-- BUZEK: RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE IN THE KALININGRAD REGION. WE ARE DIRECTLY THREATENED. BIDEN SHOWS THIS TOO - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2024/03/12 -- THE TIME HAS COME TO INCREASE NATO ALLIES' DEFENSE COMMITMENTS FROM 2% TO 3% OF GDP - WROTE PRESIDENT ANDRZEJ DUDA IN AN ARTICLE FOR THE "WASHINGTON POST": “The Russian Federation has switched to a war economy footing. It currently allocates nearly 30% of its annual budget to armaments. This figure, along with other data coming from Russia, is alarming. Vladimir Putin poses the greatest threat to world peace since the end of the Cold War. Therefore, during my visit to Washington, I will propose a NATO response that is adequate to the threat. Ten years ago, at the Alliance summit in Newport, all member states committed to spending at least 2% of their annual GDP on defense. I believe that in the face of growing threats, the time has come to increase this figure to 3% of GDP. I will be persuading our allies of this. Both in America and in Europe. I am glad that both the USA and Poland, significantly exceeding this minimum, can serve as an example and inspiration for others.” https://www.prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/wypowiedzi-prezydenta-rp/artykuly-prasowe/prezydent-rp-panstwa-czlonkowskie-nato-musza-podniesc-wydatki-na-obrone-do-3-proc-pkb,82417 -- THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW MOMENTS WHEN WE CAN BE PROUD OF OUR POLITICAL CLASS. BECAUSE IT CAN JOINTLY FOCUS ON THE MOST IMPORTANT MATTERS AND REFRAIN FROM ANY KITSCH OF RECONCILIATION - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “This is one of the few moments when we can be proud of our political class. Because it can jointly focus on the most important matters, refrain from any kitsch of reconciliation, but simply work together for a fundamental cause: the existential security of the Republic, the highest principle and raison d'état. And when we observe white and red flags alongside the 'stars 'n' stripes' at the White House, regardless of who voted for whom, we will all be able to feel pride.” -- THEY WANT TO CONVEY SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO US WITH THIS JOINT MEETING – BIDEN, DUDA, AND TUSK. THEREFORE, WE MUST LISTEN TO THEM CAREFULLY - SZUŁDRZYŃSKI FURTHER: “But it’s not just about emotions. It’s about ensuring that the entire Polish society understands what a dramatic historical moment we find ourselves in. Americans would not invite both the president and the prime minister if it were simply about a round anniversary. They want to convey something important to us with this joint meeting – Biden, Duda, and Tusk. Therefore, we must listen to them carefully.” https://www.rp.pl/opinie-polityczno-spoleczne/art39973551-michal-szuldrzynski-donald-tusk-i-andrzej-duda-razem-w-waszyngtonie-bedziemy-mogli-byc-dumni-z-polski -- NATO SAVED POLAND FROM PUTIN - BARTOSZ T. WIELIŃSKI IN GW: “If NATO had not expanded 25 years ago, Putin would control Central Europe. Now the Alliance, including Poland, must again stand in his way. (...) To live in peace, one must prepare for war. Poland, like other European countries, must invest in its armed forces. But one must also shed psychological constraints and get used to the idea that soon the Polish army may have to go into battle. Not only in defense of our territory, but of our allies.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75399,30786105,nato-uratowalo-polske-przed-putinem.html -- PERHAPS IT'S A SHAME THAT POLAND DIDN'T NOMINATE SOMEONE ITSELF, SUCH A CANDIDATE WOULD PROBABLY BE HARDER TO REJECT THAN THE HEAD OF THE ESTONIAN GOVERNMENT OR THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF LATVIA - JERZY HASZCZYŃSKI IN RZ: “Perhaps it’s a shame that Poland didn't nominate someone itself; such a candidate would probably be harder to reject than the head of the Estonian government or the former prime minister of Latvia – let's say, due to the small size of their armed forces. Although, on the other hand, the candidacy of the President of Romania, the second country in our region, appeared at the last minute, but this did not change anything in the attitude of the old NATO members.” https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art39973151-jerzy-haszczynski-wciaz-czekamy-na-prawdziwa-mature-w-nato -- PIS HAS CEASED TO BE A REFERENCE POINT FOR POLISH POLITICS. ONE CAN NOW BE UNAWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF PIS AND LIVE WITH IT, AND EVEN DESCRIBE SOCIO-POLITICAL LIFE IN POLAND WITHOUT KNOWING THE INNER WORKINGS OF KACZYŃSKI'S PARTY, AND THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS - GRZEGORZ SROCZYŃSKI ON GAZETA.PL: “PiS has ceased to be a reference point for Polish politics. One can now be unaware of the existence of PiS and live with it, and even describe socio-political life in Poland without knowing the inner workings of Kaczyński's party, because it has become irrelevant (despite its huge representation in the Sejm). After its electoral defeat, PiS is showing such great resistance to self-reflection