-- ALARMIST TALK? NOT THIS TIME. THERE IS GENUINELY SOMETHING TO FEAR AND SOMETHING TO DO. THE NEW GOVERNMENT HAS NEITHER THE TIME NOR THE CONDITIONS FOR A POST-ELECTION RESPITE - ERNEST SKALSKI IN GW: "A full-scale war will erupt in an unprepared Europe, in which Poland will have to fight. One can imagine Russia wanting to subjugate the former satellites of the USSR. The pretext will be the long-standing demand from the Kremlin to push the North Atlantic Treaty Organization away from Russia's borders, which will formally still exist. Minister Lavrov will say that Russia will not interfere in the internal affairs of these countries. And if they themselves wish to recreate something like the COMECON, or even the Warsaw Pact, then of course they are allowed to. (...) In preparing the country for defense in a situation of threat, the government must fulfill its obligations to society decisively, quickly, and loudly. When citizens see that they have a strong and efficient government, they want to rally around it. This is the so-called banner effect. The threat then does not cause panic, because it gives a sense of strength and increases the determination, without which we cannot defend ourselves." -- THE ONCE RECKLESS CALL: "FINISH OFF THE PACK!" SHOULD BE DECLARED NULL AND VOID - SKALSKI CONTINUES: "A large part of society voted for PiS, and it cannot be ignored. That's over seven million citizens with diverse motivations. There are certainly none among them who don't want a safe Poland. However, many of them believed that PiS ensures its security. Probably some part of them will come to understand how things actually were, and see who truly cares about our security. If, in addition, they retain their views on traditions, customs, and faith, then that is their good right, and it should not affect their attitude towards the defense of the country in which we all live. The once reckless call: "Finish off the pack!" should be declared null and void." https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,30532741,ekspansja-rosji-imperium-kontratakuje.html -- POLL: TRUST IN SZYMON HOŁOWNIA AND DONALD TUSK IS DECLINING. A NEW DEPUTY LEADER - RZ ON THE ONET POLL: "The vice-leader of the ranking is the president of PSL, deputy prime minister, and minister of defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, whom 43.8% of respondents trust (an increase of 14 percentage points). Distrust towards Kosiniak-Kamysz is declared by 27.4% of respondents (a decrease of 14.8 percentage points). Rafał Trzaskowski closes the podium, whom 43.3% of respondents trust, 3.7 percentage points less than in November. 35.2% of respondents distrust Trzaskowski. Andrzej Duda is outside the podium with a trust level of 38.7% (a decrease of 0.3 percentage points). 39.5% of respondents distrust Duda." https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art39612341-sondaz-spada-zaufanie-do-szymona-holowni-i-donalda-tuska-nowy-wicelider -- WE ARE DEALING WITH A SITUATION WHERE TRZECIA DROGA IS PLAYING VERY OFFENSIVELY. IN TRUTH, IT HAS PUT VOTERS IN THE FACE OF BLACKMAIL - PROF. PRZEMYSŁAW SADURA TELLS KATARZYNA PRZYBORSKA IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA: "We are dealing with a situation where Trzecia Droga is playing very offensively. In truth, it has put voters in the face of blackmail, which is brilliantly captured by the slogan 'either Trzecia Droga, or PiS's third term.' Some of those who could be called voters of the democratic camp, who supported the idea of creating a single list – those who were even closer to Civic Platform or The Left – ultimately, with gritted teeth, voted for Trzecia Droga. In focus groups with the urban electorate of Trzecia Droga, even half of the people declared that they voted strategically." -- HOŁOWNIA IS ON THE OFFENSIVE AND IT IS CLEAR HE WILL BE A BRAKE ON ACTIONS AIMED AT REALIZING WORLDVIEW POSTULATES - SADURA CONTINUES AT PRZYBORSKA'S: "When he became Speaker of the Sejm and began to conduct debates in a brilliant style, inspired by how it is done in Anglo-Saxon countries, he additionally boosted Trzecia Droga's ratings. He