-- WOMEN WILL STILL HAVE ABORTIONS, BUT IN FEAR OF THE POLISH STATE. THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE ACHIEVED. YOU HAVEN'T SAVED ANY FETUSES. YOU'VE JUST MADE US MORE AFRAID. INCLUDING FOR OUR LIVES IN THE HOSPITAL. DOESN'T THIS STIR YOUR COATED CONSCIENCES? KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ, SAWICKI, ZGORZELSKI, GIERTYCH – THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU - OKO.PRESS STATEMENT. -- THE LAW, WHICH WAS THE MINIMUM OF DECENCY, WAS REJECTED BY THE VOTES OF PSL AND THE ABSENCE OF ROMAN GIERTYCH, WHO WAS PRESENT IN THE CHAMBER - OKO.PRESS CONTINUES: “The partial depenalization of assistance in abortion was a conservative project. For many women, it did not even represent a minimal safeguard for their rights and dignity. We considered it a first step, to be followed by others. It turned out that for the gentlemen from PSL and one gentleman from KO, even this was out of the question. Why? Because that's their opinion, and women have nothing to do with it. The law, which was the minimum of decency, was rejected by the votes of PSL and the absence of Roman Giertych, who was present in the chamber.” -- IT TURNED OUT THAT THE PRIME MINISTER HAS NO POWER ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS - OKO.PRESS CONTINUES: “It turned out that the Prime Minister has no power on women's rights. Not even over Roman Giertych, a man he personally put on the KO electoral lists. In many matters, Donald Tusk can be resolute: summoning people to his office, receiving reports, issuing orders. 'Tusk is furious' is one of the favorite portal headlines. This time, he was apparently less furious. Only enough to suspend Giertych's membership in the club and strip him of his vice-chairmanship. We will be checking at OKO.press what is happening with this suspension. And asking what happens next when Giertych proves to be a repeat anti-women offender in subsequent votes.” https://oko.press/powstal-klub-mezczyzn-nienawidzacych-kobiet -- THE CONCRETE POLISH PARLIAMENT REJECTED CHANGES THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED AT LEAST PARTIAL RELIEF FOR ACTIVISTS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, OR THE LOVED ONES OF WOMEN NEEDING ABORTION - PAULINA JANUSZEWSKA IN KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA. https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/pomoc-w-aborcji-nadal-karana-wiezieniem-dzieki-psl-owi/ -- ABORTION AND HUNTERS MAY CAUSE TUSK MUCH MORE TROUBLE THAN ALL ISSUES RELATED TO THE JUDICIARY - PROF. RAFAŁ CHWEDORUK IN CONVERSATION WITH AGNIESZKA KUBLIK IN GW: “The abortion issue may cause the ruling party much more trouble than all issues related to the judiciary. Because it was the abortion ban under the right-wing government that mobilized the youngest voters on an unprecedented scale and directed them towards various anti-PiS opposition entities. Thanks to this, PO, Lewica, and Trzecia Droga received votes from social groups that were always very difficult to win over.” -- MY POINT IS THAT SUPPORT FOR TUSK'S COALITION WILL CHANGE LITTLE UNTIL THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. WHICH MEANS THE RIGHT-WING CANDIDATE'S CHANCES ARE NEGLIGIBLE - CHWEDORUK CONTINUES: “Because, no matter what happened there, no matter how dangerous phenomena for the rule of law occurred, for the majority of public opinion, these were difficult issues to interpret. Support for PiS began to strategically decline only when topics entered the agenda that made it easier to reach key voter groups – the economy, inflation, women's right to abortion… My point is that support for Tusk's coalition will change little until the presidential elections. Which means the right-wing candidate's chances are negligible.” -- THERE IS NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS THAN FRUSTRATION AND ANGER WITHIN ONE'S OWN MOST LOYAL ELECTORATE - CHWEDORUK CONTINUES AT KUBLIK'S: “And there is nothing more dangerous than frustration and anger within one's own most loyal electorate. Here, even the defection of individual segments can be extremely dangerous. After all, PO lost power in 2015 to a large extent because, by raising the retirement age, it struck at those who voted for it as a party of stability and predictability, and it did so in a way that touched on their dignity.” -- POLAND'S EUROPEAN ISOLATION WILL BE COMPENSATED BY CONTACTS – EVEN IF ONLY SYMBOLIC, AT THE LEVEL OF GESTURES – WITH THE AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION - CHWEDORUK CONTINUES AT KUBLIK'S IN GW: “PiS will be able to compensate for its European isolation with contacts – even if only symbolic, at the level of gestures – with the