-- EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS ARE UNDERWAY. POLLS INDICATE A POSSIBLE SHIFT TO THE RIGHT - ANNA SŁOJEWSKA IN RZ: “The expected increase in support for the far-right is causing the left to try and differentiate itself more from the center-right and set conditions for them. Socialists fear that an alliance with a center-right party still leaning right will alienate their voters, who might then turn to the far-left. Or, paradoxically, to the far-right, which is often perceived as the one addressing the concerns of ordinary people. This is why socialists are saying, for example, that there is no question of cooperation with the center-right and support for von der Leyen if the current EC chief were to cooperate with Giorgia Meloni on any issue.” https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art40544941-wybory-do-parlamentu-europejskiego-wygra-frakcja-w-ktorej-sa-po-i-psl-ale-europa-moze-skrecic-w-prawo -- PLATFORM OF CIVIC (PO) POLITICIANS HAVE HIGH HOPES FROM A WARSAW EVENT. PO DID NOT ORGANIZE A CENTRALIZED CAMPAIGN. THERE WERE NO LEADER RALLIES THAT MOBILIZED THE ELECTORATE BEFORE THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS - IWONA SZPALA IN GW: “Platform of Civic (PO) politicians have high hopes from a Warsaw event. PO did not organize a centralized campaign. Therefore, there were no leader rallies that mobilized the PO electorate before the parliamentary or local elections. – Decisions were made within the party that the European campaign is to be primarily driven by the candidates – explains a PO politician.” -- TUSK TOLD US: 'YOU HAVE TO WIN THIS' – CONTINUES SZPALA: “Tusk told us: 'You have to win this.' Everyone is working for the result, but his speech will be key to the outcome. There is an expectation that he will clearly speak on matters most important to the democratic community: the Green Deal, the border, and immigrants – comments one of our interlocutors.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,31027962,aleksander-kwasniewski-gosciem-rozmow-gazeta-pl.html -- 'I CALL ON PRIME MINISTER TUSK TO CONVENE A CRISIS COMMITTEE, NOT ORGANIZE SOME RALLIES.' MORAWIECKI ON FLOODING IN SOUTHERN POLAND - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2024/06/04/ -- RAFAŁ TRZASKOWSKI'S DECISION TO REMOVE CROSSES FROM OFFICES HAS GIVEN NEW HOPE TO THE RIGHT - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “His ordinance on removing crosses from offices, while it may appeal to liberal residents of large cities, was a gift to his political opponents. It could help portray Trzaskowski as a leftist revolutionary waging war against religion. Polls show that the majority of Poles disagree with his decision. 56% criticize it, and 35% view it positively. This has, once again, injected new spirit into the right. Even for parts of the Third Way coalition, Trzaskowski's decision was too much. And it would be difficult to count on their support in next year's presidential elections. This gives hope for the success of a right-wing candidate.” -- POLLS SHOW THAT PIS IS NOT FALLING AS QUICKLY AS EVERYONE MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED AFTER LOSING POWER. SIMULTANEOUSLY, PO IS NOT GROWING THAT FAST. AND HERE, THE RIGHT IS STARTING TO CALCULATE THAT PERHAPS PLATFORM AS A PARTY, AND DONALD TUSK HIMSELF, ARE WEARING OUT QUITE QUICKLY - CONTINUES SZUŁDRZYŃSKI: “But an event has occurred that has led to entirely new calculations emerging on the right. After October 15th, the chances of a right-wing candidate in the 2025 elections seemed zero. The coalition received a total of over 11 million votes, while the right-wing bloc (PiS plus Konfederacja) garnered slightly over 9 million. Nevertheless, the local government elections, particularly at the regional assembly level, showed that rumors of PiS's demise are premature. Polls also indicate that PiS is not falling as quickly as everyone might have expected after losing power. Simultaneously, PO is not growing that fast. And here, calculations are emerging on the right that perhaps Platform as a party, and Donald Tusk himself, are wearing out quite quickly.” https://www.rp.pl/komentarze/art40539561-dlaczego-marcin-mastalerek-wrzuca-swoje-nazwisko-na-gielde-nazwisk-w-wyscigu-prezydenckim -- JACEK NIZINKIEWICZ IN RZ ON SIKORSKI'S STRONG PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY: “From an international perspective, Sikorski, along with his recognizable and respected wife Anne Applebaum, a journalist, writer, and political commentator, would