-- KOMOROWSKI, BALCEROWICZ, LABUDA - TODAY AT 5 PM IN STARY BUW DISCUSSION ON PUBLICATION: TADEUSZ MAZOWIECKI. WRITINGS AND DOCUMENTS. GOVERNMENT MEETING MINUTES 1989–1991. -- THE EU WANTS MIGRANTS TO DISAPPEAR FROM SIGHT AND MIND - WRITES POLITICO EUROPE IN ITS NEWSLETTER: “Justice and Home Affairs ministers from 27 EU countries are meeting in Luxembourg today, where they are likely to signal the bloc’s latest hardening of its migration policy. As illegal migration continues to dominate domestic politics, the EU’s latest thinking is focused on how to deal with migrants far away from Europe itself — reminiscent of the U.K.’s failed Rwanda plan. Why now? EU migration policy is changing — and fast. This is what happens when you have a more right-wing European Parliament, a right-wing French government, far-right regional victories in Germany, a new EU migration commissioner from Austria (where the far-right just won elections too) … oh, and a Hungarian EU presidency which is opening EU borders to Russians while threatening to send buses full of migrants to Brussels.” https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/brussels-playbook/eu-wants-migrants-out/ -- ACCORDING TO DONALD, THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WILL BE 50-50 - WE HEAR FROM A CIVIC COALITION DEPUTY - IN KAMIL DZIUBKA'S REPORT ON ONE.: “– According to Donald, the presidential election will be 50-50 – we hear from a Civic Coalition deputy. The Prime Minister's speech was the main point of the Civic Coalition parliamentary club's away meeting. (...) The Prime Minister was to convince his party subordinates that the ruling camp does not have a clear advantage over the opposition and defeat is a real scenario.” -- DONALD SAID HUNDREDS OF SNIPERS ARE NOW LURKING ON ROOFTOPS, LOOKING FOR ANY OPPORTUNITY TO HIT US - FURTHER IN DZIUBKA'S REPORT ON ONE.: “As we hear, the Prime Minister was also to caution KO parliamentarians about adhering to ethical standards. He used a sniper metaphor on this occasion. Donald said that hundreds of snipers are now lurking on rooftops. These snipers are looking for any opportunity to hit us – a Civic Coalition deputy tells us.” https://www.onet.pl/informacje/onetwiadomosci/snajperzy-na-dachach-i-ostrzezenie-przed-porazka-kulisy-zamknietej-narady-w-ko/3lxw0f4,79cfc278 -- HOWEVER, TO THE SURPRISE OF MANY DEPUTIES, THE PRIME MINISTER DID NOT CRITICIZE MYRCHA AND GAJEWSKA FOR THESE PRACTICES, BUT DEFENDED THEM, PRESENTING THEM AS FURTHER VICTIMS OF PIS - PIOTR ŚMIŁOWICZ IN GAZETA.PL. -- TUSK WAS TO SUGGEST THAT THE FLOOD RECONSTRUCTION MISSION IS SO DIFFICULT THAT KIERWIŃSKI MAY NOT EMERGE FROM IT POLITICALLY VICTORIOUS - FURTHER ŚMIŁOWICZ IN GAZETA.PL: “He also spoke about the plenipotentiary for flood reconstruction, Marcin Kierwiński, whom he thanked for undertaking a suicidal mission, but also, as the assembled deputies perceived it – in a sense, he wrote him off, suggesting that the flood mission is so difficult that Kierwiński may not emerge from it politically victorious.” -- SEVERAL DEPUTIES PERCEIVED SOME OF TUSK'S STATEMENTS AS SUGGESTING BETWEEN THE LINES THAT HE HIMSELF MIGHT RUN AFTER ALL - STILL ŚMIŁOWICZ IN GAZETA.PL: “Although much was said about the presidential campaign, the name of a potential candidate was not mentioned. At the same time, several deputies perceived some of Tusk's statements as suggesting between the lines that he himself might run after all, although he had publicly ruled it out several times.” https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,31371893,kulisy-wyjazdowego-posiedzenia-ko-tusk-bronil-gajewskiej-i.html -- END OF DAYDREAMS. NO, THE TAX-FREE AMOUNT WILL NOT BE RAISED TO 60 THOUSAND. NOR WILL THE 800 PLUS BENEFIT BE INDEXED. AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN? PRICE HIKES FOR ENERGY, RISING INFLATION AND SEARCHING FOR MONEY - PIOTR MĄCZYŃSKI IN GW: “How will the government save money? By reaching into our pockets. The reduction of the deficit starting in 2025 is to be supported by: maintaining PIT thresholds and the tax-free amount with nominal increases in wages and pensions (this is to generate 0.3% of GDP); This very section means that there will be no increase in the tax-free amount.” -- IN FACT, A KIND WORD WAS SAID ABOUT THE PIS GOVERNMENT! - FURTHER MIĄCZYŃSKI IN GW: "The decisive political reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic proved (...) effective in mitigating the economic and social consequences of the crisis caused by the pandemic, but it led to a significant increase in debt in Poland. The costs of servicing this debt are already relatively high compared to other countries, despite the good economic situation, and their growth is forecast." https://wyborcza.biz/biznes/7,177151,31372086,szczera-spowiedz-gabinetu-donalda-tuska-przed-unia-resort-finansow.html -- REGARDING ABANDONING THE TAX-FREE AMOUNT, KRZYSZTOF BERENDA ALSO WRITES IN RMF: “There is no room in the strategy to suddenly spend another 50 billion PLN on the promised increase in the tax-free amount from 30 to 60 thousand PLN. Secondly, the budget plan until 2028 does not assume any increase in the tax-free amount at all. This only confirms that the government is not sticking to this promise by Donald Tusk.” https://www.rmf24.pl/ekonomia/news-kwota-wolna-od-podatku-rzad-porzuca-swoj-pomysl -- ANOTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAM GOES TO THE BIN. BAD NEWS FOR STUDENTS - BUSINESS INSIDER: “The 'dormitory for 1 PLN' initiative, which was one of the Third Way's main election promises, has no chance of being implemented in the near future. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education argues that no one except the universities themselves can lower dormitory fees – we read in bizblog.spidersweb.pl.” -- THE FUNNIEST THING IS THAT A CIVIC COALITION DEPUTY ASKED THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE ABOUT THE 1 PLN DORMITORY IN AN INTERPELLATION - FURTHER BI QUOTING BIZBLOG.SPIDERSWEB.PL.: “Civic Coalition Deputy Barbara Grygorcewicz submitted a parliamentary interpellations to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education regarding the 1 PLN dormitories. 'The parliamentarian's questions turned out to be overly optimistic, as the ministry, controlled by the Left, has no intention of dealing with the issue of lowering rental costs for dormitory rooms.' https://businessinsider.com.pl/wiadomosci/kolejny-rzadowy-program-do-kosza-zle-wiesci-dla-studentow/efynmd7 -- ENTREPRENEURS MAY LOSE OUT ON THE LATEST PROPOSED CHANGES - ŁUKASZ ZALEWSKI IN BUSINESS INSIDER: “– The proposed changes in the settlement of health contributions for entrepreneurs are merely a fig leaf to cover the failure to fulfill election promises in the form of a comprehensive reform of contribution collection rules and a return to regulations from before the Polish Deal – believes Marcin Zarzycki, lawyer, tax advisor, and managing partner at LTCA.” https://businessinsider.com.pl/prawo/podatki/skladka-zdrowotna-przedsiebiorcy-moga-stracic-na-najnowszej-propozycji-zmian/1szvydp -- CANCER PATIENTS WILL MOST LIKELY NOT BENEFIT FROM KPO. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WILL WASTE MONEY ON ONCOLOGY - JUDYTA WATOŁA IN GW: “So there will be a rushed purchase of whatever is available. Equipment manufacturers are likely already rubbing their hands together, anticipating exorbitant profits. And since everyone will want this equipment at the same time, prices will go up. A hospital director at SOLO I level presents the situation as follows: (...) – I have no illusions that some of this money will be wasted. But it's not the first time.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,31372581,chorzy-na-raka-nie-skorzystaja-z-kpo-ministerstwo-zdrowia-zmarnuje.html -- “WE ARE SUBMITTING OUR OWN BILL BECAUSE WE FAILED TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT.” PETRU ON HEALTH CONTRIBUTION - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2024/10/10/ -- IF ANY JUDGE SAYS THEY WANT TO RETURN TO THEIR PREVIOUS COURT, I WILL LOOK FOR BUDGETARY AND ADMINISTRATIVE POSSIBILITIES TO TRANSFER THEM ON DELEGATION TO THEIR OLD POSITION - ADAM BODNAR IN CONVERSATION WITH TOMASZ PIETRYGA IN RZ: “No, a judge simply submits a declaration and returns to their previous position. This is already happening. I draw attention to what the judicial associations did a few days ago by publishing an appeal: 'Dear judges, you don't have to wait for the reform, you can return now by submitting such a declaration.' I responded to this with a 'tweet' stating that I declare full cooperation. If any judge says they want to return to their previous court, I will