variation of the language of political communication that voters of the democratic majority most likely expected, but on the other hand, it can also be attractive to PiS voters, both male and female. Especially since Szymon Hołownia does not have as large a negative electorate as, for example, Donald Tusk. A lack of political experience, in Hołownia's case, is therefore his advantage.” -- HIS BEHAVIOR STEMS FROM WITHIN, IT IS SOMETHING THAT SIMPLY PLAYS IN HIS SOUL – SAYS BARBARA KRYSZTOFCZYK, HEAD OF PR FOR SZYMON HOŁOWNIA'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN STAFF IN 2020 AND A PUBLIC SPEAKING COACH: “Today, Hołownia is becoming the most popular politician in the country, but currently, the credit of trust for opposition politicians is high. However, this will change over time. Internal struggles within the coalition will also certainly occur. Therefore, the closer it gets to the presidential elections, the more difficult it may be for Hołownia. 'If this communication style were imposed on Szymon from the outside, unnatural, he could indeed burn out quickly,' states Krysztofczyk. – 'But this is not the case. His behavior stems from within; it is something that simply plays in his soul,' she adds.” https://oko.press/fenomen-holowni-jego-zachowanie -- PIS'S CESSATION OF POWER NOT ONLY OVERTURNS THE THESIS THAT KACZYŃSKI ESTABLISHED A DICTATORSHIP LIKE IN BELARUS, BUT ALSO THE THESIS THAT GOVERNMENTS OF PIS OWE SYMMETRY – MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZECZPOSPOLITA: “And the more the fight against symmetry has been compromised, the louder the anti-symmetrical advocates will shout. Because they cannot admit they were wrong. That PiS did not eliminate democracy in Poland after all. And it lost not because the most ardent supporters of the opposition were right, but because it angered ordinary Poles so much with its concentration of hate, contempt, and arrogance that over 3 million voters voted for Trzecia Droga, seeing a chance for change.” https://www.rp.pl/plus-minus/art39570641-michal-szuldrzynski-antysymetryzm-zbankrutowal -- DO NOT LET YOURSELVES BE TURNED INTO A COALITION OF REVENGE AND CHAOS – BOGUSŁAW CHRABOTA IN RZECZPOSPOLITA: “If Tusk manages to control the rhetoric of his fighters, and I want to believe it is possible, then that 'little bit' dreamed of by Adam Michnik has a chance. If, however, the 'coalition of October 15' turns into the 'coalition of revenge and chaos' so eagerly awaited by Mariusz Błaszczak, even that 'little bit' will drift away. Let's hope this does not happen.” https://www.rp.pl/plus-minus/art39570611-boguslaw-chrabota-nie-dajcie-z-siebie-zrobic-koalicji-zemsty-i-chaosu -- THE PROBLEM WAS THAT A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL TRIED TO IMPOSE A CERTAIN WAY OF THINKING ON ME – SINCE I AM GAY, I SHOULD THINK THE SAME AS HIM – ŁUKASZ JASINA IN A CONVERSATION WITH DOMINIKA WIELOWIEJSKA IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “I couldn't care less what anyone thinks of me in relation to this. Although a powerful wave of hate speech has come my way, the problem for me was not the fact of openly talking about who I am. The problem was that a certain individual tried to impose a specific way of thinking on me – since I am gay, I should think the same as him. But in the end, it turned out for the best: no one will think now that I wanted to hide anything.” -- EQUALLY WELL, AS A PERSON COMING FROM A DEEPLY CATHOLIC FAMILY, YOU NOTICE PEOPLE IN YOUR EDITORIAL OFFICE WHO DEEPLY DISLIKE RELIGION AND SOMETIMES SET THE TONE OF "WYBORCZA" OR THE GAZETA.PL PORTAL WITH THEIR RADICALISM. DOES THIS MEAN YOU SHOULD LEAVE? – JASINA TELLS WIELOWIEJSKA: “Equally well, as a person coming from a deeply Catholic family, you notice people in your editorial office who deeply dislike religion and sometimes set the tone of 'Wyborcza' or the Gazeta.pl portal with their radicalism. Does this mean you should leave? Let's not descend into absurdity. I work for the government of the Republic of Poland, not for a councilor or a party. And as long as I can be an openly gay man and no one can do anything about it, but must treat