American administration, which is of fundamental importance in a society as strongly pro-American as ours.” https://wyborcza.pl/magazyn/7,124059,31127250,aborcja-i-mysliwi-moga-prawic-tuskowi-duzo-wiecej-klopotow-niz.html -- PRIME MINISTER DONALD TUSK IS STARTING HIS VACATION ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA - 300POLITYKA HAS LEARNED. -- TRZECIA DROGA HAS EVEN FALLEN BEHIND LEWICA - CBOS POLL: https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art40785105-sondaz-cbos-konfederacja-ze-spadkiem-poparcia-przed-trzecia-droga-juz-i-lewica -- OPINIA24 MAINTAINS A SIGNIFICANT LEAD FOR KO OVER PIS - AGNIESZKA KUBLIK IN GW: BUT THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BEFORE THE ABORTION VOTE: “The survey by Opinia24 is another study in which Law and Justice loses to Donald Tusk's coalition. If parliamentary elections were held now, Civic Coalition would win with 31.4 percent. PiS is just behind with 27.1 percent. However, it is worth remembering that the Opinia24 survey was conducted before today's votes in the Sejm, including the vote on the depenalization of abortion.” -- 47 PERCENT ARE DISSATISFIED WITH TUSK AS PRIME MINISTER, 40 PERCENT ARE SATISFIED - KUBLIK CONTINUES: “Civic Coalition's ratings are improving, but the head of government himself and his cabinet are gaining opponents and losing supporters. 47 percent are dissatisfied with Tusk as prime minister, and 40 percent are satisfied. In February, there were more satisfied people – 39 percent versus 34 percent dissatisfied. https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,31138889,sondaz-pracowni-opinia24-ko-na-czele-piec-partii-w-sejmie.html -- TRUMP IS NOT SO MUCH THE CAUSE AS THE PRODUCT OF BARREN POLARIZATION, CAUSED ALSO BY THE ARROGANCE OF LIBERAL ELITES. TODAY, INSTEAD OF EVEN SUPERFICIAL SELF-REFLECTION, THESE ELITES OFFER US TALES OF FASCISM - PIOTR ZAREMBA IN RZ: “It began earlier and had a whole series of causes. Among them, I would also mention the alienation and arrogance of liberal elites, to which phenomenon Trump was a rather repellent and accidental response. Today, instead of even superficial self-reflection, these elites offer us tales of the specter of fascism.” -- THE JOY OF SOME OF THE POLISH RIGHT-WING, WHICH IS LOOKING FOR AN ALLY WITH A PROSPECT OF VICTORY, MAY TURN OUT TO BE THE JOY OF CARP ABOUT THE UPCOMING CHRISTMAS - ZAREMBA CONTINUES IN RZ: “I see this, just as I see a potential presidency of Donald Trump as a risk to our geopolitical interests in Central and Eastern Europe. The joy of some of the Polish right-wing, which is looking for an ally with a prospect of victory, may turn out to be the joy of carp about the upcoming Christmas. Trump is capable of attempting to impose a 'new Munich' on Ukraine, and certainly of limiting NATO's aid to it, although we are not sure if he will go down this path. It is possible that he himself has no idea which direction to choose.” -- THE ENVIRONMENTS OF FASCISM'S FOLLOWERS IN ITALY, AS WELL AS THE SYMPATHIZERS OF MARSHAL PÉTAIN IN FRANCE, WERE MERELY A SOCIAL BASE UNITED BY COMMON SENTIMENT – JUST AS IN POLAND, SLD APPEALED TO THE MEMORIES OF FORMER PZPR MEMBERS - CLAIMS ZAREMBA IN RZ: “The environments of fascism's followers in Italy, as well as the sympathizers of Marshal Pétain in France, were merely a social base united by common sentiment – just as in Poland, SLD appealed to the memories of former PZPR members. Moreover, both ladies have shifted their formations – Brothers of Italy and National Rally – towards the center. Despite this, politicians of the left and center still describe them as 'brown,' and in Poland, even TV Republika, not to mention other media, uses the formula 'far-right,' especially regarding Le Pen's party.” -- OR PERHAPS THE OPPOSITION TO THE CENTRALIZATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IS 'EXTREME'? FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF EUROSEPTIC PARTIES, IT IS A PRELUDE TO THE CREATION OF AN OLIGARCHY, TOO COMPLICATED FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON, DOMINATED BY BUREAUCRACY, ALIENATED, POORLY CONTROLLED - ZAREMBA FURTHER IN RZ: “Or perhaps 'extreme' is the resistance to the centralization of the European Union? From the perspective of eurosceptic parties (with Brothers of Italy more deserving of the label 'eurorealists'), it is a prelude to the creation of an oligarchy, too complicated for the average person, dominated by bureaucracy, alienated, poorly controlled, lacking the guarantee that nation-states provide for citizens' rights. I do not blame these concerns; it is a leap into the unknown, a plunge into deep water.” https://www.rp.pl/plus-minus/art40799931-piotr-zaremba-wymyslone-widmo-faszyzmu -- FOR NOW, LET VARIOUS RIGHT-WING GROUPS ORBITING AROUND PIS EXIST. BECAUSE THEY MIGHT BE USEFUL TO PIS - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “The reasoning is as follows: for now, let various right-wing groups orbiting around PiS exist. Because they might be useful to PiS in two situations. (...) Smaller right-wing candidates, such as Ardanowski, can therefore mobilize even several hundred thousand votes and then transfer them to the PiS candidate.” https://www.rp.pl/opinie-polityczno-spoleczne/art40805391-michal-szuldrzynski-kukiz-z-ardanowskim-maly-sojusz-ktory-moze-wstrzasnac-wielkimi-planami-kaczynskiego-i-pis -- FOR NOW, AS LONG AS THE MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGE IS JAN KRZYSZTOF ARDANOWSKI, THE CHAIRMAN CAN SLEEP PEACEFULLY - PIOTR ZAREMBA IN INTERIA: “I don't know the recipe for this challenge from Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski. An alliance with Paweł Kukiz? But he is a brilliant, constantly changing political celebrity who has squandered his camp. Kaczyński faces formidable problems, he has not raised a logical successor. But for now, as long as the most serious challenge is the former Minister of Agriculture, the chairman can probably sleep peacefully.” -- HERE WE SEE THE DECLINE OF A CERTAIN METHOD OF PARTY LEADERSHIP - PIOTR ZAREMBA IN INTERIA: “Here we see the decline of a certain method of party leadership. The question is whether the increasingly old chairman will be open to even a slight correction of management methods. In a situation where the party becomes a besieged fortress, this will be more difficult than in normal times.” https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-pogloski-o-politycznej-smierci-prezesa-czy-przesadzone,nId,7648177 -- ANDRZEJ DUDA ON BIDEN'S LAPSE - IN AN INTERVIEW WITH FAKT: “It is a fact that the US President is over 80 years old, but a lapse can happen to anyone; similar mistakes happen to other leaders. Including me, even though I am 30 years younger than President Biden.” https://www.fakt.pl/polityka/prezydent-andrzej-duda-w-fakcie-zdradza-kulisy-szczytu-nato/w9p5rsd *** -- 16 YEARS AGO, PROF. BRONISŁAW GEREMEK DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN LUBIEŃ, GREATER POLAND. -- FRAGMENT FROM EWA MILEWICZ'S TEXT ABOUT BRONISŁAW GEREMEK (FROM 2008): “When negotiations around the Suchocka government were underway, I asked Geremek about their status. The professor remained silent, cleaning his pipe with great interest. After a moment, he said: 'Next question, please.' And he continued cleaning his pipe in silence through several more questions. Finally, he said: 'Madam editor, I most enjoy answering questions that I ask myself.'” -- ANOTHER FRAGMENT FROM EWA MILEWICZ'S TEXT from 2008: “Geremek was not just about public affairs. It was visible, even on television screens – that he had a great weakness for certain women. He once spoke with a certain journalist, a beautiful woman, about Europe. That is, formally, the conversation was about that topic. In reality, however, what was visible was not Europe, but Geremek's fascination with the journalist. After the program, someone told Geremek that there should be a warning on the screen: 'Program about seduction. For ages 18 and over.' He laughed, but did not deny it.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,161389,23659612,polityk-historyk-obywatel-a-moze-uwodziciel.html -- PROFESSOR SAMSONOWICZ RECALLED GEREMEK – FRAGMENT OF RAFAŁ KALUKIN'S CONVERSATION from 2008: “Absolutely. His small apartment on Piwna Street was a place for regular gatherings of a large group for 20 years. Purely social gatherings, although the topics we discussed ended up in the secret police files in the 1970s. The apartment was bugged, after all. Bronek was also an avid filmgoer. We used to go to a film or a play probably every week. We also went to the Narew river. He liked it there so much that he bought a plot of land nearby. I fear that you remember Geremek from the last twenty years. And that was a different Bronek. He radically changed during martial law, after being released from internment. He began to be seen as the intellectual voice of the opposition. It was a burden that greatly tired him.” http://wyborcza.pl/7,161389,23661619,bronislaw-geremek-na-uniwersytecie-inny-bronek.html -- 18 YEARS AGO (on Sunday), Jarosław Kaczyński's government was sworn in. -- ON THAT DAY (Sunday) in 1987, the Sejm of the Polish People's Republic adopted the law on the Ombudsman. -- BIRTHDAYS: Sylwester Latkowski, Tomasz Marciniuk, Marian Banaś, Karol Działoszyński, Tomasz Snażyk. SUNDAY: Michał Andrzej Olszewski, Krystyna Klosin, Michał Zaleski.