Funeral of General Bieńkowicz
Yesterday, General Tadeusz Bieńkowski, who fought in World War 2 and against the Soviet occupation, was buried in Kraków with full state honours, following his death last week. Five weeks ago, on the date that Poland celebrated its 101st Independence Day, we reported on this 96 year old veteran who was applauded by so many younger compatriots. Speaking at the funeral, Polish president Andrzej Duda said: “He never denied his faith and beliefs, he never gave up his spirit, he was never broken.”
Trump signed sanctions on Nord Stream 2
Fearing sanctions, Swiss company Allseas stopped laying pipes on Baltic seafloor yesterday. This halted construction of the controversial Nord Stream 2 Natural Gas pipeline. Allseas’ action was a response to US president Donald Trump signing the defence Bill which includes sanctions for companies involved in the project.
US sanctions target companies building the $11 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline under the Baltic Sea. According to US law, companies that are building the nearly $11 billion project will face asset freezes and revocation of US visas for the contractors. The same concerns face companies that build the TurkStream pipeline that is to deliver Russian gas to south eastern Europe. US lawmakers say this project is endangers Europe by making it too reliant on Russian natural gas supplies. This view is shared by governments of Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic states.
The German and Russian governments expressed their dissatisfaction. Russia said it will proceed with the project regardless of US sanctions.
There is also a positive development in Ukraine. Gazprom and the Ukrainian government have reached an agreement that will keep Russian gas flowing to Europe until the end of 2024 and settle all related legal disputes. The Russian monopolist agreed to pay Ukraine almost two billion US dollars in cash to settle the financial dispute.
Originally the Kremlin had planned on the Baltic Pipe being online by 2020 allowing it to halt gas transit through Ukraine.
The political battle over Polish judicial reform is far from over
The political and legal battle over Polish judicial reform is far from over. The Polish parliament has passed an amendment to the Common and Supreme courts bill. The amendment now goes to the Senate, where the opposition has a majority over the ruling Law and Justice party, and may delay the passing of the bill by a month. The European Commission also hasn’t had its final word on what is clearly an internal matter for Poland.
The opposition hopes the Senate will rule to reject the amendment.
“I hope that the Senate will carefully sit on this matter and ask important questions. I believe, that based on these questions and the answers to them the higher chamber will bin this amendment”- says Marcin Kierwiński, The Civic Coaltion.
Yesterday, the speaker of the Senate, Tomasz Grodzki, said that the chamber won’t be obstructing work on the bill, at the same time stating that the Senate will carefully examine the amendment using all of its legislative means. If it presents adjustments to the amendment in time, the bill will have to go back to the Parliamentary Justice Commission which can accept it or reject it entirely or partially. Then, the lower chamber or Sejm can reject the amendments of the Senate and pass the bill in its original form anyway, if it’s voted for by a definite majority with at least half of the chamber present.
“To question now the choice of justices who were lawfully appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary is extremely dangerous to the rule of law in Poland, not the other way around. The president himself approved our solutions and said the changes are necessary”- says Michał Woś, Secretary of state in The Council of Ministers.
The deputy president of the European Commission Vera Jourova sent letters yesterday to the Polish president, prime minister and speakers of Sejm and Senate, asking them to stop the judicial reform. Tomasz Grodzki responded on twitter by assuring Jourova, that the Senate will thoroughly check all amendments which may allegedly violate the rule of law in the country.
“It’s a mistake and a total lack of professionalism. It’s only a technical and general comment. This year we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Lisbon Treaty, which clearly states that matters of the judiciary are resolved internally by member countries”- says Ryszard Czarnecki, Mep of The Law and Justice party.
The Senate has now 30 days to debate the amendment, after which it will be passed to the president.
Prime Minister: I am happy when I can spend time with seniors
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who met with older people on Friday in Jaworzno (Silesian Voivodeship), wrote on Twitter that he is always happy when he can spend time with seniors. He also mentioned the railwaymen murdered in Jaworzno during World War II.
The prime minister was on Friday at the residents of the Daily Nursing Home in Jaworzno. Wishes and carols filled the evening at the table set with delicacies. “I am always happy when I can spend time with seniors, drawing on their wisdom and experience, and during the Christmas season sing carols and break wafer,” wrote the head of government. He wished good luck to seniors on behalf of the entire Polish government and parliament. After meeting with seniors, the prime minister laid a wreath in Jaworzno under the cross and obelisk commemorating several dozen people lost during the German occupation in 1942 and 1944.
