Major Developments in Polish Politics

Szymon Hołownia chosen as the new Marshal of the Sejm

Szymon Hołownia has been elected as the new Marshal of the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish Parliament. Hołownia, a joint candidate of the Civic Coalition, the Third Way, and the New Left, received 265 votes in favor and will hold the office until November 13, 2025. In his inaugural speech, Hołownia announced several changes for the Sejm, including a focus on "patria" (homeland) rather than "partia" (party) and the removal of police barriers from the Sejm building. Read more

Barriers in front of the Sejm will finally be removed

Barriers that have been placed in front of the Sejm (Polish Parliament) since 2016 have been dismantled by activists and citizens. The new Marshal of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, announced that the barriers would be removed, stating that after seven years, it was time for a change. Read more

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has submitted his resignation

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has submitted his resignation during the first session of the new Sejm. He summarized the achievements of his government and apologized for any mistakes. He also proposed a new coalition to address Polish issues and invi...

Polish News Summary: Waste Imports, Black Friday Rights, Nuclear Power Plant, and VAT Debate

1. PiS Government Allows Import of Hundreds of Tons of Waste to Poland

The Polish government has approved the importation of 177,000 tons of waste to Poland, with 70% of it coming from Germany. This decision has sparked controversy and been criticized by many, as Poland is already struggling with the management of its own waste. The importation of hazardous waste has been seen as lacking morality and against the interests of Poland's environment. Read more

2. Black Friday and Consumer Rights in Poland

As Black Friday approaches, the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, Tomasz Chróstny, highlights consumer rights during this period. He reminds consumers that their rights for returns and refunds during Black Friday sales are the same as during regular sales periods. Online shoppers have 14 days to return a product, while traditional shoppers should check the return policy of the specific store they purchased from. He also emphasized that sellers should clearly inform customers about their return options. Read more

3. Last Days to Apply for "Dobry Start" Benefit

Parents have until November 30th to...

Ziobro and Czarnek engage in a heated debate in the Sejm

Zbigniew Ziobro and Przemysław Czarnek, ministers from the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, engaged in a heated debate during a session in the Sejm (Polish Parliament). The discussion was about the nominations of members of the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) and led to tensions between Ziobro and Szymon Hołownia, the Speaker of the Sejm. Other ministers also participated in the discussion. The debate resulted in disruptions and accusations of violating parliamentary rules. Read more here.

Members of the Sejm select new members for KRS

The Sejm, the lower house of the Polish Parliament, has chosen four new members of the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) from the Sejm. The candidates from the democratic opposition, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Robert Kropiwnicki, Tomasz Zimoch, and Anna Maria Żukowska, were selected. The candidates from the Law and Justice (PiS) party, Marek Ast, Bartosz Kownacki, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, and Kazimierz Smoliński, were rejected. The Sejm session was marked by a heated debate and accusations of violating democratic standards. Read more here.

Kaufland loses in court, ordered to pay a hefty fine

Kaufland Polska Markety, a ...

Poland News - Sunday, November 26th 2023

Barriers removed from Prime Minister's Chancellery in Warsaw

• The barriers that previously surrounded the Prime Minister's Chancellery in Warsaw have been removed, following the dismantling of similar fencing outside the Sejm (Parliament) and the Constitutional Tribunal. These barriers were seen as symbols of the ruling Law and Justice party, and their removal suggests a change in the political atmosphere. Read more

Swearing-in of Mateusz Morawiecki's government scheduled for Monday

• The swearing-in ceremony for Mateusz Morawiecki's new government is planned for Monday at 4:30 PM. President Andrzej Duda will officially appoint him as the Prime Minister. Despite the appointment, it is unlikely that Morawiecki's government will receive a vote of confidence in the new parliament, as opposition parties, including the Civic Coalition, Third Way, and the Left, have already signed a coalition agreement and plan to nominate Donald Tusk as their candidate for prime minister. Read more

Poland News - November 28th 2023

Heavy Snowfall Expected in Poland

Poland is bracing for heavy snowfall in the coming days, with the most intense snowfall predicted for the weekend. Snowfall is expected across the country, with up to 15 centimeters of snow in some lowland areas and even more in the mountains. The cold weather will persist, with temperatures ranging from -4 to 2 degrees Celsius. The snowfall is part of a wider weather system affecting Europe, with Poland located in the path of low-pressure systems. Drivers are advised to exercise caution, and a special weather alert has been issued.