be a so-called power couple on the world stage. Sikorski is excellently educated, comprehensively prepared; he is not only the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the second time but was previously the Minister of National Defence, a Member of the European Parliament, and a significant figure in international politics. He has a brand built over years. He has international contacts that other politicians in Poland can only dream of. However, he does not have the entire party behind him. And this is his biggest problem, as he is in his prime, and it's time for him to shoulder heavier armor. Will he?” https://www.rp.pl/publicystyka/art40539071-platforma-ma-kilku-kandydatow-na-prezydenta-wiadomo-kogo-wsrod-nich-nie-ma -- PIS CONSIDERING A NAME CHANGE. ONE PROPOSAL IS 'BIAŁO-CZERWONI' (WHITE-REDS) - PIOTR ŚMIŁOWICZ IN GAZETA.PL: “A Member of Parliament from PiS, who wished to remain anonymous, admitted that he does not believe in any name change as long as Jarosław Kaczyński remains the party leader. – The name Biało-Czerwoni is not the happiest idea; Andrzej Rozenek's party was called that – says this MP. He adds that PiS could benefit from, for example, refreshing the party's logo or introducing new graphic elements, as the current ones are starting to look “tarnished.” https://jedennewsdziennie.pl/article/260 -- THE ISSUE OF AGENTS IN POLAND IS, IN MY OPINION, BEING PRESENTED EXAGGERATEDLY. EVERYONE IS ACCUSING EVERYONE ELSE OF BEING AN AGENT. ONE GETS THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE ARE ALMOST NO NON-AGENTS IN POLAND AND THAT EVERYONE IS SOMEONE'S AGENT, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY NONSENSE - ALEKSANDER KWAŚNIEWSKI IN GAZETA.PL: “It's an exaggeration. Campaigns tend to sharpen arguments to reach people and stir emotions. However, the claim that a part of PiS is pro-Russian could be a topic for discussion, as PiS's actions, such as marginalizing Poland's position in the European Union, undoubtedly serve Russian interests objectively. Weakening the EU also serves Russian interests. So, in this sense, one can say that perhaps inadvertently, some actions taken by PiS were close to those Russian expectations or interests that we know. However, I warn against stigmatizing with terms like 'agent,' 'agency,' or 'traitors' – said Aleksander Kwaśniewski.” https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,31027962,aleksander-kwasniewski-gosciem-rozmow-gazeta-pl.html -- PLN 600 BILLION FOR BORDER PROTECTION? PO IS MANIPULATING IN ELECTION ADVERTISEMENTS - JAKUB SZYMCZAK IN OKO.PRESS: “In paid election ads on Facebook, PO suggests they have found PLN 600 billion for Polish border protection. This is manipulation – the amount includes all funds due to Poland from the KPO and cohesion funds. The statement does not explicitly say that the EU is giving us 600 billion euros for border protection. But it is hard not to notice such a suggestion here. PO's advertisement therefore misleads recipients. Because it is not true that the EU is giving us 600 billion euros for border protection. (...) According to these data, the largest beneficiary so far is PKP, which received over PLN 2 billion. The list also includes the 'Chief Commander of the Border Guard' – in 81st place. The amount – slightly over 4 million euros. This is far from the hundreds of billions suggested in the graphic.” https://oko.press/600-mld-zl-na-ochrone-granicy-po-manipuluje-w-reklamach-wyborczych -- ACTIVISTS CALL THE BUFFER ZONE THE "TUSK ZONE" - ANNA GMITEREK-ZABŁOCKA IN TOK.FM: “Activists are calling the buffer zone the 'Tusk Zone.' In an interview with us, they say: 'We understand that the border needs to be protected,' but at the same time, they ask: 'Why at the expense of vulnerable groups who would like to seek asylum in Poland?' This refers to children, women, pregnant individuals, seniors, or teenagers. One woman who has been helping at the border since the beginning of the humanitarian crisis also insists that no one has ever been aggressive towards her. – It's quite the opposite; at every step, we see gratitude that we want to help and are doing what we can to alleviate the journey for these people even a little – she says (she is not a representative of any major group and prefers to remain anonymous). (...) The government of Donald Tusk is facing a wave of criticism for its actions concerning the border crisis. On Tuesday, June 4th, the so-called buffer zone was to be introduced, a 'temporary ban on presence' along part of the border with Belarus. – No mechanisms to protect the rights and dignity of migrants are functioning here – Katarzyna Czarnota from the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights tells us.” -- ON JUNE 4TH, A PROTEST UNDER THE BANNER: "POLAND, BE HUMAN" IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN WARSAW ON KRAKOWSKIE PRZEDMIEŚCIE - CONTINUES IN TOK.FM: “On June 4th, a protest under the banner: 'Poland, be human' is scheduled to take place in Warsaw on Krakowskie Przedmieście. Its organizers write: 'The lawlessness at the Polish-Belarusian border, initiated by the PiS government, is being fully continued by the coalition government.' 