-- FORMER PRIME MINISTER JERZY BUZEK TURNS 84. LESZEK MILLER IS 78. -- 14 YEARS AGO Bronisław Komorowski defeated Jarosław Kaczyński in the second round of the presidential election following the tragic death of President Lech Kaczyński. -- 35 YEARS AGO the inaugural sessions of the 10th-term Sejm and the 1st-term Senate took place. -- "THEY ARE RUINING, STOMPING THEIR FEET, AND PUTTING ON PATRIOTIC FACES. WE ARE FIXING WHAT WE CAN." TUSK ON REPARATIONS, MORAWIECKI TO TUSK: YOU FAILED THE HISTORY PRIMER. POLAND WILL NOT FORGET THIS - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2024/07/03/ -- THERE WILL BE NO REPARATIONS. EIGHT DECADES AFTER THE WAR, WE STILL WAIT FOR SOMETHING IN RETURN FROM GERMANY - JERZY HASZCZYŃSKI IN RZ: “During the press conference of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, summarizing the first intergovernmental meeting in many years, we too often heard: we are starting a conversation about details, we are discussing, preparing, starting with momentum. This sounds particularly bad when discussing settlements for the crimes of the Third Reich.” https://www.rp.pl/komentarze/art40753511-jerzy-haszczynski-rzad-olafa-scholza-nie-ma-wyobrazni-w-sprawie-zadoscuczynienia-dla-polakow -- SCHOLZ IN WARSAW: WITHOUT CONCRETES AND A NEW BEGINNING, IT ENDED WITH GRAND ANNOUNCEMENTS - ŁUKASZ GRAJEWSKI IN TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY: “Most media outlets collectively picked up the unofficial information published by the Munich daily „Süddeutsche Zeitung” two days before the consultations: according to the newspaper's findings, Scholz was supposed to announce concrete financial support in Warsaw for living Polish victims of World War II. The publication in „SZ” greatly inflated emotions before the meeting. Such a declaration could have been Germany's response to the reparation demands that the United Right camp had been constantly using to attack Berlin. Therefore, the greater was the disappointment when the only thing the German leader presented on this matter was the statement that Germany "will try" to do something here. Also, in the "Polish-German Action Plan," published on the occasion of the consultations, there is only talk of "intensive dialogue" to develop support for the still-living victims.” -- A NEW CHAPTER IN POLISH-GERMAN RELATIONS CAN ONLY BE DISCUSSED WHEN A CONCRETE PROPOSAL IS ON THE TABLE - GRAJEWSKI FURTHER IN TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY: “A new chapter in Polish-German relations can only be discussed when a concrete proposal on this matter is on the table, not just assurances that someone will try. Such declarations are all the more glaring given that the still-living witnesses of the German occupation are very elderly individuals. We don't know how long they will still be with us.” -- HOWEVER, FOR POLISH SOCIETY TO BELIEVE IN THE STRENGTH OF THIS ALLIANCE, POLITICIANS MUST FIRST DEAL WITH HISTORY - GRAJEWSKI'S CONCLUSION IN TYGODNIK POWSZECHNY: https://tygodnikpowszechny.pl/olaf-scholz-w-warszawie-bez-konkretow-i-nowego-otwarcia-187572 -- REPARATIONS FROM GERMANY. DONALD TUSK PASSED THE BALL TO PIS - ARTUR BARTKIEWICZ IN RZ: “It is also difficult not to notice that a verbal expression of understanding for the German arguments regarding the non-payment of reparations at all – in the eyes of Tusk's opponents, especially from the PiS camp and their sympathizers, will fuel the narrative that the Polish prime minister is serving Berlin's interests. President Andrzej Duda has already benefited from this ball passed by Tusk; when asked about the matter, he manifested a completely different stance and subtly criticized the prime minister.” -- IT IS DIFFICULT NOT TO FEEL THAT ONE SENTENCE WAS MISSING FROM TUSK'S STATEMENT - BARTKIEWICZ FURTHER IN RZ: “The whole affair will not contribute to the process of Polish-German reconciliation either. Because it cannot be based on turning a blind eye to certain matters. The trauma of World War II was so great for Poland that even 80 years after the end of the war, we are still unable to forget it. And