-- DOMAŃSKI: THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THE TAX-FREE AMOUNT TO INCREASE TO PLN 60,000 NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE VERY RAPIDLY GROWING DEFENSE EXPENDITURES - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2024/03/25/ -- THE THESIS ABOUT THE IMPATIENCE AND DISAPPOINTMENT OF KO'S ELECTORATE, PROPAGATED BY SOME COMMENTATORS, FINDS NO EMPIRICAL CONFIRMATION IN RESEARCH RESULTS - SOCIOLOGIST PAWEŁ RUSZKOWSKI IN GW: “A good assessment of the economic situation was formulated in November by 18 percent of KO's hard electorate, and in February by 40 percent. The assessments formulated in November were clearly lower than the average in the sample (32 percent), while the assessments in February were higher than the average (29 percent) by 11 percentage points. The results of the February study thus indicate a dramatic increase in the optimism of KO's electorate compared to the mood in November. The thesis about the impatience and disappointment of KO's electorate, propagated by some commentators, finds no empirical confirmation in the research results”. -- THE FIRST SIGNS OF POLITICAL DEMOBILIZATION ARE APPEARING IN THE PIS ELECTORATE - FURTHER FROM PAWEŁ RUSZKOWSKI IN GW: “The results of the February study clearly show, however, that two months of Donald Tusk's government have led to a collapse of sentiment among PiS voters. In practice, this means that with a significant delay, the fact of losing power has reached the consciousness of the hard segment of PiS's electorate. The first signs of political demobilization are appearing in this electorate”. -- THE ELECTORATE OF THE OCTOBER 15 COALITION EXPECTS ITS PARTY LEADERS NOT ONLY TO FULFILL ELECTORAL PROMISES BUT ALSO OPEN, TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION - RUSZKOWSKI'S CONCLUSION IN GW: “In political practice, this means that the electorate of the October 15 Coalition expects its party leaders not only to fulfill electoral promises but also open, two-way communication. It would be good if, in the heat of the ongoing struggles, this nuance does not escape the attention of these leaders”. https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,30826632,jak-nie-zawiesc-wyborcow-analiza-sondazy.html -- YES, THE MILITARY SYSTEMS ARE WORKING CORRECTLY, THE DECLARATIONS ARE STRONG, BUT POLAND'S DAILY POLITICAL LIFE STILL RESEMBLES KINDERGARTEN - PRZEMYSŁAW SZUBARTOWICZ IN INTERIA: "Yes, the military systems are working correctly, the declarations are strong, but Poland's daily political life still resembles kindergarten. It is clearly more convenient to deal with matters of lesser importance, to play with substitute problems, than to face the inevitability of geopolitics. The impression arises that even seriousness is feigned”. -- THE AUTHORITIES, WHO FRIVOLOUSLY WASTE TIME, SUPPORT, AND ENERGY ON INTERNAL SQUABBLES OVER WHETHER THE DEBATE ON LIBERALIZING ABORTION LAW WILL TAKE PLACE IN MARCH OR APRIL - FURTHER FROM PRZEMYSŁAW SZUBARTOWICZ IN INTERIA: “If politicians want the public to take their message about the growing threat of 'pre-war times' seriously, they must first believe in their own words and act in accordance with them. The authorities, who frivolously waste time, support, and energy on internal squabbles over whether the debate on liberalizing abortion law will take place in March or April, or whether the health contribution is a nod to entrepreneurs or an attack on salaried employees, forget that the real challenge today is to maintain Poland's pro-European course, which is still threatened. Any friction within the ruling coalition only pleases Jarosław Kaczyński, who knows perfectly well that his chances of returning to power have not yet been dashed”. -- THE BELIEF THAT EVERYTHING HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED DOMINATES IN THE GOVERNMENT CAMP. MEANWHILE, THIS ILLUSION IS ALREADY TAKING ITS TOLL ON THE RULING COALITION, WHOSE SUPPORT IS NOT GROWING EXCESSIVELY - FURTHER FROM SZUBARTOWICZ IN INTERIA: “When Rafał Trzaskowski, one of the leaders of the government, reminds his colleagues that the parliamentary elections were only the beginning of changes and that subsequent elections are equally important, he is not listened to by everyone, because the belief that everything has already been decided dominates in the government camp. Meanwhile, this illusion is already taking its toll on the ruling coalition, whose support is not growing excessively, and in some polls is even falling, and the wave of high turnout may turn into a tsunami of disappointment. People voted for change because they saw pro-European forces as a remedy for the policy of a lonely island between Russia and the West”. https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-powaga-na-niby,nId,7411167 -- THE CURRENT OPPOSITION HAS BEEN FEEDING PEOPLE WITH ANTI-WESTERN OBSESSIONS