New purchase of Orlen in Lithuania
Orlen Lietuva from the Orlen Group took over Mażeikiu Nafta Trading House, an entity operating since 2003 as a sales representative of the Lithuanian refinery in the Baltic States and neighboring markets. The goal is, among others organizational optimization in the Orlen Group – reported Orlen Lietuva.
In 2006, PKN Orlen bought for 1.49 billion USD 53.7 percent from Russian Yukos shares of the then company Mażeikiu Nafta managing the refinery in Mažeikiai. After that, pursuant to an agreement with the Lithuanian government, it acquired 30.66 percent for more than 852 million USD. Then, after finalizing a contract with the Lithuanian government to buy the remaining 10 percent shares and redemption from small investors, the company became the owner of the Lithuanian refinery, which in 2009 changed its name to Orlen Lietuva. Orlen Lietuva, in which 100 percent shares are owned by PKN Orlen, is the largest Lithuanian company, and at the same time the largest local exporter and taxpayer. The refinery in Mažeikiai managed by this company is the only one in the Baltic countries.
The origin of the Christmas tree
Christmas time, despite the huge flood of advertising content, still reminds us that Jesus was born two thousand years ago. One of the elements of Christmas symbolism is the Christmas tree. Where did it come from in Poland and what is its history?
According to priest prof. Józef Naumowicz, the custom associated with the Christmas tree has its source in theological thought, and is not a remainder of pagan cults. In the Catholic tradition, the fathers of the Church saw the birth of Jesus as a return to a lost paradise. By becoming human, God’s Son has restored the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of the paradise tree of life. The Christmas tree was referring to the paradise tree of life. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Christmas tree was already an integral part of Christmas. It even appeared on the front in the trenches of World War I. In its presence, soldiers of hostile armies met and wished each other.
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Putin annual conference
Russian President, Vladimir Putin has held his annual press conference in the Kremlin in front of 1,900 journalists from around the world. To explain the Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939, Putin pointed to Poland’s involvement in the partition of Czechoslovakia the year before. Putin denied there is any new conflict with Ukraine over gas. And as to Donald Trump’s impeachment, Putin said that Russia is observing the situation closely and is ready to cooperate with any US president.
”If you ask me if Trump’s term of office is going to end, the answer is ‘I don’t think so’. The impeachment procedure will go to the Senate where the majority is represented by the Republicans from what I’ve heard. I don’t think that they would want to get rid of their party’s representative.
It is a continuation of an internal political conflict. The party which lost the elections – the Democratic party – is trying to reach its goals by using all kinds of methods. They accuse Trump of a union with Russia, but as it turned out, there is no basis for the impeachment. Now, they’re just trying to pressure him with the Ukrainian matter.
Despite the construction of a new infrastructure, for instance, Nord Stream I, Nord Stream II or TurkStream, we will maintain gas transit through Ukraine. What’s left is the matter of the amount of gas and the time when exactly the contract will be carried out. The road through Ukraine is much longer and more expensive. But we want to keep it. I think we’ll reach an agreement and we’re are on a good way to sign it” -says Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.
Will Magdalena Biejat MP be dismissed from the chair of Sejm commission?
Magdalena Biejat, an MP of the left wing Together party is in the sights of the ruling Law and Justice. They want her dismissed as president of the parliamentary Commission for Social Matters and Family. Biejat supports liberal abortion laws. Her radical views caused controversy when she was her appointed.
A motion to dismiss the chairman of the Commission for Social Matters and Family, Magdalena Biejat was filed by MPs from the Law and Justice party on Thursday , but the issue has been a hot topic since Biejat was elected to this position.
“Magdalena Biejat is a very open politician. She has her views, but she respects everyone’s opinions. She’s definitely a politician of dialogue, she understands that both sides have different standpoints and that they can collide with each other. She’s going to be a great chairman of the commission for sure, she lets everyone have a say on important issues”- says Maciej Gdula, The Left.
The MP of the Left is to be replaced by Ursula Rusecka from the Law and Justice who served in this capacity during the last term of office. Today, neither the chairman nor the candidate from Law and Justice commented on the matter.
“We would obviously prefer our own candidate for this position, Mr. Grzegorz Braun, but it’s good that a representative of the left is no longer going to be the head of the commission for the family, as she clearly has a pro-abortion view”- says Artur Dziambor, The Confederation party.
According to the parliamentary regulations, Magdalena Biejat has now 30 days to call for the commission to sit. If she fails to do so, it will be done by the speaker of the parliament.