-- BODNAR: NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW THE OVERALL SCALE OF PEGASUS USE IN POLAND ON MONDAY - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2024/04/11 -- WE WILL PROBABLY ANNOUNCE WHO WILL BE THE CIVIC COALITION CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF POLAND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, OR EVEN AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR - RAFAŁ TRZASKOWSKI IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ARKADIUSZ GRUSZCZYŃSKI IN GW: “Conducting presidential polls at this moment doesn't make much sense, as no party has announced its candidates yet. We don't know if PiS will field someone popular, or what Lewica will do. Trust surveys for politicians, which are conducted monthly, are different because they show current political sympathies. They are a clear barometer of public mood. Therefore, the answer to this question can be unequivocal: it is too early for such declarations. I am pleased that I won Sunday's elections, and in the near future, I will focus on fulfilling the promises made to the residents of Warsaw. We will probably announce who will be the Civic Coalition candidate for President of Poland at the end of the year, or even at the beginning of next year.” -- IN THE COMING WEEK, I WILL SUPPORT CIVIC COALITION CANDIDATES FIGHTING FOR VOTES IN THE SECOND ROUNDS, THEN I WILL DEAL WITH THE MATTER OF MY DEPUTY MAYORS - TRZASKOWSKI TELLS GRUSZCZYŃSKI IN GW: “- There is no other way, as the number of my deputies is stipulated by law. I will sit down with my colleagues and we will consider a new division of responsibilities. In the coming week, I will support Civic Coalition candidates fighting for votes in the second rounds, then I will deal with the matter of my deputy mayors. We have time until May 7, when the inauguration is scheduled.” https://warszawa.wyborcza.pl/warszawa/7,54420,30877256,trzaskowski-dla-wyborczej-trzeba-wygrac-wybory-do-parlamentu.html -- LOCAL ELECTIONS SHOWED A SHIFT IN VOTING AMONG THE OLDEST AND LESS EDUCATED. THESE PIECES OF PILLARS ARE BEGINNING TO CRUMBLE. WITH GREATER MOBILIZATION OF YOUNGER VOTERS IN THE EU ELECTIONS, KACZYŃSKI'S PARTY MAY HAVE TROUBLE - PIOTR PACEWICZ IN OKO.PRESS: “A comparison of support for the October 15 Coalition (KO+TD+Lewica) and the right-wing (PiS + Konfederacja) by age group shows a blunting of differences. A sensational shift occurred in the 60+ category, PiS's core support base for years. In the parliamentary elections, the right-wing had a 10-point advantage here (despite minimal support for Konfederacja in this group), now it loses to KO, TD, and Lewica by 5 points. In the parliamentary elections, 53% of pensioners voted for PiS, and 45% for the current governing coalition. In the local elections, the October 15 Coalition clearly won the election among pensioners with 54% compared to PiS's 43%. This could be, on the one hand, the effect of the cessation of propaganda from TVP, and on the other, the mobilization of older supporters, primarily of Civic Coalition.” -- DIFFICULTIES IN REGISTERING ON LISTS OUTSIDE ONE'S PLACE OF RESIDENCE, WHICH MOST AFFECTED FEMALE STUDENTS AND YOUNG EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE RELATIVELY RECENTLY MOVED TO LARGER CITIES, ARE PARTLY TO BLAME. IN THE EU ELECTIONS, REGISTRATION PROCEDURES WILL BE SIMPLER - PACEWICZ CONTINUES: “On the other hand, the coalition's advantage over the right-wing among the youngest in the 2023 elections was 30 percentage points, and now it is only 17 points. This means that the liberal-left group dominated the huge wave of young people leaving polling stations. Difficulties in registering on lists outside one's place of residence, which most affected female students and young employees who have relatively recently moved to larger cities, are partly to blame. In the EU elections, the registration procedures will be simpler.” https://oko.press/dlaczego-kaczynski-nie-wygral-jeszcze-bardziej-sensacyjna-zmiana-notowan-pis-w-kategorii-60 -- ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, THE CURRENTLY GOVERNING OCTOBER 15 COALITION MAY STAND ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE. IT WILL BE CLOSE IF ONE OF THE FOUR ABORTION BILLS IS REJECTED IN THE FIRST READING - PIOTR ŚMIŁOWICZ IN GAZETA.PL: “On Thursday and Friday, the currently governing October 15 Coalition may stand on the brink of collapse. It will be close if one of the four abortion bills is rejected in the first reading. And it is close to that, because some PSL MPs are already declaring today that they will not even support referring projects allowing abortion up to the 12th week to a committee. According to preliminary arrangements, the clubs forming the current governing majority were supposed to unanimously send all four projects to a specially appointed extraordinary committee. But today, there is no certainty that this will succeed. The PiS and Confederation clubs are said to vote for the rejection of the projects in the first reading.” -- WE DON'T NEED DEEPER POLARIZATION - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “This debate should take place with a sense of responsibility, respect, and avoidance of extremes. The issue of abortion divides not only Poles but also the governing coalition. Therefore, we appeal to discuss it in a way that does not deepen existing divisions. The Prime Minister recently warned that we live in a pre-war era. The specter of Russian aggression hangs over Europe. Our security is forged in the trenches of Ukraine. We do not know how long the Ukrainians will withstand the onslaught from the East. We do not need deepening divisions or increased polarization today. Divided, we are weaker against the threat from Putin.” https://www.rp.pl/opinie-polityczno-spoleczne/art40146691-michal-szuldrzynski-o-aborcji-nie-potrzebujemy-glebszej-polaryzacji -- HOŁOWNIA'S ATTACKS ON CZARZASTY ARE CONVENIENT FOR TUSK - MICHAŁ PŁOCIŃSKI IN RZ: “The Third Way has the most to gain from shifts within the governing coalition, but Donald Tusk may look favorably upon Szymon Hołownia's attacks on Lewica. After all, it would be best for the Prime Minister if the Sejm Marshal's seat, promised to Włodzimierz Czarzasty, were to be filled by Civic Coalition in a year and a half.” https://www.rp.pl/komentarze/art40141301-michal-plocinski-tuskowi-sa-na-reke-ataki-holowni-na-czarzastego-lewica-straci-marszalka-sejmu -- DONALD TUSK “THOUGHT THAT ONE HUNDRED DAYS WAS A LONG TIME, ALMOST AN EPOCH.” NOW HE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT HOLDING PIS ACCOUNTABLE IS NOT ENOUGH. VOTERS EXPECT MORE - STEFAN SĘKOWSKI IN TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY: “There is plenty to hold the Law and Justice party accountable for. However, holding politicians of the previous government responsible cannot replace the actual repair of the state and a strong acceleration of reforms. -- THE FACT THAT SENATORS ARE NOT OVERWORKING IS EVIDENCED BY THE COURSE OF THE 8TH SESSION. SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 20 AND 21, IT ULTIMATELY LASTED 1 HOUR AND 53 MINUTES BECAUSE THE AGENDA WAS EXHAUSTED AND THERE WAS NOTHING MORE TO DISCUSS - STEFAN SĘKOWSKI CONTINUES IN TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY: “Cezary Tomczyk from Civic Platform said after the October 2023 elections on RMF FM: 'We have drawers full of laws.' Meanwhile, as of April 4, 2024, the Sejm has only passed 19 of them, mostly not very spectacular. New regulations are almost automatically approved by the Senate, which, as of April 3, has only passed two amendments to one of them (amendment to postal law). The fact that senators are not overworking is evidenced by the course of the 8th session. Scheduled for March 20 and 21, it ultimately lasted 1 hour and 53 minutes because the agenda was exhausted and there was nothing more to discuss.” -- THE FACT IS, WHEN PASSING LAWS, ONE SHOULD HASTEN SLOWLY – BUT THE RULING PARTY IS NOT EVEN HURRYING TO SEND DRAFTS TO THE SEJM - SĘKOWSKI CONTINUES IN TP: “The fact is, when passing laws, one should hasten slowly – but the ruling party is not even hurrying to send drafts to the Sejm. Here, one can essentially only notice Adam Bodnar and his team, preparing with great commitment draft laws on the National Council of the Judiciary and the Constitutional Tribunal. On the other hand, surprisingly, there is no draft of a new media law – it is to appear only in half a year. In turn, the draft law to depoliticize State Treasury companies was sent to the Sejm in March, but it was not authored by the Minister of State Assets, Borys Budka, but by MPs from Poland 2050, which puts its adoption in question. The most pressing issues are still being resolved manually, in ministries.” https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/donald-tusk-myslal-ze-sto-dni-kawal-czasu-niemal-epoka-teraz-musi-zrozumiec-ze-rozliczanie-pis-nie -- THEY RUINED “GRANDMA’S BONUS.” THE COALITION WAS SUPPOSED TO RESTORE RESPECT FOR WORK, BUT IN HANDOUTS, IT SURPASSES PIS - JOANNA SOLSKA IN TYGODNIK POLITYKA: “This is a very costly handout, even discouraging work. Each child from 12 to 35 months of age is to receive PLN 500 within this program, in addition to the 800 plus, of course. Parents might not work. And what will happen to this family when the children grow up, the parents get out of the habit of working, and the benefits end? After all, raising a four-year-old does not cost less than a two-year-old. Will large families put them in orphanages? According to the announcements, this part of the program is to involve the liquidation of the care capital introduced by PiS. However, this capital could only be received by families for second and subsequent children, while 'active at home' will also apply to the first child. No calculations have been presented as to whether the new program will be more or less expensive, or how much it will cost at all. It will not encourage anyone to work and may discourage them.” -- CIVIC COALITION ASSURED THAT IT WOULD RESTORE RESPECT FOR WORK AND END MINDLESS HANDOUTS, BECAUSE MORE CHILDREN WILL NOT BE BORN FROM IT - JOANNA SOLSKA CONTINUES IN