FOR YEARS. IT HAS SOUGHT ALLIANCES WITH PRO-PUTIN FORCES IN EUROPE, BEEN FASCINATED BY VIKTOR ORBÁN, AND CELEBRATED MARINE LE PEN IN WARSAW. THERE IS NO REASON TO FORGET THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE PIS HAS NOT YET DEFINED ITS NEW IDEOLOGICAL DIRECTION - FURTHER FROM SZUBARTOWICZ IN INTERIA: “Politicians of the ruling coalition, who on the one hand talk about the extraordinary situation Poland finds itself in, and on the other hand put secondary matters or issues easily resolved with goodwill and compromise on the knife's edge, too easily forget that today's opposition has been feeding people with anti-Western obsessions for years. It has sought alliances with pro-Putin forces in Europe, been fascinated by Viktor Orbán, celebrated Marine Le Pen in Warsaw, spoken through the mouth of the president about an imaginary community, and today even legitimizes the scandalous words of Donald Trump, who is just waiting to embrace the Russian dictator after his probable electoral victory. Meanwhile, there is no reason to forget this, especially since PiS has not yet defined the new ideological direction it wants to pursue”. https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-powaga-na-niby,nId,7411167 -- PIS IS PLAYING TO LOWER EMOTIONS, AND CONSEQUENTLY, TO REDUCE THE MOBILIZATION OF ANTI-PIS VOTERS. THIS, ALONG WITH THE FALLING POLLS FOR THE THIRD WAY, HAS RESULTED IN BETTER SENTIMENTS WITHIN PIS REGARDING THE ELECTIONS THAN A MONTH AGO - KAMILA BARANOWSKA IN INTERIA: “PiS is drawing conclusions and in the local government campaign, it is playing to lower emotions, and consequently, to reduce the mobilization of anti-PiS voters. This, along with the falling polls for the Third Way, has resulted in better sentiments within PiS regarding the elections than a month ago. At that time, one could hear that even in Podkarpacie, it was a fight for survival because the government's actions were uncertain. Today, PiS politicians are increasingly boldly talking about retaining several regional assemblies”. -- PRECISELY THEN, DECISIVE COALITION TALKS WILL BE TAKING PLACE IN THE REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES, AND ON WIECKA STREET, WE WILL HAVE A BRAWL AMONG COALITION PARTNERS OVER ABORTION. FOR US, THIS IS GOOD NEWS - SAYS ONE OF THE PIS POLITICIANS QUOTED BY BARANOWSKA IN INTERIA: “Thinking about post-election arrangements and forming coalitions in regional assemblies, PiS politicians are quietly pleased with how the ruling coalition handled the issue of abortion. Marshal Hołownia has postponed work on all abortion projects until after the elections, i.e., to the April session of the Sejm. - Precisely then, decisive coalition talks will be taking place in the regional assemblies, and on Wiejska street, we will have a brawl among coalition partners over abortion. For us, this is good news. Where three coalition partners fight, the opposition may benefit - says one of the PiS politicians”. https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/raport-wybory-samorzadowe-2024/news-nowa-taktyka-pis-na-wybory-uczymy-sie-na-bledach,nId,7409817 -- WE ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT ELSE WILL EMERGE AND WHEN. FURTHER POLITICAL CAREER OF OBAJTEK ALSO DEPENDS ON THIS - CLAIMS A POLITICIAN FROM NOWOGRODZKA, QUOTED BY AGATA KONDZIŃSKA IN GW: “In PiS, there are rumors that among the recordings is one with a former deputy minister from Mateusz Morawiecki's government. - We are waiting to see what else will emerge and when. Obajtek's further political career also depends on this - claims a politician from Nowogrodzka. The name of the former head of the fuel company is on the list of candidates for the European Parliament in the June elections”. https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,30823758,politycy-pis-analizuja-czy-odwiedzali-prezesa-orlenu-w-sezonie.html -- ORBÁN CONGRATULATED PUTIN ON HIS ELECTION VICTORY, WHICH NEITHER POLAND NOR THE EU RECOGNIZES, AND BLOCKED THE TRANSFER OF PROFITS FROM FROZEN RUSSIAN ASSETS TO AID KYIV. ACCEPTING AWARDS FROM HIM IS A POLITICAL MISTAKE - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: https://www.rp.pl/opinie-polityczno-spoleczne/art40052201-michal-szuldrzynski-przyjmowanie-teraz-wyroznien-od-viktora-orbana-to-gorzej-niz-zbrodnia -- DOES ANDRZEJ DUDA NEED TO STRENGTHEN FRIENDSHIP WITH HUNGARY, WHICH OPENLY SIDES WITH RUSSIA? - BARTOSZ T. WIELIŃSKI IN GW: “Hungary is openly siding with Russia. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's list of sins is long: from sabotaging aid for fighting Ukraine and relativizing Russian war crimes to sending the head of Hungarian diplomacy to a meeting with Sergey Lavrov on the day of the funeral of dissident Alexei Navalny, murdered on the orders of the Kremlin. Seriously, should Poland strengthen its friendship with such a governed country, with such a prime minister and such a president?” