-- NOWACKA: TRZASKOWSKI IS THE BEST PRO-DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2024/04/02 -- BUDKA AND SIENKIEWICZ MAY LEAVE FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - JACEK NIZINKIEWICZ IN RZ: “One of the ministers who is to soon leave his post at his own request is Borys Budka. The Minister of State Assets is cleaning up after the PiS governments and Minister Jacek Sasin, depoliticizing State Treasury companies while trying not to over-politicize them in the opposite direction. This is why the process of depoliticizing state-owned companies is proceeding so slowly. (...) Another minister who, before taking office, stipulated that he would like to run in the European elections is the Minister of Culture, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz. Will he really leave? He managed to depoliticize state media and apparently has developed a taste for the work of the Minister of Culture.” -- IN TRZECIA DROGA, CONCERNS ARE RAISED ABOUT THE FATES OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE CZESŁAW SIEKIERSKI AND PAULINA HENNIG-KLOSKA, MINISTER OF CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT. ACCORDING TO OUR INFORMATION, THE PRIME MINISTER IS NOT SATISFIED - NIZINKIEWICZ FURTHER IN RZ: “Information from 'Rzeczpospolita' indicates that Krzysztof Hetman, the Minister of Development and Technology from PSL, will also want to run for the European Parliament. In Trzecia Droga, concerns are raised about the fates of the Minister of Agriculture, Czesław Siekierski, and Paulina Hennig-Kloska, the Minister of Climate and Environment. According to our information, the Prime Minister is not satisfied with their work. Siekierski is reportedly struggling with farmers' protests and negotiations with the Ukrainian side, while Hennig-Kloska started with a false start and the 'wind farm affair.' – We will defend Siekierski, but with Hennig-Kloska, it could be different. Let Hołownia fight for her, we won't,' one of the ministers in Donald Tusk's government from PSL tells us.” https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art40092971-blizej-rekonstrukcji-rzadu-donalda-tuska-co-najmniej-czterech-ministrow-pozegna-sie-z-praca -- THE CELEBRATION OF VICTORY OVER PIS IS ENDING, REAL POLITICS IS BEGINNING, COALITION MEETINGS ARE NOT HAPPENING AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, NOT FOR THE TIME BEING. THE ATMOSPHERE IS THICK - IWONA SZPALA QUOTES GOVERNMENT COALITION POLITICIANS IN GW: “'The celebration of victory over PiS is ending, real politics is beginning,' one important Civic Platform politician tells us. 'And since four parties are doing it, it's sometimes difficult to reconcile interests,' he admits. This is a comment on recent friction within the coalition. Because the dispute over abortion, which has divided Trzecia Droga and The Left, has been ongoing for several weeks and dangerously coincided with the local election campaign. A Trzecia Droga politician: 'Coalition meetings are not happening, and as far as I know, not for the time being. The atmosphere is thick.'” -- THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT NOT TO INVOLVE ABORTION IN THE LOCAL CAMPAIGN. WHEN IT DIDN'T WORK OUT WITH PO, THEY IMMEDIATELY IGNITED THE TOPIC - SZPALA QUOTES A POLITICIAN CLOSE TO HOŁOWNIA: “'The problem is the duplicity of The Left,' says a politician close to Hołownia. 'If they were people truly fixated on the issue of abortion, their pressure would be acceptable. But when they were to run in elections with Platforma, it was agreed that we would not involve abortion in the local campaign. When it didn't work out with PO, they immediately ignited the topic.'” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,30845342,napiecia-w-koalicji-lewica-kontra-trzecia-droga.html -- WE WANT EVERYTHING, WE WANT IT NOW! FEVER AFTER 100 DAYS OF GOVERNMENT - RAFAŁ ZAKRZEWSKI IN GW: “I think this is a reaction to eight years of humiliation on various social levels. This champagne was shaken for so long that when it was opened on October 15th, it shot out like a projectile. We all want everything at once that was taken away from us in the past few years. We demand what we lost due to harmful decisions and omissions, due to the deliberate stripping of meaning from democratic institutions, due to the plunder of common good. Because we, the citizens, state institutions, and politicians of the former opposition, deserve it. The PiS government consistently humiliated women, LGBT minorities, teachers, scientists, MPs, honest officials – there isn't enough space to list all the victims.” -- A RISKY GAME OF ACCOUNTING FOR TUSK - RAFAŁ ZAKRZEWSKI FURTHER: “100 days and the election slogan '100 concrete actions' are triggering these emotions. Some commentators seem to say: Tusk, you promised, so now explain why not everything has been realized. Roman Imielski rightly wrote in these pages about the game of Tusk's 100 days. Yes, it is a game, but a dangerous one. I would like to clearly remind everyone who is impatient what happened in our beautiful country.