that it is effectively condemning itself to irrelevance – at least for the next few years – it is at odds with everyone, even its own president, and lacks any coalition-building capacity or influence. The fact that in some media everything is still about Kaczyński and revolves around Kaczyński, as if he were still in power, is primarily due to the carelessness of journalists who have ridden their favorite hobbyhorses for eight years and cannot get off them now. Parliamentary commissions for accountability, PiS scandals, and further 'Obajtki' are already boring the public; they still sometimes arouse and mobilize someone, but mainly fanboys on Twitter, not ordinary people. Kaczyński no longer rules – and that’s what people mainly wanted in these elections – then the Wąsik and Kamiński affair somewhat satisfied the public need to 'toss around' PiS members, and now an increasing number of voters see no reason to obsessively focus on PiS. Hence the return of big topics – abortion and taxes – which finally signals a return to normality in Polish politics instead of a toxic setup of Hitler versus Hitler. Depolarization has not arrived, but 'different polarization' has, meaning we will now argue about different things.” -- FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS, THE LEFT IS DRAMATICALLY FALLING SHORT. IT COULD HAVE INCLUDED ACCESS TO LEGAL ABORTION – ITS BASIC DEMAND! – IN THE COALITION AGREEMENT, IT COULD HAVE GAMBLED EVERYTHING – 'WITHOUT THIS, THERE WILL BE NO GOVERNMENT!' – BUT IT DIDN'T DO IT - SROCZYŃSKI FURTHER ON GAZETA.PL: “Hołownia didn't understand one thing: the issue of abortion has ceased to be a trigger for the right in Poland; even PiS preferred to postpone it for years; now the left is the 'host of the topic.' The left is therefore burning incense excessively and presenting moral superiority because that's simply its nature and necessity, as it concerns the well-being of women and basic civil rights. It attacks Hołownia, calls him a 'woman killer,' shouts 'get lost' at him, but in reality, it is purifying and exorcising itself for the sin of ineffectiveness. Because from the perspective of women's rights, the left is dramatically failing. It could have included access to legal abortion – its basic demand! – in the coalition agreement, it could have gambled everything – 'Without this, there will be no government!' – but it didn't do it, so now it will shout even louder as penance. Could the left be effective on the issue of abortion? The answer is yes. But it would have to resort to less spectacular and less sexy actions than calling Hołownia a 'woman killer' and fixing the world on TVN24.” -- WHY, WITHOUT DUDA AND WITHOUT LAWS, WERE YOU ABLE TO TAKE OVER THE TELEVISION AND DISMISS BARSKI, BUT YOU CANNOT DELIVER ON ANOTHER MAIN DEMAND? - SROCZYŃSKI FURTHER: “Why do the Left and PO – who sang in unison before the elections that abortion was a must-have for them – not have ready technical, extra-legal solutions (because of Duda!), including calculating the funding for psychiatric clinics that could issue certificates qualifying for abortion? Why, without Duda and without laws, were you able to take over television and dismiss Barski, but you cannot deliver on another main demand?” https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,30784322,za-brak-legalnej-aborcji-podziekujcie-lewicy-a-nie-holowni.html -- YES, KACZYŃSKI IS IN A DEEP CRISIS. IT'S JUST THAT 'DEEP CRISIS' IS HIS MIDDLE NAME - WITOLD GŁOWACKI ON OKO.PRESS: “Jarosław Kaczyński is under pressure from his own party as well as the ruling coalition. He occasionally has public outbursts of rage, and tells stories that are at least peculiar at meetings with voters. But is he down for the count? Not yet.” -- HE IS TESTING WHICH OF HIS IDEAS WILL FALL ON FERTILE GROUND - GŁOWACKI FURTHER ON OKO.PRESS: “As always, because it invariably looks like Kaczyński stands before PiS sympathizers in various places in Poland and tells strange and often untrue stories. In this way, the leader of PiS tries to do what he has always done throughout his political career. He tests which of his ideas will fall on fertile ground.” -- THE FLOUNDERING – THE KIND WE ARE CURRENTLY OBSERVING – IS NOTHING NEW FOR HIM AND PIS. AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT EVERYONE WHO IS ALREADY READY TO WRITE OFF KACZYŃSKI AND PIS SHOULD REMEMBER - GŁOWACKI'S CONCLUSION: “The leader of PiS has not been in such a bad situation for years, but he has also not yet been floored. He is still looking for a new idea for himself and his party, and still seeking a way to regain relevance. The floundering – the kind we are currently observing – is nothing new for him and PiS. And this is exactly what everyone who is already ready to write off Kaczyński and PiS should remember.” https://oko.press/tak-kaczynski-jest-w-glebokim-kryzysie-tyle-tylko-ze-gleboki-kryzys-to-jego-drugie-imie -- THOSE WHO WERE FOOLED BY THE MODERN AND SMILING MARSHAL MIGHT BE SHOCKED - CIVIC PLATFORM POLITICIAN ON ROGOJSZ'S ARTICLE ON INTERIA.PL: “However, it's not just Nowa Lewica that is increasingly having