The Polish Supreme Court has received 56 recount requests, the deadline for the lodging of which was midnight Tuesday, October 22. The governing Law and Justice party has demanded a recount in 6 districts, two of which were Senate districts. The largest opposition party, Civic Platform, filed two requests. As a result of the elections, Law and Justice lost its majority in the upper chamber. In one district the opposition candidate won by some 300 votes with thousands of votes having been declared invalid. Opposition leader Grzegorz Schetyna hopes that opposing the recounts will stop the Supreme Court from ordering them and save his job, since following the opposition’s electoral loss, many are calling for his head. From the Sejm, Aleksandra Zarzycka reports.

The Law and Justice party have filed 6 motions to the Supreme Court, asking for a recount of the votes to the Senate, where the ruling party lost its majority by a small margin. According to opposition politicians, the ruling party wants to undermine the outcome of the elections, while the Law and Justice politicians point out, that the Civic Platform itself filed three electoral protests. The leader of the Civic Platform, Grzegorz Schetyna stated yesterday that the work of the judges of the Supreme Court should be overseen by international observers. Today, the spokesman of the Supreme Court described the legal motions filed by the Law and Justice as lacking in concrete arguments, at the same time criticising Schetyna’s idea of the need for international control.

GRZEGORZ SCHETYNA, LEADER OF THE CIVIC PLATFORM: – “They asked about the next steps in the electoral process, which because of  Law and Justice hasn’t yet ended. They asked what are the consequences of such actions and if democracy and the rule of law in Poland are threatened.”

KRZYSZTOF SOBOLEWSKI, HEAD OF THE LAW AND JUSTICE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: – ” Once again, they seek foreign help, nothing has changed. Four years have passed, and we’re having deja vu – the opposition lost the parliamentary elections, so they’re seeking aid from abroad. It looks like they haven’t learned anything during these four years. “

The Institute of National Remembrance handed the “Semper Fidelis” awards for the first time to people and institutions, which particularly helped to preserve the Polish heritage in the Borderlands. The Borderlands are eastern parts of Poland which were taken away by the Soviet Union following the Yalta conference in 1945. Among those awarded were priest Roman Dzwonkowski, sociologist and professor of social sciences; the president of the Association of Home Army soldiers in Belarus, Col. Weronika Sebastianowicz; and the Commander of the Polish Scouts in Ukraine and Lithuania, Stefan Adamski.

DR JAROSŁAW SZAREK, PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL REMEMBRANCE: – “How much of the Borderlands is within us? How many little stories, which we learn about if not by family, than by touching on the culture of these lands. We’re not doing this to oppose anyone else but we want these traditions preserved and this culture to be accessible to those who currently live there.”

COL. WERONIKA SEBASTIANOWICZ, PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF HOME ARMY SOLDIERS IN BELARUS: -“We fought in different times, but we all fought for Poland. I’m very happy that I was given this award, because when I was in prison or sent to Siberia, I never thought I would make it out of there alive. I would never dream of coming back home, to Poland, not to mention receiving an award like this.”  

After talks with the Turkish President Recep Erdogan, the US Vice President Mike Pence, announced that Ankara has agreed to a ceasefire in Syria and that the US sanctions imposed on the country will be lifted. Pence said that Turkey will suspend all military operations for 120 hours in order to allow the Kurdish militants to leave the border belt in northeastern Syria. Kurdish representatives confirmed that they approve of the ceasefire, but they will defend themselves if they are attacked.

As part of the truce, Turkey is expected to suspend all military operations to allow Kurdish warriors to withdraw from the border zone in northeastern Syria. After this condition is met, a permanent ceasefire is to be made. As part of the agreement, it was also decided that Turkish troops would be able to remain in their positions, where they would create a safe zone under Turkey’s jurisdiction. Mike Pence also threatened that if Turkey does not respect the truce conditions, the United States will not withdraw its current sanctions and will implement further ones. Ankara expressed satisfaction with the truce conditions, as it would in fact not bear any consequences for the invasion of northeastern Syria. The truce was also approved by Kurdish militants affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces who announced they would abide by it. However, as the Kurd commander added, the agreement is limited only to border areas, between the towns of Ras al-Ain and Tel Abiad. He also expressed hope that this would prevent Turkey from achieving its offensive goals. However, this morning the first reports appeared about breaking the truce conditions. There was a gunfight around Ras al-Ain. Witnesses also report that smoke has appeared above the city. Until now, it is not known who committed this act.