is on the offensive, and it is clear that he will be a brake on actions aimed at realizing worldview postulates and those concerning women and LGBT people." -- FOR NOW, THE LEFT IS SHOWING A DEFENSIVE, REACTIVE STANCE - SADURA CONTINUES AT PRZYBORSKA'S: "For now, the Left is showing a defensive, reactive stance. And in my opinion, the election results can already be interpreted as an evaluation of this strategy. It continues it, so it is probably satisfied, but in my opinion, it should feel a lack of fulfillment." -- YOUNG GIRLS WITH CLEARLY LEFT-WING ATTITUDES MAY BECOME POLITICALLY DEACTIVATED OR SWITCH TO MORE RADICAL GROUPS - SADURA TELLS PRZYBORSKA: "The biggest risk is that if we truly dissolve all such subgroups or sub-generations into one, they may lose their distinctiveness and mobilizing power. These young girls with clearly left-wing attitudes, if they see that the new government and the October 15 Coalition do not take seriously the demands for securing reproductive rights and improving the situation of LGBT people, will withdraw their support. They may also become politically deactivated or switch to more radical groups." -- THE MAJORITY OF POLISH WOMEN AND MEN VOTING FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTIES ARE SO TRAUMATIZED BY EIGHT YEARS OF LAW AND JUSTICE RULE THAT THEY WILL ACCEPT THAT NOT ALL POSTULATES WILL BE REALIZED QUICKLY - SADURA AGAIN IN KP: "The majority of Polish women and men voting for democratic parties are so traumatized by eight years of Law and Justice rule that they will accept that not all postulates will be realized quickly or fully. The people we conducted focus groups with declared themselves that they expect a return to the so-called abortion compromise – I hate that term, but people keep using it. And further changes will have to wait. Regarding LGBT issues, partnership unions, yes, but full marital equality further down the line, and forget about adoption for now, because Poland is not ready for it. That there is no point in breaking unity, because it is unity that keeps PiS and Konfederacja away from power. Even the women we talk to are ready to let go and wait patiently." https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/pokolenie-15-pazdziernika-lewica-trzecia-droga/ -- MPS FROM THE INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE ENVELOPE ELECTIONS WANT TO QUESTION, AMONG OTHERS, MORAWIECKI, SASIN, KAMIŃSKI, AND WITEK - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2023/12/22/ -- IMPLEMENTATION OF TUSK'S PROMISES. WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE COMPENSATION FOR TVP [WE EXPLAIN] - MICHAŁ OLECH IN 300POLITYKA: https://300polityka.pl/news/2023/12/21/realizacja-zapowiedzi-tuska-o-co-chodzi-z-rekompensata-dla-tvp-wyjasniamy/ -- KACZYŃSKI SPENT THE ENTIRE NIGHT IN THE PAP BUILDING - ELWIRA KRZYŻANOWSKA IN GAZETA.PL: "According to information from jedennewsdziennie.pl, Kaczyński spent the entire night at PAP headquarters. In the morning, the dismissed president "greeted" more PiS politicians at reception. Marek Suski appeared, among others. 'This is a demonstration of Surmacz's independence and the agency's departing authorities from PiS,' emphasizes one of PAP's journalists in conversation with jedennewsdziennie.pl. The new president of PAP has also temporarily taken over the duties of editor-in-chief of PAP. Błoński quickly decided to dismiss editor-in-chief Cezary Bielakowski and his deputies: editors Radosław Gil and Tomasz Grodecki." https://jedennewsdziennie.pl/article/141 -- SUCCESSFUL DEBUT OF "19:30" ON TVP. FAR FROM "WIADOMOŚCI", BUT ALSO FROM TVN'S "FAKTY" - JACEK NIZINKIEWICZ IN RZ: "'19:30' in its form was somewhat phlegmatic, not very dynamic, but perhaps it's time to slow down a bit and give the viewer a break. For years, we have been subjected not only to intrusive propaganda but also to informational chaos and aggressive messaging. Calm is welcome. The question is, how long will the new '19:30' team maintain its level and impartiality? There are phone calls that are better left