-- EUROSTAT DATA SHOWS GERMAN ECONOMY GREW BY MERELY 12% IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. POLAND SAW 44% GROWTH IN THE SAME PERIOD - JAKUB SZYMCZAK IN OKO.PRESS: “Based on Eurostat data, it's evident that over the last 10 years, the German economy has grown by a mere 12%. During the same period, Poland experienced 44% growth, while Sweden and Spain saw just over 20%. Prior to 2019, France faced similar issues and also recorded weak growth in the last decade, even worse than Germany – 11.7%.” -- POOR PROSPECTS FOR GERMANY - SZYMCZAK CONTINUES IN OKO: “Even if the EC forecast proves accurate, German results will remain weak. Between 2019 and 2026, this will translate to a mere 3.5% growth for Germany. For France, it will be 8%, for Spain – 13.8%, and for Poland – 27%.” -- GERMANY HAS PRACTICALLY STAGNATED SINCE 2019. THE LABEL 'SICK MAN OF EUROPE' IS ALREADY WELL-JUSTIFIED HERE - DR KONRAD POPŁAWSKI FROM THE CENTRE FOR EASTERN STUDIES CITED IN SZYMCZAK'S TEXT IN OKO: “Germany has practically stagnated since 2019. The label 'sick man of Europe' is already well-justified here. Much now depends on how political elites respond. Will they have the courage to change course, or will they remain stuck in the grooves of old thinking and old disputes? The February elections could be crucial for Germany's future. It is very important that a stable arrangement emerges, one that receives a mandate for change. Unfortunately, at this moment, I cannot be optimistic.” -- SIGNIFICANT ARROGANCE FROM GERMAN BUSINESS, WHICH WAS OVERLY CONFIDENT IN ITS STRENGTH AND FELT NO NEED TO ADAPT TO NEW TIMES - DR POPŁAWSKI FURTHER STATES TO SZYMCZAK IN OKO: “The current government simply did not help, did not change course, and did not solve any problems. Merkel's legacy is being redefined today. Many decisions that seemed right at the time were, in fact, wrong – such as tightening energy cooperation with Russia. Another issue is the significant arrogance of business, which was overly confident in its strength and felt no need to adapt to new times.” https://oko.press/niemcy-kryzys-gospodarczy-stagnacja-perspektywy -- THIS RECALLS POLAND'S EXCLUSION FROM BERLIN TALKS ON UKRAINE'S FUTURE A MONTH AGO - JERZY HASZCZYŃSKI IN RZ: “Unfortunately, Olaf Scholz did not call Donald Tusk before speaking with the Kremlin host, at least not according to German media, which report that the Chancellor consulted with the outgoing US administration, the UK, France, and other G7 countries (i.e., Italy, Japan, and Canada). This recalls Poland's exclusion from Berlin talks on Ukraine's future a month ago.” -- WHAT REMAINS OF ISOLATING A WAR CRIMINAL WHEN THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EU COUNTRY CALLS HIM TO HEAR TEMPTING WORDS ABOUT RETURNING TO TRADITIONAL ENERGY COOPERATION? - HASZCZYŃSKI CONTINUES IN RZ: “The West was supposed to isolate Putin, make him a pariah, and cure Russia of its imperialist aggression through sanctions. What remains of isolating a war criminal when the head of government of the most important EU country calls him to hear tempting words about returning to traditional energy cooperation?” https://www.rp.pl/komentarze/art41458431-jerzy-haszczynski-czy-tusk-powinien-sie-cieszyc-z-telefonu-scholza-do-putina -- HOŁOWNIA IS NOT CURRENTLY PLANNING FOR MPS TO ADDRESS THE FREE CHRISTMAS EVE DRAFT LEGISLATION NEXT WEEK - JUSTYNA WĘCEK IN FAKT: “Sejm Marshal Szymon Hołownia is not making things easier. And according to the agenda for the upcoming session, he is not currently planning for MPs to address this draft legislation next week.” https://www.fakt.pl/pieniadze/zamieszanie-z-wolna-wigilia-trwa-wojna-nerwow-dziwny-ruch-marszalka-sejmu/xjlxg4x -- ONET ON THE WAVE OF PO AND PSL ACTIVISTS WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO "FLOOD" PKP - MARCIN TERLIK AND SZYMON PIEGZA: https://www.onet.pl/informacje/onetwiadomosci/zielona-fala-nakryla-polska-kolej-ponad-20-ludzi-zwiazanych-z-psl-we-wladzach-spolek/mjc1n25,79cfc278 -- ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PIS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE THIS SATURDAY? BOCHEŃSKI: SUCH A SCENARIO IS BEING CONSIDERED - 300LIVE: https://300polityka.pl/live/2024/11/18/ -- THE UNITED RIGHT NOTED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN SUPPORT AMONG ALL POLITICAL GROUPS – BY 2.8 PERCENTAGE POINTS - WP WRITES ABOUT THE TRUMP EFFECT: “- The increase for Law and Justice cannot be downplayed. Donald Trump has undoubtedly become the main factor. The Trump effect exists – assessed an expert.” https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/efekt-trumpa-istnieje-jest-najnowszy-sondaz-7093677800221664a -- THE COMFORT OF THIS VOTE LIES IN THE FACT THAT REGARDLESS OF WHO WINS, THE VICTOR WILL BE A FAVORITE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. ALTHOUGH HUMILITY IS HIGHLY ADVISED HERE - TOMASZ SAWCZUK IN TYGODNIK POLITYKA: “Humility is advised, however, because campaigns have their own dynamics, and PiS will not wait for defeat with folded hands. A clear and swift resolution of the candidate issue with the participation of party members can certainly help KO mobilize its forces for the election.” -- FOR TRZASKOWSKI, THE BEST