The European Council has approved an agreement for the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, which was concluded yesterday by EU and British negotiators. Although, there is no agreement on the draft of the new EU budget presented by Finland. Poland and several other countries are demanding increased funds.

The two-day summit of the European Union held in Brussels was concluded with a long-awaited agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom regarding Brexit. Although, everything depends on tomorrow’s session of the British Parliament. If the House of Commons accepts the agreement, it will require a final acceptance of the European Parliament. The second important topic of the summit was the European Union’s budget. Finland’s proposal regarding this matter was quite controversial. According to the proposal, the EU’s budget was to be reduced by 85 billion Euro. The member states, including Poland, don’t agree to this idea. The Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, said that he hopes that the EU’s funds dedicated to the agricultural policies won’t be reduced, because it wouldn’t be beneficial for Poland.

MATEUSZ MORAWIECKI, PRIME MINISTER OF POLAND:  “We could talk about Europeanness, but what is it? When it comes to the strategic dimension, it is an expansion of impacts. Closing the door to all of the smaller, but important countries would be wrong. The countries that want to reduce the budget are deeply inconsistent in their messages. Poland believes that the budget should increase.”

Everything indicates that Finland’s decision is not going to be accepted. The European Commission wants the budget to be higher than in Finland’s proposal.  

President Andrzej Duda decided to convene the inaugural sitting of the Sejm of the new term at the latest possible date, which is 12th November. It has been confirmed that Iwona Katarasińska-Śledzińska will be the Speaker of the Sejm, and Barbara Borys-Damięcka will take the position of Senior Marshal. Both MP’s are a part of the Civic Platform party.

BŁAŻEJ SPYCHALSKI – SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PRESIDENT OF POLAND

“The first sitting of the Sejm will take place on November 12 and I will tell you now why that is. According to the Constitution, Mr. President has 30 days to convene the first sitting of the Sejm and Senate. However, the term of office of the Sejm lasts 4 years. The first sitting of the previous term of office took place on November 12, 2015 and lasts until November 11 this year. In view of the above, the date of November 12 was chosen as the date of the first meeting of the new term. (FLASH) Senator Speaker of the Senate will certainly be Senator Borys-Damięcka, as she is the oldest Senator, while as for Speaker of the Sejm, I would bet on MP Śledzińska-Katarasińska, because of her being the oldest MP.”

41 anniversary passed from the election of Karol Wojtyła to the Pope

Exactly 41 years ago today, cardinal Karol Wojtyla, the metropolitan archbishop of Krakow was elected the Pope. This was the beginning of the third longest, and one  of the most significant, pontificates in the history of the Catholic Church. The election of the Pope from a “far away country”, the first non-Italian pope in 455 years, turned out to be providential for Poland. On that day of 16th October 1978, the Polish journey on the road to freedom began with the Pope’s pilgrimages to Poland, the Solidarity movement and the final ridding of the communist yoke in 1989. Let’s watch those exciting and unforgettable historical scenes from 41 years ago, again.
 

The Gdańsk regional court has sentenced the former president of Amber Gold, Marcin P. to 15 years in prison. His wife, Katarzyna, was sentenced to 12.5 years. Apart from their prison sentences, the pair have been forbidden to engage in any business activity for a period of ten years, been given fines of 159,000 and 135,000 zloty respectively, as well as being ordered to reimburse the damages caused.

The investigative committee has done a tremendous amount of work and submitted a number of notifications. At present, we have a lot of people who sit on the bench of suspects. Today is a special day, a non-final sentence of 15 years has been imposed on the instigator of the Amber Gold scandal. I hope that the prosecutor’s office will see this case through.