unanswered." https://www.rp.pl/komentarze/art39611451-jacek-nizinkiewicz-udany-debiut-19-30-w-tvp-daleko-od-wiadomosci-ale-tez-faktow-tvn -- A POLITICAL PACT WITH THE DEVIL: THIS GOVERNMENT WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE TEMPTATION TO RESORT TO FORCE, PROVOCATION, AND LAWLESSNESS. AND IT WILL DO SO - MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI: "The long-term consequences will be very bad. Since they are trying to take over TVP this way, no law is absolute, no one's freedom is total, no one's property is guaranteed. But such conduct also means undermining the legitimacy of this government. In the face of any difficulties, it will have the temptation to take shortcuts, use force, and suppress opposition at all costs. And it will do so. Once made, the political pact with the devil of violence cannot be broken. The only question is: who will be the next victim? Let's look around carefully, because it won't necessarily be politically engaged people." https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/675539-polityczny-pakt-z-diablem -- TVP – PIS WILL TRY TO CREATE A LEGEND OF A NEW ASSAULT, INFLAMED EMOTIONS NEVER SERVE THOSE WHO DESIRE PEACE - KATARZYNA SKRZYDŁOWSKA-KALUKIN IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: "So it's funny, but it can be dangerous. Because PiS knows how to turn such farces into gold. Because what amuses its opponents does not amuse its supporters. Because inflamed emotions never serve those who desire peace." -- TO AVOID DOING THE WORK OF POPULISTS, WE MUST NOT DEEPEN THE DIVISION THEY CREATED, BECAUSE THEY FEED ON DIVISION. NO CHEERING, JUST HONEST REPORTING - SKRZYDŁOWSKA-KALUKIN CONTINUES IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: "To avoid doing the work of populists, we must not deepen the division they created, because they feed on division. No cheering, just honest reporting. No retaliatory phrases, just arguments. This also applies to public posts on social media, as they are channels of information for journalists. What you write on X, a colleague from the right will quote in his 'defiant medium.' And the reader will see. And if someone wants to wish peace to themselves and others for the holidays, they should remember that hot water in the tap is the dominant characteristic of governments when populists are not strong in opposition. PiS, although weakening and lacking vigor, remains strong. And with strong populists in opposition, there will be no peace or stabilization." https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2023/12/20/skrzydlowska-kalukin-tvp-pis-bedzie-probowalo-stworzyc-legende-o-nowym-zamachu/ -- NO LONGER PROPAGANDA, BUT NOT YET GOOD TELEVISION - WITOLD GŁOWACKI, AGATA SZCZĘŚNIAK, DOMINIKA SITNICKA, AND MICHAŁ DANIELEWSKI IN OKO.PRESS: "'19:30', the new news program on TVP, has not become a tool for ruthlessly and frontally combating the current opposition – that is, Law and Justice. This is good. Representatives of the right were given a voice; there were no malicious or distorting comments. But there is much to improve." -- THE PURSUIT OF PLURALISM, IMPARTIALITY, BALANCE, AND INDEPENDENCE CAN CERTAINLY BE OBSERVED IN THE NEW TVP NEWS PROGRAM - WRITE THE AUTHORS OF OKO.PRESS FURTHER: "The pursuit of pluralism, impartiality, balance, and independence can certainly be observed in the new TVP news program – thanks to this, it offers a chance for a new quality after the terrible 'Wiadomości' filled with propaganda, as presented by the television subordinate to PiS. However, one cannot speak of 'innovation, high quality, and message integrity' today. It's a shame, but perhaps it will get better." https://oko.press/nowy-program-tvp -- THE PARADOX IS THAT IN A LITERAL SENSE, MINISTER SIENKIEWICZ IS DOING THE SAME AS PIŚ DID IN 2015 - PIOTR PACEWICZ IN OKO.PRESS: "The paradox is that in a literal sense, Minister Sienkiewicz is doing the same as PiS did in 2015. He is invalidating the powers of a politically hostile body, the National Broadcasting Council (RMN), and making the decision himself to dismiss the authorities of public media. The difference in method is that PiS quickly amended the law for this