'Pushbacks, contrary to international law, neither stop migration nor increase Poland's security. The victims – often fatal – are the weakest, least resourceful, or most unlucky, and the beneficiaries are mainly smugglers' – reads the announcement of the event, which is to start at 5 PM.” https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7,189651,31020803,bezpieczenstwo-kontra-czlowieczenstwo-czyli-bardzo-trudna-sytuacja.html -- TUSK IS TOUGH, AND PROMISES COUNT FOR LITTLE IN REAL POLITICS. WOMEN, CHILDREN, THE SICK, PEOPLE PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND PHYSICALLY WOUNDED, AND POSSIBLY ALSO TERRORISTS CONTINUE TO CROSS THE BORDER: THEY CANNOT BE PUT IN THE SAME BAG. ONE CANNOT BE INDIFFERENT TO THEIR FATE, SUFFERING, OR HOPE, REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICAL TRAP THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN - MAGDALENA ŚRODA IN GW: “Donald Tusk is tough, and promises count for little in real politics. Women, children, the sick, people psychologically and physically wounded, and possibly also terrorists continue to cross the border: they cannot be put in the same bag, meaning thrown back where they came from. One cannot be indifferent to their fate, suffering, or hope, regardless of the political trap they find themselves in. European borders must be defended, but this can be done either barbarically or humanely. But barbarism continues.” -- THE BOYS HAVE TRULY SAILED AWAY, AND NOT EVEN A SAIL IS WHITE ANYMORE - CONTINUES ŚRODA: “I do not believe that there is no other solution to border problems than barbaric violence and political indifference. But Donald Tusk is tough! The artist sang: 'Still, the sail of the boys who sailed away is white.' The boys have truly sailed away, and not even a sail is white anymore.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,31027914,twardy-jak-donald-tusk-czyli-na-granicy-bez-zmian.html -- THE HYBRID WAR IS ESCALATING, AND TUSK IS FUELING THE PERSECUTION OF THE OPPOSITION AND STRENGTHENING INTERNAL DIVISIONS - JACEK KARNOWSKI: “Instead of building unity in the face of threats, he is fueling a spiral of persecution against the opposition. Through compliant media, he is focusing public attention on pseudo-scandals and comical investigative committees. Tusk is also rolling back pro-development and investment projects, effectively shutting down the Polish economy and thus weakening our economic and military potential. Much energy is also being spent on implementing a leftist ideological agenda, which – as everyone knows – divides, destroys, and crushes societies.” -- THE GOVERNMENT IS WANDERING AIMLESSLY - CONTINUES KARNOWSKI: “Tusk has also proven incapable of mobilizing Western opinion for support for Ukraine. We don't know if he has even tried. We see that he is doing nothing in this regard. The activity of the PiS government in the diplomatic sphere was many times greater. But one cannot be surprised: it was a sovereign government, a government that pursued its own, authentic policy. Dark, and increasingly dark, clouds still hang over Poland. And we have a government that has been wandering aimlessly for half a year, intoxicated by its own revenge. This is an addiction, clearly progressing. The doses are getting bigger and stronger. The whole picture is becoming increasingly grim. At the helm is a team that, even if it understands the situation, is neither mentally nor structurally capable of defending Poland.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/693873-wojna-hybrydowa-eskaluje-a-tusk-nakreca-nagonke-na-opozycje -- 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JUNE 4TH ELECTIONS AND THE 32ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE "NIGHT CHANGE". -- PRESIDENT KOMOROWSKI TURNS 72. -- BIRTHDAYS: Bronisław Komorowski, Franciszek Jerzy Stefaniuk, Radosław Witkowski, Iwona Arent.