-- ZGORZELSKI: THERE WAS NO THOUGHT OF A COALITION WITH THE LAW AND JUSTICE PARTY; KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ ON TV REPUBLIKA: YOUR BANNERS PORTRAY US AS IF THE EU WERE OUR GREATEST ENEMY. THE ENEMY IS IN THE EAST, NOT THE WEST - 300LIVE: 
https://300polityka.pl/pl/live

-- A DEAD HEAT IN THE SAFE POLLS - 47.1% - THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD IMPLEMENT SAFE DESPITE THE VETO; 44% - IT SHOULD NOT IMPLEMENT SAFE - IBRIS POLL FOR RZECZPOSPOLITA: 
https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art43970291-sondaz-rzeczpospolitej-polacy-ocenili-czy-rzad-powinien-realizowac-program-safe-mimo-weta-prezydenta

-- LOCAL CONTENT - I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROJECT - ONE COULD SAY GRANDIOSELY - AN EPOCHAL ONE - WOJCIECH BALCZUN, MINISTER OF STATE ASSETS, IN CONVERSATION WITH BARTOSZ BEDNARZ ON INTERIA: “I am not afraid of that word; I even identify with it. I am an economic patriot. This is a time when the concept of economic patriotism should take precedence over the daily political battle. The definition of 'local content' has been developed and will be announced in the coming weeks. We also want to add an element related to the methodology for measuring 'local content' and a code of good practice. This is a very serious matter and a priority for me and the ministry. It is also a government priority. I believe this is a project - one could say, grandiosely - an epochal one.”

-- FIRST, MAP POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS AND PRODUCERS OPERATING IN POLAND - BALCZUN CONTINUES IN BEDNARZ ON INTERIA: “For example, before closing the specifications for a significant procurement in a given entity organizing a large tender, we should first map potential suppliers and producers operating in Poland and see on what terms they work. We have already held consultations with employer organizations, chambers of commerce, and companies. I am in contact with the Public Procurement Office. The 'local content' issue will also be included in the state's procurement policy. We are in contact with the Central Statistical Office, which - initially on a pilot basis, and then fully - will include the level of national potential - 'local content' - in its statistics and reports. We already have many solutions, but we will propose new ones.”

-- I CANNOT COMPREHEND HOW A CHEAP LOAN PROGRAM FOR PLN 185 BILLION, WHERE 89% OF THE MONEY WILL GO TO DEVELOPING POLAND'S OWN PRODUCTION POTENTIAL, WHICH IS PURE "LOCAL CONTENT," WAS USED TO GAIN POLITICAL CAPITAL - BALCZUN FURTHER STATES ON INTERIA: “I cannot comprehend how a cheap loan program for PLN 185 billion, where 89% of the money will go to developing Poland's own production potential, which is pure 'local content,' was used to gain political capital. State security should be above the current political dispute. Moreover, we have many signals, including from the American side, which itself has very significant needs right now related to the war in the Persian Gulf, urging us to develop our capacities, invest, and build our own potential. How can one close their eyes to something like this? Even if we only talk about it in a political context, then I apologize, but Italy and even Hungary are benefiting from this program. This program was created by the Polish presidency specifically for Poland. I took the President's veto very personally, and I believe it will forever be a stain on the white and red flag, and to put it mildly, an extremely bad and irresponsible decision. How many times in history have similar actions led us to national tragedies…”
https://biznes.interia.pl/gospodarka/news-wojciech-balczun-szef-map-splacam-teraz-swoj-dlug-tego-tez-o,nId,22951171

-- DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENCES, THREE POLISH RIGHT-WING FACTIONS ARE DRAGGING THE COUNTRY INTO A GREY GEOPOLITICAL ZONE OUTSIDE THE WEST - MARIUSZ JANICKI IN TYGODNIK POLITYKA'S EDITORIAL NOTES: “The presidential elections were not the end of the world, and deserting voters in 2023 and 2025 at such a moment would be particularly painful for the liberal camp. After all, a new global order is being decided, and positions within it are being determined. Despite their differences, the three Polish right-wing factions are dragging the country into a grey geopolitical zone outside the West, towards brutal, vulgar politics, including in language, where norms, agreements, and procedures are disregarded and despised. The right-wing has long yearned for this, which is why they so enthusiastically welcomed Trump. And Nawrocki's explanations after the veto decision, as well as Czarnek's numerous statements, already sound like a mental Polexit.”

-- THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS CHOICE REACHES FAR BEYOND THE CURRENT "STATE OF PLAY." WHAT ONE GRASPS FROM THIS POLITICAL AND CULTURAL PROCESS THAT IS CURRENTLY UNFOLDING WILL DETERMINE THE ELECTION OUTCOME - THE FIRST DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF TYGODNIK POLITYKA CONTINUES: “The European Union can sometimes be irritating with its slowness and caution, but it represents a world that has not yet lost and may regain ground. History shows that bombastic displays of strength eventually burn out (MAGA is already losing supporters in the US, and the 'Iranian campaign' has negligible support), and what returns is law, agreements, and a 'boring' respect for rules. In Poland too, people are signing up to one of these two options, and the significance of this choice reaches far beyond the current 'state of play.' What one grasps from this political and cultural process that is currently unfolding will determine the election outcome in 2027.”