rightly so, because the most important thing in Polish-German relations is that such a tragedy never marks them again. But it is also difficult not to feel that one sentence was missing from Tusk's statement.” https://www.rp.pl/komentarze/art40757591-artur-bartkiewicz-reparacje-od-niemiec-donald-tusk-wystawil-pilke-pis-owi -- WE DIDN'T EVEN GET SCRAPS. THE ISSUE OF GERMAN COMPENSATION FOR WAR CRIMES WILL WEIGH ON FUTURE GENERATIONS - PIOTR GURSZTYN ON WPOLITYCE.PL: “One must be blinded by the kitsch of reconciliation to accept promises of paying benefits to those who are still alive at face value. What kind of person must one be to accept the fact that Germany waited and let people die who they horribly wronged? The sum of payments made so far to Polish victims of the Nazi regime has been microscopic. This is also in comparison to what citizens of other countries have received, especially Holocaust victims. It was so little that we would insult the scraps if we called German compensation for Poles by that name. This is not secret knowledge, although unfortunately, it is not widespread. But future generations will learn with amazement that Germany compensated the descendants of the victims of its colonial policy in Namibia, but firmly refused to do the same for a neighbor who was much more wronged.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/697576-nie-dostalismy-nawet-ochlapu -- SCHOLZ SPECTACULARLY HUMILIATED TUSK. HE GAVE HIM NOTHING ON REPARATIONS - JACEK KARNOWSKI: “The German Chancellor is guarding Germany's interests. And what is the Polish Prime Minister doing at this time? He declares that he is 'not disappointed in any way with the proposal and the good gesture from the German Chancellor and the German government, because there are no gestures that would satisfy Poles and no sum of money that would balance what happened during World War II.' This sounds like a bad joke; if there is no money that would balance the wrongs, then let's not demand anything. Absurd and embarrassing. If one were to adopt such logic, no compensation for traffic accidents or crimes would ever be paid. There is a report from a professional team. Specific amounts have been calculated, and their payment must be demanded. Tusk gave up on this in exchange for empty gestures, made carelessly and sloppily, in a rush. Chancellor Scholz knows that he is in charge, that he has won the battle for Poland against the independence-minded PiS government.” https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/697519-scholz-upokorzyl-tuska-w-sprawie-reparacji-nie-dal-mu-nic -- WE KNOW THAT FOR DEMOCRATS, PERSONALLY ATTACKING AN OPPONENT IS NOT ENOUGH. ONE MUST TALK TO VOTERS ABOUT THE PROGRAM, REMAIN IN DIALOGUE, NOT GET INTOXICATED BY POWER, WHICH IS ONLY GIVEN FOR A LIMITED TIME - JAROSŁAW KUISZ IN INTERIA: “We know that for democrats, personally attacking an opponent is not enough. One must talk to voters ABOUT THE PROGRAM, remain in dialogue, and not get intoxicated by power, which is only given for a limited time. Macron called elections so quickly that there wasn't even time to disseminate information about what each person was proposing. Pride goes before a fall.” -- MACRONISM FROM 2017-2024 ENDS SOLELY WITH THE STRENGTHENING OF EXTREME PARTIES. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LESSON - KUISZ'S CONCLUSION: “Macron's crash also means that French aid for Ukraine, ideas for building European defense, or keeping Putin at bay – are now in question. All the diplomatic work of recent years could end up in the trash. This is how pocket Machiavellianism ends in democracy. According to reasonable predictions, France will plunge into disputes over the interpretation of the constitution and parliamentary anarchy. Macronism from 2017-2024 ends solely with the strengthening of extreme parties. This is an important lesson.” https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-co-oznacza-krach-macrona,nId,7619945 -- BIRTHDAYS: Jerzy Buzek, Leszek Miller, Czesław Ryszka, Barbara Bartuś, Dorota Masłowska, Krzyś Pacewicz, Małgorzata Naukowicz.