TYGODNIK POLITYKA: “I understand that 'grandma’s bonus' was supposed to improve voters’ well-being right after the elections, to show that the government is fulfilling its promises. However, presenting a program whose effects have not been thought through and discussed makes a bad impression. Civic Coalition assured that it would restore respect for work and end mindless handouts, because more children will not be born from it. Working Poles are waiting for work to be appreciated and for all financial aid for families to be provided sensibly. The outline of the bill on 'grandma’s bonus' contradicts its original idea.” https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/2252231,1,zepsuli-babciowe-koalicja-miala-przywrocic-szacunek-do-pracy-a-w-rozdawaniu-przebija-pis.read -- DOES SOMETHING NOT ADD UP FOR YOU EITHER? AFTER ALL, IF WE HAD SUCH A SITUATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, IT WOULD MEAN THAT SOMETHING IN THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING AT THE LEVEL OF DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS. A PRESIDENT GOVERNING FOR THE FOURTH TERM? TWENTY YEARS?! - ANDRZEJ ANDRYSIAK IN OKO.PRESS: “Let's assume for a moment that we are not discussing data from local elections here, but national ones. So we have a government or president who wins another term with 60-70 percent support. Moreover, it's not the second term, but the third, fourth, fifth. They are so strong that there is no competition, they are practically irremovable except through elections, and their surroundings are completely subordinate to them. Does something not add up for you either? After all, if we had such a situation at the national level, it would mean that something in the system is not working at the level of democratic standards. A president governing for a fourth term? Twenty years?! A government winning subsequent elections with 60 percent support? That would mean they had to completely subordinate all institutions, annex the public sphere, and take over the media. Otherwise, it would be impossible. People get bored, they want change, they look for something new. Social currents, hopes, needs, and expectations change. So, in a democratic system, such long-lasting governments are impossible. In Hungary, Belarus, Russia, yes, but here?” -- IN 15 CITIES, WHERE PRESIDENTS DID REACH THE SECOND ROUND, ALBEIT WITH THE SECOND-BEST RESULT, STRONG LOCAL MEDIA OPERATE IN MOST CASES. INTERESTINGLY, IN THE LARGEST VOIVODESHIP CITIES, WHERE PRESIDENTS WON IN THE FIRST ROUND, THERE ARE FEW STRONG TITLES - ANDRYSIAK CONTINUES IN OKO.PRESS: “One more correlation can be seen in the results. In 15 cities, where presidents did reach the second round, but with the second-best result (Bełchatów, Jaworzno, Koszalin, Leszno, Nowa Sól, Racibórz, Radomsko, Siedlce, Tczew, Toruń, Włocławek, Zabrze, Zamość, Zawiercie, Zielona Góra), strong local media operate in most cases. Portals like ddbelchatow.pl, 'Co Nowego Jaworzno', Wyborcza Koszalin, 'Tygodnik ABC', 'Tygodnik Regionalny', 'Nowiny', 'Gazeta Radomszczańska', 'Tygodnik Siedlecki', Wyborcza Toruń, 'Tygodnik Zamojski', 'Kurier Zawierciański' keep a close eye on local authorities, check, verify, and control them, sometimes facing lawsuits and SLAPPs. They do not decide who will become president, but they provide residents with information so they can make sensible decisions. Presidents are in the public spotlight, and their sins, mistakes, and ineptitude are publicized. Exactly as it should be in a democracy. Interestingly, in the largest voivodeship cities, where presidents won in the first round, there are few strong titles. Polska Press media and those published by local governments remain.” https://oko.press/co-slychac-po-wyborach-7-kwietnia-niezbyt-optymistycznie-w-miasteczkach-powiatach-czy-gminach -- A STATE OF EMERGENCY CANNOT BE PROLONGED INDEFINITELY. SO WE MUST ASK: HOW DO POLITICIANS IMAGINE THE LANDSCAPE AFTER THE BATTLE? - JULIUSZ BRAUN IN GW: “For now, questions about the future of public media are usually dismissed with the information: we'll deal with it later, because Duda will veto it anyway. He might veto it. But many issues require thoughtful decisions, which requires both time and serious analysis. And public discussion. Starting with the legal foundations. Should the form of a single-shareholder State Treasury company be abandoned? Recent court disputes related to the Minister of Culture's decision to place public media in liquidation, in my opinion, have definitively discredited this form. How should financing look (here the issue of European Commission approval of the system arises)? Should advertisements be the basis again? How should a civilized way of managing media and appointing their authorities look?” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,30875517,co-dalej-z-mediami-publicznymi-rzadzacy-musza-juz-odpowiedziec.html -- BIRTHDAYS: Mirosława Marody, Stefan Chwin, Zdzisław Krasnodębski, Krzysztof Gawkowski, Janusz Kowalski, Stanisław Tyszka, Grzegorz Wasowski, Bożena Szydłowska, Łukasz Borowiak, Damian Raczkowski.