SCENARIO WOULD BE A CRUSHING VICTORY - SAWCZUK CONTINUES: “For Trzaskowski, the best scenario would be a crushing victory – it would give him a strengthened mandate before the campaign and create a positive atmosphere within KO. To achieve this, he must first and foremost convince voters that Sikorski has no chance, regardless of how impressive his last-minute campaign maneuvers may be. Following this line, while Sikorski emphasizes the importance of security in dangerous times, as a new candidate, he himself represents a risky choice – and Trzaskowski a safe one.” -- THE MOST PROBLEMATIC SCENARIO FOR KO IN THE PRIMARIES WOULD BE IF SIKORSKI, THANKS TO AN INTENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN, ACHIEVES A GOOD RESULT BUT LOSES - SAWCZUK CONTINUES IN POLITYKA: “The most problematic scenario for KO in the primaries would be if Sikorski, thanks to an intensive and effective campaign, achieves a good result but loses. The main effect of such a turn of events would be to undermine Trzaskowski's candidacy, which would not have happened without the primaries. According to the recommendations announced by Tusk, candidates are not to criticize each other, however, Sikorski's increase in support from zero to a good result would leave a shadow of doubt, 'what if...' – and whether the right candidate was truly chosen.” https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/2278647,1,trzaskowski-czy-sikorski-dla-koalicji-obywatelskiej-jeden-ze-scenariuszy-moze-byc-problemem.read -- NUMEROUS DIGS AT SIKORSKI IN TRZASKOWSKI'S LETTER TO KO ACTIVISTS - ONET NOTES: “Rafał Trzaskowski does not mention Radosław Sikorski directly, but he believes that the Civic Coalition's candidate for president should be someone who 'has real electoral tests behind them' and 'can maintain composure and not be provoked in any situation.' The Mayor of Warsaw also downplays the significance of 'international careers built in salons' in his published letter.” https://www.onet.pl/informacje/onetwiadomosci/list-rafala-trzaskowskiego-do-przyjaciol-liczne-szpilki-pod-adresem-radoslawa/6r1gnpz,79cfc278 -- THE PUBLICATION OF POLL RESULTS BY TUSK IS AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE - IWONA SZPALA IN GW: “The publication of its results, scheduled for Monday midday, is an unprecedented move. Although parties have been using polls to build political strategies for years, they have been reluctant to share research details. Tusk, when announcing the poll, spoke of transparency in politics. This is one of the slogans he very often uses.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,31470877,kto-kandydatem-ko-na-prezydenta-kluczowy-tydzien-trzaskowskiego.html -- CHAIRMAN OF KOD: I WOULD VOTE FOR TRZASKOWSKI - KUBA KARYŚ RECOMMENDS IN A LETTER TO GW: “Rafał walked with us on the path of fighting for the rule of law, free media, and free schools. That is why, although I cannot vote in the KO primaries, this coalition primary would be obvious to me.” https://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,31470577,przewodniczacy-kod-glosowalbym-na-trzaskowskiego.html -- ALTHOUGH THE CONVICTION THAT THE MAYOR OF THE CAPITAL IS THE FAVORITE IN THE PRIMARIES STILL DOMINATES IN THE CIVIC COALITION, RADOSŁAW SIKORSKI IS GAINING SYMPATHY WITH HIS WILL TO FIGHT - AGATA SZCZĘŚNIAK IN OKO.PRESS: “On Sunday, November 17, 2024, in the afternoon, Radosław Sikorski met with representatives of the Green Party. Sikorski himself requested this meeting on November 9, the day the PO board decided that the candidate in the presidential elections would be selected through primaries. The online meeting (not in person, as Sikorski is on tour) lasted about an hour. 'He made a very good impression. I'm starting to hesitate about who I'll vote for,' a person belonging to the party's authorities told OKO.press after the meeting. What did Sikorski say? 'I rarely agree with Jarosław Kaczyński, but on the issue of banning fur farming – yes,' stated the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This refers to the so-called 'Five for Animals' from 2020, which Kaczyński pushed through against the will of some within PiS.” https://oko.press/sikorski-zrobil-dobre-wrazenie-zieloni -- AND WHAT IF RADOSŁAW SIKORSKI IS RIGHT – AND WAR AWAITS POLAND? - JACEK NIZINKIEWICZ IN RZ: “Radosław Sikorski is fighting hard for the Civic Coalition's nomination in the Polish presidential elections. He has written a letter to his colleagues, suggesting that Russia's aggression may impact Poland more significantly than many believe. Does the Minister of Foreign Affairs know something we don't? Why is he warning of war in Poland?” -- A DEBATE BETWEEN SIKORSKI AND TRZASKOWSKI IS WARRANTED - NIZINKIEWICZ CONTINUES: “It's high time to get answers to all these questions, and the gentlemen should engage in a debate and present their strengths and weaknesses, as this is owed not only to the primary voters of KO but also to the citizens who will elect the presidential candidate of Poland next year.” https://www.rp.pl/komentarze/art41458681-jacek-nizinkiewicz-a-jesli-radoslaw-sikorski-ma-racje-i-polske-czeka-wojna -- KOD WAS ESTABLISHED 9 YEARS AGO. -- BIRTHDAYS: Krzysztof Jurgiel, Aleksandra Zarzycka.