Read more: TVN Meteo

Date and Time for Prime Minister's Speech in Sejm Determined

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced that he will give his speech, known as an "expose," on December 11 in the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish parliament. The expose will outline the government's program for the next four years. The vote of confidence for the new government is expected to take place later that day, and Morawiecki also stated that he anticipates the election of a new prime minister on the same day. Two different courses of action regarding former Prime Minister Donald Tusk's expose have also been outlined.

Read more: [TVN24](https://tvn24.pl/polska/expose-mateusza-morawieckiego-data-i-godzina-marszalek-szymon-holownia-o-dwoch-wariantach-w-...

Recent News from Poland: Sidewalk Accessibility, Ombudsman Nomination, Traffic Altercation

No More Parking on Sidewalks in front of the Parliament

A new policy has been implemented in front of the Polish Parliament, where parking on the sidewalk is now prohibited. Previously, parked cars on the sidewalk caused disruptions for pedestrians, including people with disabilities. The removal of barriers and parked cars has greatly improved accessibility to the parliament building. Read more

Candidate for the Ombudsman for Children's Rights

Monika Horna-Cieślak, a lawyer, activist, and social worker, has been nominated as a candidate for the position of Ombudsman for Children's Rights. She is known for co-authoring a law protecting children from violence, referred to as the "Kamilka Law." She discussed her vision for the role with representatives from the majority party in the Sejm. Read more

Attack on a Driver on Bułgarska Street

A driver was attacked on Bułgarska Street in Poznań. The incident involved an altercation between two drivers, with one of them smashing the other's car window. The police are investigating the incident, and the motive behind the aggression is believed to be a dispute over traffic. [Read more](https://tvn24.pl/poznan/poznan...

Poland in the News: Tax Confusion, Insurance Settlement

"It was supposed to be good, but it came out funny.". Mentzen about Konfederacja's proposal

Sławomir Mentzen, a member of the Konfederacja party, commented on the controversial tax proposal made by the party. The proposal aimed to increase the tax-free amount, but it was riddled with mistakes that caused confusion. Mentzen stated that he had no involvement in the project and that the outcome was far from what was intended. Read more

Insurance Company Changes Its Stance and Will Provide Compensation to Parents of Kia Driver Involved in Accident on A1 Highway

The insurance company Compensa has changed its decision and will now provide compensation to the parents of a Kia driver who tragically died along with his wife and child in an accident on the A1 highway. The insurance company had previously denied the claim, stating that it could not establish fault in the accident. However, after public outcry and media attention, the company reversed its decision and acknowledged its responsibility. Read more

Polish News, November 19th 2023: Evacuation in Iceland, Tusk's Response, Tragedy in Gora Kalwaria, and the Passing of Marek Alaszewski

Polish Citizen Evacuated from Grindavik City in Iceland Due to Volcanic Activity

A Polish citizen, Sylwia Kunda, was one of the residents who had to evacuate from the city of Grindavik in Iceland due to the risk of a volcanic eruption. Kunda reported that they experienced strong earthquakes and witnessed subsequent damages to buildings and roads. The situation in Grindavik is still dangerous as magma flows underground, causing destruction on the surface. The roads leading to Grindavik have been closed and the western part of the city has sunk over a meter. Read more: TVN Meteo

Donald Tusk Responds to President Duda's Statement

Donald Tusk, the leader of the Civic Platform party, responded to President Andrzej Duda's statement that Tusk would not be his prime minister. Tusk confirmed this and posted on the X platform that he would not be Duda's prime minister. Duda's statement was made in an interview with the "Sieci" weekly magazine. Duda mentioned that previous presidents of Poland always gave the task of forming a government to the winning party, in accordance with the parliamentary tradition. Read more: [TVN24](https://tvn24.pl/polska/tusk-nie-bedzie-moim-premie...

Meanwhile in Poland

Independence March, Warsaw

Here are some photos I took of the Independence March in Warsaw a couple of years ago. I never got to publish them until now.

November 11th is Poland’s Independence Day and the Independence March attracts far right groups and conservatives from all around the country.

Banners

Husaria

Religious Symbols

Patriots

Police Everywhere