me like any other person, then I see no problem.” -- HE FORCED SOME PEOPLE FROM THE RIGHT TO DEFEND A GAY MAN AS A HUMAN BEING – JASINA CONTINUES IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “Although Mr. Staszewski's post actually did something good. It forced some people from the right to defend a gay man as a human being, which is probably the first such case on the right.” -- PRIVATELY, I AM A GAY MAN WITH CONSERVATIVE VIEWS, WHO IS COMFORTABLE WITH HIMSELF – JASINA TELLS WIELOWIEJSKA: “Similarly, anti-clericalism is a hallmark of your camp. Despite this, you are a journalist and you do your job, and I am a civil servant and I do my job. I was invited to serve the state and I work for the state, for Poland – any Poland, conservative, liberal, left-wing. And privately, I am a gay man with conservative views, who is comfortable with himself.” -- PEOPLE WILL ALSO ACCEPT TWO MEN. WHAT POLAND HAS BEEN FAMOUS FOR FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS WILL WORK: A COMMON-SENSE APPROACH TO PROBLEMS – JASINA STILL TELLS WIELOWIEJSKA IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “I grew up in a time when a single mother was difficult for many people to accept. In my hometown, I was never pointed at as a gay man, but I was regularly mocked as an illegitimate child. This shows how far we have come in 40 years. If children are often raised by two women, a mother and a grandmother, no worse than by a mother and father, and at the same time many sacramental marriages do not necessarily create an ideal environment for a child – then people will also accept two men. What Poland has been famous for for several hundred years will work: a common-sense approach to problems.” -- PIS DID NOT TAKE OVER THE MAJORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, PRIVATE BUSINESS EXISTS AS IT DID, MINISTER GLIŃSKI DID NOT SUCCEED IN RADICALLY CHANGING CULTURE – JASINA STATES: “PiS restored dignity to the most pauperized segments of society – it showed them that they are citizens and that they matter. And in foreign policy, its people, at a critical moment, were not afraid to act on their own without asking for permission. It was Poland, through faits accomplis, that forced allies to provide Rzeszów for Ukraine, and it was Poland, without asking for permission, that caused the transfer of MiGs and Leopards to Ukraine. However, would I call PiS's rule a 'revolution'? We had a revolution mainly in rhetoric. Indeed, individual institutions were taken over and modified, attempts were made to modify the judiciary at the systemic level, but PiS did not take over the vast majority of local governments, private business exists as it did, and Minister Gliński did not succeed in radically changing culture.” -- PEOPLE SIMPLY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED, AND DID NOT AGREE TO MORE – JASINA TELLS WIELOWIEJSKA IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “Ultimately, society decides, and it, despite momentarily succumbing to one rhetoric or another, wants in the long run for power to be based on good governance. That is why in the first term people supported many of PiS's changes because they saw some sense in them, and in the second term, they lost faith in that sense. Or they simply got what they wanted, and did not agree to more.” -- SHOULD TOMASZ RACZEK, WHO SPOKE ON TVP ABOUT FILMS AND CULTURE IN THE 80S, BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT SOMEONE ELSE SAID IN "DZIENNIK"? – JASINA AGAIN: “Should Tomasz Raczek, who spoke on TVP about films and culture in the 80s, be held accountable for what someone else said in 'Dziennik'? Of course not. Yes, each of us is responsible for what we did. I was a state official who said what he said – and I bear responsibility for that. But not for what other people did.” https://wyborcza.pl/magazyn/7,124059,30496130,wysoki-urzednik-rzadu-pis-jestem-gejem-o-konserwatywnych-pogladach.html -- BIRTHDAYS: Andrzej Wielowieyski, Anna Nehrebecka-Byczewska, Wojciech Szarama, Jacek Świat, Mirosław Czech. SUNDAY: Elżbieta Witek, Jacek Cichocki, Adam Jarubas, Anna Sztark, Tadeusz Dziuba, Maciej Nowak, Dariusz Piontkowski.