-- THE SEDUCTION BY THE RIGHT-WING, DESPITE SO MANY LESSONS LEARNED, IS STILL EFFECTIVE - MARIUSZ JANICKI CONTINUES IN TYGODNIK POLITYKA: “One can also see a clear influence of Trumpism here, meaning the progressive personalization of politics perceived as an 'epic' clash of personalities, where shedding all scruples in destroying the enemy, as well as sheer physical strength, is valued; it's a sort of private fight, not a public, civilized dispute. It's as if politics has returned to some primal, tribal roots, and this regression is greeted with joy by the nationalist right. In this theatrical performance, Nawrocki is the 'heavyweight contender,' and Braun is the 'tough warrior.' Przemysław Czarnek has also received many accolades from non-PiS media, being praised as a shrewd choice by Kaczyński, 'he has such power in his voice' – as one journalist from a liberal weekly wrote – and also his 'simplicity of message' (more about Czarnek's campaign in the article 'Acting Prime Minister'). This seduction by the right-wing, despite so many lessons learned, is still effective.”
https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/2335781,1,uwodzeni-sila-glosu-rozpoczal-sie-znany-od-lat-pisowski-szantaz-patriotyczny.read

-- SUCH DEPENDENCE ON THE LEADER SUITS TUSK. HE WAS A POLITICAL SOLOIST FROM THE START, YET AWARE THAT WITHOUT PARTY BACKING, HE WOULD NOT SPREAD HIS WINGS - RAFAŁ KALUKIN IN TYGODNIK POLITYKA: “Such dependence on the leader suits Tusk. He was a political soloist from the start, yet aware that without party backing, he would not spread his wings. Parties have always limited him, despite everything, even when he led them – first in KLD, and later in Platforma. He was interested in them only as much as necessary to maintain his dominant position, where he was even brutal at times. But on a daily basis, he preferred to isolate himself within a small circle of Gdańsk liberals, then in the famous Platforma 'court,' and after it dispersed – in a tightly closed group of informal advisors. However, a party over which no one exercised real control had to, sooner or later, cause its leader some serious political trouble, the best example of which was the Sowa bugging scandal.”

-- TUSK, SOMEWHAT UNWITTINGLY, CONSTRUCTED AN IDEAL STRUCTURE FROM HIS POINT OF VIEW. ONE THAT DOES NOT ASK QUESTIONS AND REQUIRES LITTLE - KALUKIN CONTINUES: “After years, Tusk, somewhat unwittingly, constructed an ideal structure from his point of view. One that does not ask questions and requires little. Focused on the leader and taught to limit individual ambitions so as not to harm the grand 'project,' meaning another all-out war with the Law and Justice party. Kaczyński must be very envious of Tusk today because, in the perspective of the upcoming elections, such a party is pure gold. But you have to win those elections.”

-- THIS IS A DIFFERENT PICTURE THAN DURING TUSK'S PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS, WHEN THE INTERNAL LIFE OF PLATFORMA WAS STILL EXTRAORDINARILY RICH - RAFAŁ KALUKIN AGAIN: “This is a different picture than during Tusk's previous governments, when the internal life of Platforma was still extraordinarily rich. The Prime Minister fiercely fought against Grzegorz Schetyna's group, and between them, Cezary Grabarczyk nimbly maneuvered, weaving his own 'cooperative.' In addition, conservatives from Jarosław Gowin's faction exerted constant ideological pressure, and the presidential center of Bronisław Komorowski sometimes added its two cents. Today's Civic Coalition seems as flat as a Masovian plain, with small hills occasionally rising here and there, but not forming any mountain range.”
https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/2335819,1,tusk-krol-na-rowninie-partia-pytan-nie-zadaje-i-liczy-ze-donald-znow-cos-wymysli.read

-- CIVIC COALITION POLITICIANS ARE SLOWLY STARTING TO REALIZE THAT CZARNEK HAS MANY TRAITS THAT CAN PROVE FATAL TO THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE IN AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN - ARKADIUSZ GRUSZCZYŃSKI IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “Civic Coalition politicians are slowly starting to realize that Czarnek has many traits that, in an election campaign, can prove fatal to the democratic side. His rally talents, direct language, the kind ordinary people use, the ability to summarize a problem simply and vividly, similar to what the peasant tribune Andrzej Lepper once had, and personal charm – what many commentators see as Mrożek's 'Edek from Tango' and 'boorishness,' many people perceive as folksiness – this is only part of the picture. Czarnek has something that voters and columnists saw in Nawrocki: he wants to fight and win in the end.”