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75399,30827224,czy-andrzej-duda-musi-zaciesniac-przyjazn-z-wegrami-ktore-otwarcie.html -- BABCIOWE (GRANDMOTHER'S ALLOWANCE) IS ABOUT FORCING WOMEN INTO CARETAKING ROLES FOR LIFE - JULIA THEUS IN OKO.PRESS: “Because first a woman takes care of children, then grandchildren, and finally parents. Meanwhile, the state should direct support programs to both parents. And so – fortunately, it happened. Members of the Foundation 'To Give Birth in the City' participated in the meetings of the Council for Women in the Labor Market at the Ministry of Family and Social Policy regarding the 'Active Parent' program. 'Initially, the program was to be called 'babciowe'. Then 'Active Mom'. https://oko.press/babciowe-utrwali-stereotyp-sprawdzamy-pomysl-tuska -- IF WE GO IN THIS DIRECTION, WE MIGHT AS WELL DISSOLVE THE STATE AND LET EVERYONE HEAL THEMSELVES - TOMASZ SAWCZUK IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: “In practice, however, it would be a race to the bottom, as such a solution would further reduce health insurance contributions. This brings us to the second question: about the health budget. If the ruling coalition parties genuinely want to allocate at least 7 percent of GDP to healthcare (currently around 6 percent), then emptying the health budget does not seem to be the best way to achieve this. If we go in this direction, we might as well dissolve the state and let everyone heal themselves – there's Google and ChatGPT”. -- IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE DEBATE ON CONTRIBUTIONS, THERE IS A DEEPER QUESTION – ABOUT STATE EXPENDITURES IN TIMES OF WAR AND ENERGY TRANSFORMATION - FURTHER FROM SAWCZUK IN KL: “It seems that the general operating principle should be more or less as follows. If we take the existing fundamental threats to state security seriously, then additional expenditures are justified solely for strategic purposes: in areas such as defense, energy transformation, infrastructure, the efficiency of state institutions, education, science, and health (and in the latter context, even seemingly minor issues such as the ban on alcohol sales in night shops, which is appearing as a topic in the local government campaign, are important). However, all other expenditures should, as a rule, result either from the need to respond to acute social injustice, or from the possibility of solving a significant problem at little cost, or from political necessity”. https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2024/03/25/sawczuk-w-poniedzialek-100-dni-rzadu-donalda-tuska-jaki-zus-dla-przedsiebiorcow/ -- NEW HEALTH CONTRIBUTION. THE PLAGUE OF FALSE SELF-EMPLOYMENT WILL GAIN MOMENTUM, THE GOVERNMENT IS SENDING A SIGNAL - BARTOSZ KOCEJKO AND JAKUB SZYMCZAK IN OKO.PRESS: “Massive favoritism for entrepreneurs over employees, unique within the EU, encouragement to switch to 'b2b', and a multi-billion złoty deficit in the National Health Fund budget. These are three unavoidable consequences of the health contribution reform announced by the government”. https://oko.press/nowa-skladka-zdrowotna -- THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TAKE PLN 5 BILLION FROM THE NFZ AND GIVE IT TO ENTREPRENEURS. THIS IS THEFT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, ONLY LEGAL - PIOTR WÓJCIK IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA: “Personally, I will receive several hundred zlotys a month thanks to these changes, but instead of celebrating, I feel like a fare-dodging patient. It is simply unfair. Instead of these few hundred zlotys, efficient public healthcare and health security for my loved ones, friends, and people I pass on the street would be infinitely better. After all, just a few years ago, during the pandemic, we recorded several hundred thousand excess deaths precisely due to the flaws in Polish healthcare. Have you already forgotten about this, dear liberals, or are you, in your cynicism, willing to risk another catastrophe just to appease your key electorate?” -- THE KO-TD-CONFEDERATION COALITION IS TAKING ITS FIRST STEPS - FURTHER FROM PIOTR WÓJCIK IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA: “Unfortunately, the voices of the Left will not carry much weight. Confederation has already announced that the government can count on its votes on this matter. That is completely sufficient. It will be wonderful to observe the KO-TD-Confederation coalition taking its first steps. Polish liberals will finally show everyone that the only difference between them and the Polish alt-right is their stance on the European Union”. https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/pacjenci-na-gape-rzad-tuska-spelnia-grozby-wyborcze/ -- BIRTHDAYS: Jacek Rybicki, Michał Sutowski, Henry James Foy, Marek Czyż, Jerzy Materna, Wojciech Ziemniak.