purpose, while the October 15 Coalition cannot do so due to a presidential veto. Sienkiewicz is therefore acting without a legal basis." -- DONALD TUSK'S GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE SHOULD BE A THOROUGH EXPLANATION – WITHOUT TWISTING THE ARGUMENTATION – OF THIS SITUATION OF APPARENT SIMILARITIES - WRITES PIOTR PACEWICZ FURTHER IN OKO.PRESS: "The apparent symmetry between what PiS did in 2015-2016 and what the October 15 Coalition is doing in 2023 makes Kaczyński's propagandists' job easier, because it's enough to quote the opposition's accusations from seven to eight years ago, changing the name Szydło to Tusk, and chanting the same slogans. Donald Tusk's government's response should be a thorough explanation – without twisting the argumentation (see above) – of this situation of apparent similarities." -- BREAKING EVEN BAD LAW IS A LAST RESORT. IT CAN DEMORALIZE THOSE WHO DO IT, BECAUSE IT OPENS THE DOOR TO ARBITRARY DECISIONS AND IMPUNITY - PACEWICZ CONTINUES IN OKO: "Firstly, breaking even bad law is a last resort. It can demoralize those who do it because it opens the door to arbitrary decisions and impunity. Secondly, parallel to the 'democratic coup,' work must be done on solutions for the future, when the 'transitional period' ends. In the case in question – propose legislative solutions regulating the sphere of public media, preferably towards at least limiting politicians' control over them. This would give credibility to the actions of the October 15 Coalition. At most, Duda will veto it. Thirdly, the assessment of the 'coup' against PiS's media law and public media themselves will depend on the results it brings. We will assess Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz's decision of December 20, 2023, by checking whether TVP will fulfill the mission of public media, which is 'to offer society as a whole and its individual parts, diverse programs and other services in the areas of information, publicism, culture, entertainment, education, and sport, characterized by pluralism, impartiality, balance, and independence, as well as innovation, high quality, and message integrity.' Only for such media is it worth carrying out a democratic coup." https://oko.press/decyzja-sienkiewicza-czyli-zamach-na-bezprawie -- THE "DEMOCRATIC CAMP" DOES NOT EXIST - RAFAŁ WOŚ IN INTERIA: "Let's agree on one thing. At the latest from yesterday, it is clear as day that there is no such thing in Poland as a 'democratic camp' that has taken power to restore 'high standards' and rebuild 'rule of law.' It is a brutal power struggle, whose participants – no matter how many hearts they adorn themselves with – are willing to do a lot. Worryingly much." -- TUSK AND HIS TEAM COULD HAVE TAKEN THIS PATH. BUT THEY DIDN'T. THEY CHOSE THE PATH OF FORCE INSTEAD OF DIALOGUE AND SHADY RESOLUTIONS INSTEAD OF SOLID LAWS - WOŚ CONTINUES: "Tusk and his team could have taken this path. But they didn't. They chose the path of force instead of dialogue and shady resolutions instead of solid laws. Tusk, Sienkiewicz, Bodnar, and Hołownia chose this, even though they could have done otherwise. Someone will say that the government is doing what it is doing to satisfy the hardline faction of its voters. All those unyielding 'Silni Razem' (Strong Together) thirsting for revenge and demanding blood, trials, and settlements. Those who have one and the same answer to every accusation: 'because PiS, after all...'. https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-oboz-demokratyczny-nie-istnieje,nId,7223196 -- PIS'S DANGEROUS GAMBLE WITH THE STATE SYSTEM WILL LEAD TO THE CREATION OF PARALLEL LEGAL AND POLITICAL REALITIES - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: "This is not just a dispute between the new and previous government, but a dangerous dualism. We have repeatedly warned in 'Rz' that PiS's dangerous gamble with the state system will lead to the creation of parallel legal and political realities." -- THERE IS NO AUTHORITY TO WHICH ONE COULD TURN TO ESTABLISH THE FINAL STATE OF AFFAIRS - SZUŁDRZYŃSKI CONTINUES IN RZ: "In a normal situation, one