-- IS THE CIVIC COALITION PREPARED FOR SUCH AN OPPONENT? - GRUSZCZYŃSKI CONTINUES IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “The question is: is the Civic Coalition prepared for such an opponent? And can we imagine a televised debate or a debate on Kanał Zero in which Tusk and Czarnek participate?”

-- THE QUESTION OF THE CIVIC COALITION'S BENCH NEEDS TO BE ASKED, AS IT IS A QUESTION OF WHETHER THE LARGEST PARTY IN POLAND AND ITS LEADER ARE READY FOR SUCCESSION? - GRUSZCZYŃSKI CONTINUES: “The question of the Civic Coalition's personnel bench needs to be asked, as it is a question of whether the largest party in Poland and its leader are ready for succession? And how did it happen that Kaczyński could choose from many names, while Tusk, in a similar situation, would have to rely on the leader of another party? Let's look at the Law and Justice party again. Whatever we say about this party, remembering all the harm it has done, Kaczyński did allow several younger-generation politicians to build their careers.”

-- ALL OF THESE ARE LESS DISTINCT FIGURES THAN THE LAW AND JUSTICE PARTY'S YOUNG WOLVES, SOMETIMES BLUNT, ASSOCIATED, IF AT ALL, WITH A PROFESSIONAL CABINET POLITICIAN OF THE "ACTIVIST SINCE HIGH SCHOOL" TYPE - GRUSZCZYŃSKI AGAIN: “In the Civic Coalition, there are no similar figures. We would forcefully find a people's tribune, a technocrat, a young talent, or a 'black character' hated by the other side but adored by 'their own' – but these are all less distinct figures than the Law and Justice party's young wolves, sometimes blunt, associated, if at all, with a professional cabinet politician of the 'activist since high school' type.”

-- WHY DOES THE CIVIC COALITION LACK SUCH CADRES? WE INTUITIVELY FEEL THAT NONE OF THESE POLITICIANS WOULD BE ABLE TO WIN INDEPENDENTLY FOR THE CIVIC COALITION, THANKS TO ENERGY, INTUITION, AND CHARISMA - GRUSZCZYŃSKI WRITES FURTHER IN GAZETA WYBORCZA: “Andrzej Duda, Beata Szydło, Morawiecki, Nawrocki. Why does the Civic Coalition lack such cadres? We intuitively feel that none of these politicians would be able to independently win parliamentary elections for the Civic Coalition, thanks to their energy, intuition, and charisma, and then lead the government. As individuals, they are competent; as a whole, they are an efficient, complementary team. But they are not charismatic political animals. Jarosław Kaczyński's personal and political choices have not been analyzed by the Civic Coalition.”
https://wyborcza.pl/magazyn/7,124059,32664710,kaczynski-moze-wybierac-wsrod-wielu-wyrazistych-nazwisk-tusk.html

-- PRESSURE FOR A JOINT LIST IS GROWING - MICHAŁ KOLANKO IN RZECZPOSPOLITA: “Forcing PSL and Poland 2050 (Paulina Hennig-Kloska's Center will likely not resist) onto a single list is a narrative priority today. And this issue will not disappear until the final configuration of the lists is known. Although it is worth remembering that so far, despite polls often placing PSL below the threshold, the party has always managed to find itself in the Sejm. Is there anything that would convince PSL politicians to join forces with Tusk on one list? The 'Peasants' maintain that there is nothing. But at this stage of the game, they cannot say anything else.”
https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art43970531-rosnie-presja-na-wspolna-liste-gwarancja-dobrego-wyniku-ko-i-przegranych-wyborow

-- WHAT AND WHY HAS CHANGED AFTER THE CASE OF FORMER MINISTER SŁAWOMIR NOWAK, WHOM PROSECUTOR DRELEWSKI, WHO HAS BEEN PROSECUTING CORRUPTION AND ORGANIZED CRIME FOR YEARS, TRIED TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE - GRAŻYNA ZAWADKA IN RZECZPOSPOLITA: “Prosecutor Jan Drelewski is an experienced investigator who has been prosecuting corruption and organized crime for years. Not long ago, Minister Adam Bodnar praised him for his 'special thoroughness' and 'great commitment and professionalism.' What has changed and why after the case of former minister Sławomir Nowak, whom prosecutor Drelewski tried to hold accountable? 'Rzeczpospolita' has obtained a motion for disciplinary proceedings, which raises many questions. (...) Drelewski was gradually removed from the case. – This was last year; I was cut off from the case, but I knew that the most important prosecution witness, the main '60-year-old' [referring to a nickname or group], Jacek P., would be heard. When I asked by phone who would replace me, I heard: 'Don't worry, we'll manage' – he recounts. But the hearing was in a few days, and the material was immense – he recalls.”
https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art43960741-rzeczpospolita-ujawnia-jak-potraktowano-prokuratora-ktory-oskarzal-slawomira-nowaka

-- FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF PROF. MARIAN ZEMBALA. 

-- BIRTHDAYS: Edward Miszczak, Grzegorz Napieralski, Marek Kossakowski, Anna Sarzyńska, Jan Bajorek, Marek Dziubek.