problems with Poland 2050's approach. Civic Platform is currently distancing itself from the dispute, but within the party's ranks, Szymon Hołownia's approval ratings are also plummeting. - It turned out that Szymon is a hidden conservative, but everyone who knew more about him than what they saw on television or YouTube knew this and are not surprised. Those who were fooled by the modern and smiling marshal might be shocked. It's a creation – one of the experienced PO politicians we asked about the matter sharply censures Hołownia.” https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/kraj/news-holownia-zaczyna-irytowac-po-wkurzyl-wiele-osob-dochodzi-do-,nId,7383347 -- HOŁOWNIA IS NOT AIMING FOR CALM, BUT FOR COLD CALCULATION. IT'S NO WONDER HE INCITES ANGER - AGNIESZKA KUBLIK IN GW: “In the battle for the abortion debate, it's not about calm, but about the cold calculation of a politician who wants to be president and, according to recent polls, doesn't make it to the second round. However, it is madness to break solemn promises and expect ever-increasing trust. It is madness to run away from the dilemmas of abortion and heat up the atmosphere around this issue. Did Anna Maria Żukowska write her 'get lost' as an expression of generational rebellion against old-timers who want to dictate young people's lives according to their rules, or as a crude vulgarity? When questioned by internet users, she stated that it was the position of the entire club (“As club leader, I confirm”). Truly, the entire club wants the Marshal of the Sejm to 'get lost'? PiS politicians – indignant when young people reviewed them this way – are now cheering on such language. Watching the enemy 'get lost' on their own promises is a priceless pleasure. And a tangible electoral gain.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,30783620,nawet-wyp-dalac-trzeba-z-wyczuciem.html -- FOR ANY DISCUSSION TO BE POSSIBLE, RESPECT FOR OTHERS' SENSITIVITIES, DISPLAYED ON THE LEFT'S BANNERS, SHOULD BE MUTUAL - PRZEMYSŁAW SZUBARTOWICZ ON INTERIA: “Such women, who may be grappling with ethical dilemmas or allowing a man to participate in their decision, cannot be encouraged by pushiness or slogans about the 'dark ages,' as they will feel offended rather than convinced. Besides, the left knows this pattern, as it itself hunts for contempt among those who mock the little people. For any discussion to be possible, respect for others' sensitivities, displayed on the left's banners, should be mutual, not end in vulgar remarks.” -- A CERTAIN WAY OUT COULD BE A NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM, BUT EVEN THAT DOES NOT HAVE MAJORITY SUPPORT - SZUBARTOWICZ FURTHER ON INTERIA: “Currently, politicians are accused of cynically using the issue of abortion before local elections to salvage their support, fight for moderate votes, or curry favor with the growing liberal majority. Especially since as long as Andrzej Duda, a conservative, is president, abortion law is unlikely to be changed by legislation, and finding a majority in the current parliament for the most advanced solutions is an almost impossible task. In this sense, the timing of the parliamentary debate has no practical significance. A nationwide referendum could be a way out, but even that does not have majority support.” https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-od-kompromisu-do-kompromisu,nId,7383210 -- COLLEGIUM HUMANUM, MOSCOW, AND PZPR. RECTOR PAWEŁ C. WAS IN A PRO-RUSSIAN GROUP - OKO.PRESS INVESTIGATION - ANNA MIERZYŃSKA: “A new thread in the Collegium Humanum case. The university collaborated with Putin's academy in Moscow and with a school of the Belarusian Ministry of Communications. CH Rector Paweł C. was honored at a Russian university in Krasnodar. And in Poland, he was linked to pro-Russian activists.” https://oko.press/collegium-humanum-moskwa-pzpr-rektor -- THE TAX PROMISES OF DONALD TUSK'S GOVERNMENT ARE A DISAPPOINTMENT. THE PRIME MINISTER IS THROWING SCRAPS - PIOTR MIĄCZYŃSKI IN GW: “Let's call a spade a spade, what has been thrown so far in terms of fulfilling election promises are scraps for the electorate. Hard election slogans are being transformed into unpleasant compromises. This is because tax promises tend to be expensive to implement. Dozens of advisors surround every prime minister, and in Tusk's case, the increasingly strained coalition interests are also added.” https://wyborcza.biz/biznes/7,147582,30786135,podatkowe-obietnice-rzadu-donalda-tuska-sa-rozczarowaniem-premier.html -- VAT ON FOOD IS RETURNING. WHICH PRODUCTS WILL BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE AND BY HOW MUCH? - INTERIA: “The government has decided: from April 1, 2024, the VAT rate on basic food products will return to 5%. Inflation is trending downwards, and there is no longer a need to maintain this element of consumer support – the Ministry of Finance notes in a statement.” https://biznes.interia.pl/gospodarka/news-wraca-vat-na-zywnosc-ktore-produkty-zdrozeja-i-jak-bardzo,nId,7385158 -- BIRTHDAYS: Janina Ochojska, Leszek Czarnobaj, Thomas Orchowski, Grzegorz Witkowski.