look for budgetary and administrative possibilities to transfer them on delegation to their old position, where they can continue to adjudicate. And when the legal National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) is established, they will be able to apply for positions. This is the direction we intend to take.” -- A SOLUTION THAT IS OPTIMAL FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ACHIEVING THE GOAL, WHILE OBSERVING THE PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTIONALITY, SHOULD BE CHOSEN - FURTHER BODNAR WITH PIETRYGA IN RZ ON THE VENICE COMMISSION'S OPINION: “There is a very good section in the Venice Commission's opinion on the KRS. It indicates that at the moment when a colossal change related to restoring the rule of law is made, various principles may conflict with each other. In such a case, a solution should be chosen that is optimal from the perspective of achieving the goal, while observing the principle of proportionality. This means that various arguments must be weighed, and a decision must be made. This opinion referred to the issue of shortening the term of office of the current council due to extraordinary circumstances.” -- ACCOUNTABILITY MUST BE THOROUGH - FURTHER BODNAR WITH PIETRYGA IN RZ: “The accountability must be thorough. It is important to establish a uniform rhythm in matters that occurred between 2016–2023, when a certain group of people built a justice system that had little to do with independent judiciary.” https://www.rp.pl/sady-i-trybunaly/art41272481-adam-bodnar-orzekajacy-w-sprawie-barskiego-probowali-zafalszowac-rzeczywistosc -- IF THE NEO-JUDGES ARE REMOVED, THEN EVERY SUBSEQUENT GOVERNMENT WILL DO THE SAME; THE JUDICIARY WILL TURN INTO A SYSTEM OF LOOTING AND IT WILL BE A BIGGER CATASTROPHE THAN IT IS NOW - DR MARCIN SZWED, LAWYER FROM THE HELSIKI FOUNDATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN CONVERSATION WITH GRZEGORZ SROCZYŃSKI: “When I go to international conferences, foreign lawyers are generally sympathetic to our cautious approach. They say: you must be careful about legal stability, about not making citizens' lives more difficult, and about the risk of falling into a vicious cycle, because if you remove these people, then every subsequent government will do the same under the pretext of cleaning up after their predecessors. The discussion in Poland is radical; radical views dominate it compared to what I read and hear abroad.” -- FIRSTLY, LEGALLY, IT WOULD NOT BE VERY DEFENDABLE. THE CONSTITUTION STATES THAT A JUDGE CAN BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE OR TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER POSITION ONLY BY A COURT RULING. MEANWHILE, THIS IS TO BE DONE BASED ON A LAW - FURTHER DR MARCIN SZWED, LAWYER FROM THE HELSIKI FOUNDATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WITH SROCZYŃSKI: “Firstly, legally, it would not be very defensible. The Constitution states that a judge can be removed from office or transferred to another position only by a court ruling. Meanwhile, this is to be done based on a law. You know. So, for it to hold water, they want to rule that the neo-judges were not judges, then a court doesn't have to remove them. But if that's the case, it's hard to consider any verdict by someone who wasn't a judge to be valid. And the government doesn't want – and rightly so – all verdicts to be invalid. This becomes inconsistent.” -- AND WHAT IF THE CJEU FINALLY RESPONDS THAT IT IS NOT COMPLIANT? - STILL DR SZWED WITH SROCZYŃSKI: “Secondly, the right to a fair trial. This neo-judge should have a chance to prove that there was no political machination in their promotion and that they are independent. Thirdly, purely practical matters. Everyone assumes that this will be a nice scenario, they will back down and reapply for judge positions. In my opinion, they will file some appeals. Even if Minister Bodnar's law does not give them this right, they will still do so: to the labor court, to the administrative court, some judges in these courts may decide that there are indeed doubts, so let's ask the CJEU if this is compliant with EU law. And what will happen if the CJEU finally responds that it is not compliant?” https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,31369638,sedzia-nieistniejacy-ale-wyrok-istniejacy-jak-rzad-poglebia.html -- HOUSING SCANDAL OF CIVIC COALITION DEPUTIES. GAJEWSKA'S SUDDEN ADDENDUM - GAZETA.PL: https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,31372693,afera-mieszkaniowa-poslow-ko.html -- THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF A WITCH HUNT AGAINST THEM - WE HEAR IN THE CIVIC COALITION. ALTHOUGH VOICES OF "EXTRAVAGANT EXPENSES" ARE ALSO APPEARING THERE - PIOTR OLEJARCZYK AND SEBASTIAN BIAŁACH IN ONET: “– A deputy should buy a watch with their own money. Just like a car – adds a politician previously associated with Confederation, and currently with the Polish People's Party (PSL). Even Civic Coalition deputies think similarly on this matter. – A smartwatch is more of an extravagance than a real need for a parliamentary office – admits one of the KO deputies. But he adds: – I don't know, however, what this watch was used for in the parliamentary office.” https://www.onet.pl/informacje/onettrojmiasto/kinga-gajewska-i-arkadiusz-myrcha-na-ustach-politykow-ekstrawagancja/hl8686h,79cfc278 -- WE DROVE ALONG MYRCHA AND GAJEWSKA'S ROUTE TO WORK - ALEKSANDER WOJAK IN FAKT: “You can easily reach Błonie by Koleje Mazowieckie (Masovian Railways). The journey on the R3 line usually takes 29 minutes. Although from the moment of departure from Warszawa Śródmieście station to Błonie-Rokitno station, the stopwatch showed 30 minutes and 44 seconds. In turn, walking from the politicians' homes to the station took 9 minutes and 49 seconds. Residents of Błonie praise the local public transport in conversation with 'Fakt'. When asked how they rate the commute to Warsaw – they answer briefly. – Great. There's nothing better, both for bike paths and for pedestrians. Seven minutes, sir. There's no better station around here. I'm serious, really – says one of the residents of Błonie.” https://www.fakt.pl/polityka/myrcha-i-gajewska-biora-kase-z-sejmu-co-na-to-partyjny-kolega/vvmm2ns -- NOW THEY WANT TO PROVOKE THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE INTO SOME DRASTIC ACTIONS. THEN THEY WILL SHOW THAT ROMANOWSKI IS A VICTIM. THIS IS A MATTER OF YEARS AND CREATING A MARTYR'S LEGEND - SAYS A RIGHT-WING POLITICIAN SYMPATHIZING WITH ROMANOWSKI TO "NEWSWEEK" - JACEK GĄDEK: “– The prosecution's actions against other people in this case are ruthless. I'm not surprised that Romanowski really doesn't want to go to jail – says a person associated with the United Right to us.” https://www.newsweek.pl/polska/polityka/romanowski-juz-sie-szykowal-na-areszt-to-tworzenie-legendy-meczennika/1s458rc -- SOLORZ WANTED TO SHOW THAT HE IS IN CHARGE. HE IS WINNING IN TERMS OF IMAGE, BUT IT IS NOT A COMPLETE VICTORY - WOJCIECH CZUCHNOWSKI IN GW: “However, the billionaire's children's entourage believes that this is just theater, as the changes in the boards are not of great importance. Solorz simply wanted to show that he is in charge and makes decisions. What will happen in the court in Liechtenstein is crucial. And what will be the fate of the family foundations established there: TiVi Foundation and Solkomtel.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,31372215,solorz-chcial-pokazac-ze-rzadzi-wygrywa-wizerunkowo-ale-nie.html -- THE OCTOBER 15 COALITION HAS SET THE GOAL OF HOLDING PIS ACCOUNTABLE. I HAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT GDYNIA IS DOING THE SAME IN RELATION TO THE PREVIOUS MAYOR, BARTOSZ TREDER ASKS ALEKSANDRA KOSIOREK, THE MAYOR OF GDYNIA, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH KRYTYKA POLITYCZNA: “Audit reports are not to be indictments, but guidelines for the near future: what to do differently, more rationally and effectively. My goal is not to seek revenge. I promised the residents that if I discover irregularities, I will talk about them. This was the case, for example, with severance pay for former deputy mayors. Further reports from CBA investigations may also appear, as another proceeding is underway, which is not yet so advanced. I want the residents to know why Gdynia is in its current state. Accountability is not the goal; we simply need to know what the source of many deficiencies is.” https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/jak-rzad-pis-owi-tak-prezydentka-gdyni-poprzednikowi-rozmowa/ -- BIRTHDAYS: Barbara Fedyszak-Radziejowska, Sławomir Siwek, Stanisław Bisztyga, Krzysztof Lipiec, Jerzy Halbersztadt.