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,30848074,chcemy-wszystkiego-chcemy-tego-teraz-goraczka-po-100-dniach.html -- TUSK'S METHOD FOR DUDA. "HE CARES FOR THE GOOD FEELING OF PRESIDENTIAL MAJESTY" - ANDRZEJ STANKIEWICZ IN NEWSWEEK: “Duda had no reason to throw obstacles in Tusk's way. And he had no interest in implementing the party leader's insane ideas, such as calling snap elections immediately after the change of power. Tusk, as prime minister, is pursuing a consistent policy towards Duda. He cares for the good feeling of presidential majesty – he answers phone calls, attends meetings, politely waits and stands up when the president enters. On the other hand, he consistently bypasses Duda, dismantling the PiS state even where the president's signed consent is necessary.” -- PARADOXICALLY, THE FALL OF THE PIS GOVERNMENT IS POLITICALLY BENEFICIAL FOR DUDA. AS LONG AS KACZYŃSKI RULED, THE PRESIDENT WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF IN A FULLY INDEPENDENT POLITICAL POSITION. AND AFTER THE ELECTIONS, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING - STANKIEWICZ FURTHER IN NEWSWEEK: “In this sense, paradoxically, the fall of the PiS government is politically beneficial for Duda. As long as Kaczyński ruled, the president was unable to establish himself in a fully independent political position. And after the elections, this is exactly what is happening – after all, Duda will remain the most important figure from the PiS circle who has retained power for another year and a half. The president will use this time to cement an alliance with Mateusz Morawiecki, aimed at removing Kaczyński from control of PiS and reforming the party into a more centrist one.” -- DUDA MAY ALSO BE USEFUL TO THE GOVERNMENT IF HIS FIRST DONALD WINS THE ELECTIONS IN THE USA – THE PRESIDENT TRULY ADORES TRUMP - STANKIEWICZ FURTHER IN NEWSWEEK: “Duda may also be useful to the government if his first Donald wins the elections in the USA – the president truly adores Trump and believes he is a good candidate for Poland. If Tusk – as Duda believes – runs for president, and Duda – as Tusk hopes – contributes to sending the nation's savior into retirement, then this symbiosis may last much longer.” https://www.newsweek.pl/polska/polityka/przez-lata-mowili-o-sobie-tylko-zle-ale-teraz-tusk-ma-sposob-na-dude/f19yk2j -- THE PRESIDENT HAS STRENGTHENED POLARIZATION, ENDED ELECTORAL LETHARGY, MOBILIZED THE LIBERAL ELECTORATE, AND INITIATED ANOTHER STAGE OF THE CULTURE WAR IN PUBLIC DEBATE, WHICH ALWAYS STIRS EMOTIONS - PRZEMYSŁAW SZUBARTOWICZ IN INTERIA: “Interestingly, in the final stages of the campaign, Andrzej Duda decided to present the government with a veto on the 'day after' pill law. They couldn't have wished for a better gift. The President has strengthened polarization, ended electoral lethargy, mobilized the liberal electorate, and initiated another stage of the culture war in public debate, which always stirs emotions. Incidentally, he gave Donald Tusk a tool to demonstrate his effectiveness. Although the head of state satisfied the bishops' expectations, emergency contraception will still be available without a prescription, as announced by the Minister of Health, Izabela Leszczyna, speaking about the implementation of 'Plan B.'” -- IT WILL DECIDE THE STRENGTH OF THE CHANGE THAT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 15TH - SZUBARTOWICZ FURTHER IN INTERIA: “So now we are again dealing with a plebiscite, which will certainly have an impact on local Poland, but above all, it will decide the strength of the change that occurred on October 15th.” https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-kampania-pod-sciana,nId,7425103 -- PLATFORMA WILL CONSIDER INTRODUCING DIRECT ELECTIONS FOR MAYORS AND MARSHALS OF VOIVODESHIPS - PIOTR ŚMIŁOWICZ IN GAZETA.PL: “'I would be in favor of direct elections for district governors and voivodeship marshals as well, so that all local government units function similarly,' says Mariusz Witczak from Civic Platform in an interview with jedennewsdziennie.pl. In his opinion, deputy district governors or marshals could then be elected by the district council or the regional assembly, thus representing the political composition of these councils. Witczak also believes that a local government corps of apolitical officials should be established, similar to the civil service, who would not change after elections. In his opinion, this would professionalize the offices and ensure a higher standard of public services. 'Such a corps of officials would stabilize the functioning of offices. This is important because today a lion's share of citizens' interactions with offices are with local governments, not government institutions,' argues the Civic Platform MP.” -- PIS DOES NOT SAY NO, TRZECIA DROGA IS CAUTIOUS - FURTHER IN ŚMIŁOWICZ: “The government plenipotentiary for contacts with local governments, Paweł Szefernaker, currently a PiS MP, does not reject the idea of direct elections for district governors or voivodeship marshals. 