could turn to the Constitutional Tribunal, which resolves competency disputes. However, the CT under the leadership of Julia Przyłębska and with the participation of so-called substitute judges is not an undisputed authority – on the contrary, it is considered by the current coalition to be a party in the political conflict. So we have legal and political chaos. At the same time, there is no authority to which one could turn to establish the final state of affairs." -- THE COALITION TODAY, RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW, MUST DO EVERYTHING TO ENSURE ITS ACTIONS ARE NOT ONLY LEGAL BUT ALSO HAVE THE BROADEST POSSIBLE DEMOCRATIC LEGITIMACY - SZUŁDRZYŃSKI'S CONCLUSION: "The coalition today, in restoring the rule of law, must do everything to ensure its actions are not only legal but also have the broadest possible democratic legitimacy, otherwise it will be accused of responding to PiS's illegal practices with its own illegal actions, and the restoration of the rule of law will turn into a political vendetta. It is worth appealing for this, as many similar battles await us." https://www.rp.pl/komentarze/art39611781-michal-szuldrzynski-polski-dualizm-prawny -- IF, AFTER TAKING OVER PUBLIC MEDIA, THERE IS NO REFORM, THE TEMPORARY POPULARITY OF MAREK CZYŻ'S FACE WILL BE USELESS, AND THE RULERS WILL WASTE THEIR CHANCE TO KEEP ELECTION PROMISES - BOGUSŁAW CHRABOTA IN RZ: "Is what I am writing about a possibility? If so, if the stake is truly the reconstruction of professional media institutions, then the potential legal flaws in Minister Sienkiewicz's actions will be forgivable. Because the good of the state is at stake. If this does not succeed, the temporary popularity of Marek Czyż's face will be useless, and the rulers will waste their chance to keep their election promises. It would be a shame. I await their move." https://www.rp.pl/komentarze/art39612061-boguslaw-chrabota-czy-przejecie-tvp-poprawi-telewizje -- LET'S NOT CALL THIS STATE "ANARCHY." THIS IS DICTATORSHIP, AND A HARD, BRUTAL ONE - JACEK KARNOWSKI: "We have had this suspicion for quite some time, but since the pacification of public media in December, we have clarity: we have reached a point where the law no longer protects the citizens of the Republic of Poland. We no longer have this shield over the Vistula, this foundation of a civilized world. (...) In case of a clash between institutions or an individual with the authorities, the authorities decide everything. Not the constitution, not the laws, not even the (long politically heated) courts, but the will of the rulers. It is everything. Of course, if the conflict concerns people friendly to the authorities, or if the interests are not crucial, the law may still prove to be an arbiter. In the background, everyone is aware that if the authorities get into trouble, they will resort to violence. (...) I repeat: the law no longer protects Poles. And let's not call this state 'anarchy.' This is dictatorship, and a hard, brutal one." https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/675468-prawo-nie-chroni-juz-obywateli-rzeczypospolitej-polskiej -- NOT A SINGLE DEPUTY MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH - JUDYTA WATOŁA IN GW: "The lack of deputy ministers is a problem, both substantive and formal. Leszczyna herself has never dealt with health before, and there is currently no one to whom she could entrust the making of certain decisions and signing of documents." https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,30534402,ani-jednego-wiceministra-w-resorcie-zdrowia-tusk-wciaz-nie.html -- 23 YEARS AGO, LESZEK BALCEROWICZ BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE NBP. -- HENRYK WUJEK WOULD HAVE TURNED 82 ON CHRISTMAS EVE. HE DIED ON AUGUST 15, 2020. -- STATE OF PLAY RETURNS ON WEDNESDAY. -- BIRTHDAYS: Malwina Gadawa, Agnieszka Ścigaj, Tomasz Nowak, Piotr Witwicki. SATURDAY: Jan Parys, Szczepan Twardoch. CHRISTMAS EVE: Ryszard Legutko, Piotr Polak, Konrad Ciesiołkiewicz, Marcin Korolec. FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS: Andrzej Gelberg. SECOND DAY: Wojciech Misiąg.