MAŁGORZATA WASSERMANN: CHAIRMAN OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON AMBER GOLD, LAW AND JUSTICE: 

– “Marcin P. was sentenced 9 times before he started Amber Gold and OLT Express. Each time he enjoyed the benefit of a suspended sentence and each time the court ordered that he should be given another chance, so that he did not have to go to prison. Speaking of courts, let me remind you that Marcin P. registered each of his companies, and he had over a dozen of them, at the Gdańsk District Court. I can point out the fact that he started his business with the share capital of around 5,000 zloty. In less than two years, this share capital increased to 50 million in just one company, Amber Gold. Nevertheless, it never aroused interest on the part of the registry court. Even more so, it should have aroused interest due to the fact that Marcin P. has never submitted his financial statements.”

The board of the Civic Platform party is to meet this evening in the light of the mounting pressure on Grzegorz Schetyna. Several leading politicians from the party say that following the disappointing election results, Schetyna will lose his position as party chairman.

Following the disappointment of Civic Platform party politicians following the disappointing result of the Civic Coalition in the elections, Grzegorz Schetyna’s leadership is being questioned. There is criticism of the leader throughout the party. In an interview for Polsat News, Julia Pitera said that if Schetyna stays in office, there will be a split in the club. In turn, Bogdan Zdrojewski stated that lifting the Civic Platform party will not achieve much. When asked today whether she would vote for Schetyna in the elections for party leader, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska replied equivocally.

MAŁGORZATA KIDAWA-BŁOŃSKA – Deputy speaker of the Sejm, Civic Platform Party: 

-” A lot of things could have been done better, but some worse. The main issue right now is not Grzegorz Schetyna. There are many more problems within the party. Let us finish this topic for now. Today – the board and club arrangement. Let’s do these things in order. This is too much to discuss at once.”

Schetyna is not helped by the fact that he clearly lost in Wrocław to the Law and Justice party candidate, Mirosława Stachowiak-Różecka. However, his idea of the so-called “senate pact” proved effective, as the opposition will have a majority in the senate.

Tadeusz Cymański, Law and Justice 

– “This was the last thing we needed – for me to be the Civic Platform party’s advisor. I think that the problem is internal, as there are strong intra-party clashes, both between certain groups and individuals.”

 There are many candidates for Schetyna’s position.

 DR KRZYSZTOF KARNKOWSKI: 

-” Borys Budka is interested, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska most likely is too, maybe Marshal Zdrojewski. A few people felt hurt upon the issuing of the lists in the last elections and parliamentary elections. Here, the list of names might be long.”

Tonight, the Civic Platform board will be held, as well as a club meeting. Elections for the party’s chairman are scheduled for January, although today Borys Budka said that they should be held before the end of the year. The club is also awaiting the election of a new leader after Sławomir Neumann resigned upon TVP Info’s release of compromising recordings in which he featured.

Today, Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition, for their role in the region’s failed bid for independence in 2017. All of the defendants were acquitted of the most severe charge, rebellion.

Four of the separatist leaders were also convicted for misuse of public funds. However, many in Madrid argued that the separatist leaders should have been sentenced for rebellion as well.

MADRID RESIDENT, JUAN LUIS OUCADE,  – “I think the crime of rebellion was totally justified because it was really a rising against the right of state and against democracy and they should have got the maximum that penal code allows.”

Other Madrid residents were of the opinion that it is necessary to respect the verdict of the Supreme Court.

 MADRID RESIDENT, ANGEL GIRAU,  – “About the sentence, I think it’s good that there’s not a general perception of impunity. Furthermore, it’s difficult to know the exact grade, whether it should be 4, 6, 8 or 15 years . Personally I can say that rebellion for me was a bit crazy. Apart from that, it is the Supreme Court and what we need to do now is to abide by the sentence and that’s it.”

Separatist protesters responded to the verdict by blocking access to trains and metros to Barcelona airport, whilst others temporarily halted traffic on the A2 highway and several regional roads across Catalonia,

The current leader of Catalonia, Quim Torra, stated that he considers the court case a show trial.

CATALAN REGIONAL LEADER QUIM TORRA: – “The Catalan government and I personally reject this verdict because we consider them unfair and anti-democratic and because they are part of a political trial and in a campaign of legal action against Catalonia’s right to self-determination and against the independence movement.

The ruling is likely to colour a national election on Nov. 10, Spain’s fourth in four years, scheduled for Nov. 10, and influence the direction taken by the separatist movement.