'The assumption of the current system was that district or regional councils were supposed to be an element of control over the district governor or marshal. However, in many cases, this does not work. Therefore, this is certainly a solution that would further democratize local government activities after many years. That is why it is worth analyzing and discussing, although the devil is in the details,' Szefernaker tells jedennewsdziennie.pl. However, the leader of the Polski 2050-TD club, Mirosław Suchoń, believes that it is too early to discuss direct elections for district governors or marshals.” https://jedennewsdziennie.pl/article/216 -- IF THE OCTOBER 15 COALITION SECURELY WINS THE LOCAL AND EUROPEAN ELECTIONS, TRZASKOWSKI'S SITUATION WILL BECOME A BIT CLOSER TO THE MODEL OF WARSAW HEGEMONY - TOMASZ SAWCZUK IN KULTURA LIBERALNA: “A true success for Trzaskowski's competitors would therefore be to reach the second round of the elections. For him, on the other hand, winning in the first round would certainly be a strengthening factor. However, the question remains whether it will translate into a potential nationwide presidential campaign. The difference is that the stakes will be enormous. We have become accustomed to the fact that campaign presence in a duel with a PiS candidate will require different means than in a large city like Warsaw. However, if the October 15 coalition securely wins the local and European elections in the meantime, Trzaskowski's situation will become a bit closer to the model of Warsaw hegemony. It is interesting whether it will be similar enough to say: 'Simply Poland.'” https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2024/04/01/sawczuk-w-poniedzialek-wybory-w-warszawie-czy-rafal-trzaskowski-wygra-w-pierwszej-turze/ -- THE HEALTH CONTRIBUTION SHOULD ALSO NOT LEAD TO A PATHOLOGICAL SITUATION WHERE AN ENTREPRENEUR EARNING 10-20 THOUSAND PLN PAYS A SMALLER CONTRIBUTION THAN A PERSON ON AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT WITH THE MINIMUM WAGE - KRZYSZTOF GAWKOWSKI IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAŁ KOLANKO IN RZ: “The health contribution is an element that many parties in the coalition raised during the campaign. We on the left also believe that the health contribution needs to be changed in some form, as we ourselves voted against the Polish Deal, which PiS pushed through and forcefully introduced. But we also say clearly: the health contribution should not excessively burden entrepreneurs. However, it should also not lead to a pathological situation where an entrepreneur earning 10-20 thousand PLN pays a smaller contribution than a person on an employment contract with the minimum wage. We are ready for talks, we want compromises, we will not blackmail anyone, but it must happen through dialogue. And The Left will encourage such a dialogue regarding the health contribution.” -- THE LEFT IS RUNNING IN THESE ELECTIONS WITH A CLEAR SLOGAN: WE ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR 10% - GAWKOWSKI FURTHER IN RZ: “The Left is running in these elections with a clear slogan: we are fighting for our 10%, we want to govern in all regional assemblies, recreating the October 15 coalition, while declaring that we are ready for cooperation if needed in future elections.” https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art40092971-krzysztof-gawkowski-jezeli-chodzi-o-wzajemne-zaufanie-to-jest-rzad-duzej-chemii -- BOCHEŃSKI SOUNDS AS IF HE ATE A PACK OF TABLETS THAT TOOK HIM BACK TO 2004, TO A TIME WHEN PIS TRIED TO MAINTAIN THE IMAGE OF A STABLE, CHRISTIAN-DEMOCRATIC, BOURGEOIS PARTY - WRITES JAKUB MAJMUREK IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA: “Bocheński sounds as if he ate a pack of tablets that took him back to 2004, to a time when PiS tried to maintain the image of a stable, Christian-democratic, bourgeois party, before it shifted to much more populist positions after the coalition with PiS and Samoobrona and in opposition to PO. The victim of this 'reset' are all of PiS's 'social anchors,' which are not visible at all in Bocheński's campaign. The politician is even praised by commentators who sympathize more with Konfederacja – as a candidate with truly free-market views, who names his intellectual masters as Friedrich von Hayek, one of the ideological fathers of neoliberalism.” -- THE EXPERIMENT WITH BOCHEŃSKI WILL PROBABLY NOT SUCCEED - MAJMUREK WRITES IN KP: “The experiment with Bocheński will probably not succeed. And its stakes are not just Warsaw – running in the capital was supposed to build Bocheński's recognition for the sake of next year's presidential elections, in which he was supposed to repeat Andrzej Duda's success.” -- A WEAK RESULT IN WARSAW CAN COMPLETELY CLOSE THE TOPIC OF BOCHEŃSKI'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY - MAJMUREK FURTHER IN KRYTYKA: “A weak result in Warsaw can completely close the topic of Bocheński's presidential candidacy. Especially if – as a recent poll commissioned by TVP Info shows – he is overtaken by the candidate of The Left and urban movements, Magdalena Biejat. Such a scenario would be a humiliating defeat for both Bocheński and PiS. (...) he is too elitist. Therefore, in a year's time, we may see a completely different variant.” https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/wybory-samorzadowe-tobiasz-bochenski-kampania/ -- Zygmunt Malanowicz would be 86 today. -- BIRTHDAYS: Joachim Brudziński, Stefan Niesiołowski, Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Marek Sowa, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Grzegorz Jarzyna.