Difficulties with Revised Shield Project

Stationed in Poland?

The visit of the American VP, Joe Biden, to Poland, his words and the revised anti-missile shield offer which he brought with him met with an optimistic response. However, there are still a number of issues that still need resolving.  As the American administration’s officials stressed yesterday, it still remains unknown just how many missiles would be located in Poland. What is known, however, is that the project’s implementation will start no sooner than 2015 and end before 2018. This timeline would reflect the successive stages of retrofitting the SM-3 missiles that have primarily been designed to be used solely on battleships. Such a distant date for implementing the revised plan is a cause for concern in Warsaw. There is also the matter of the still unresolved legal status of American soldiers stationed in Poland; an issue about which negotiations are still under way. Despite numerous declarations of the will to reach an agreement from both parties, a joint position on the soldiers’ liability is yet to be worked out. “There are some difficulties here but I hope that they will be resolved by making compromises on both sides,” said the Polish President after meeting with Biden. However, the head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), Aleksander Szczygło, was critical of the Polish PM’s optimistic declarations. “The perspective of 6 to 9 years needed for the shield to become a reality is a distant one. The PM’s statement is surprising. It is a shame that the government did not adopt the previous agreement this quickly. It is astonishing that it is agreeing to something that is very distant and drags on the talks on the status of American soldiers which is crucial for Patriot missiles to arrive in Poland along with any kind of American military presence on our soil,” commented Szczygło for Rzeczpospolita.
Rzeczpospolita

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Poland to Take New Shield

A Different Kind of Polish Patriot

After meeting American Vice-President Joe Biden, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirms that Poland will accept SM-3 launchers. Warsaw welcomed Joseph Biden in the cold and rain but the American guest had many warm words to say to the Poles. “Poland is one of our closest allies. We share the same values and ideals,” Biden said after the meeting with the Polish PM. Later on during the joint conference with the Polish President, Lech Kaczyński, the American VP said, “We have Poland in our hearts”. Biden came to Poland to neutralize the bad impression left by the unfortunate way Obama’s administration presented the new shield concept. He also came to confirm the US revised offer which Tusk later  declared that Poland will accept. “Poland is willing to participate in the SM-3 project,” he said. After the meeting with Biden, Tusk explained that “the new plan for the world needs Poland to be more than a country that just needs help”. He added, “For Americans we have become a partner expected to take action and joint responsibility for all the good that is supposed to happen in the world”.

His guest was clearly pleased with such a declaration. “The US appreciates Poland’s willingness to take this step and to have the system’s elements installed,” Biden said and went on to add that “the shield will not only work for America’s benefit but also to increase NATO and Polish security”. He assured the Polish authorities that the US treats its obligations to its allies seriously. Various Polish diplomats told Rzeczpospolita that Warsaw did not expect any specifics from this visit; rather a formal confirmation of the American will to locate the modified SM-3 missiles in Poland. Wess Mitchell, the head of the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, says that the significance of Biden’s visit is quite substantial. “It is a step in the right direction. The Central-European allies needed to be thoroughly run through the workings of the new anti-missile defence system. They also needed a specific offer inviting them to become a part of this system. The offer that was put on the table is very fair but for the time being it is too removed in the future for its details to be of any greater significance. What is important, however, is that America has shown its allies that it remains a credible partner which fulfils its obligations,” Mitchell told Rzeczpospolita. “We have good reason to feel satisfied,” according to Polish Foreign Affairs Minister, Radosław Sikorski, summing up Biden’s visit for Polsat News. He went on to say that he will be flying to Washington in November where, in all likelihood, he will meet up with the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
Rzeczpospolita

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PO Down, Tusk Up

Party Dragging Him Down?

Following the publication of details of the Gambling Act scandal (known as gamble-gate) that have rocked the government, popularity for ruling Civic Platform (PO) has fallen by four points according to a opinion poll by Gazeta Wyborcza. In the same poll, the main opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) has seen a rise of four points. Popularity for the Left Democratic Alliance (SLD) has also marginally increased. In a ‘recent presidential’ opinion poll, PM Donald Tusk came top with Włodzimierz Cimosiewicz in second place. Should the two meet in a second round of voting, Tusk would win 59% to 41% according to the poll. Should PM Tusk meet incumbent President Kaczyński, he would defeat him 70% to 30% according to the poll.
Wirtualna Polska

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Favourable Changes in PIT Act

Better Forms

It is plausible that in Autumn a law will come into force which will relieve people who work full time in one place from the necessity to fill out and later send Personal Income Tax (PIT) forms to the tax office. “According to government estimates as many as 2 to 5 million tax payers will take advantage of this change,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk after a government meeting on Tuesday. “We precipitated works on changes in law which will make the life of millions of tax payers much easier,” said Tusk during the press conference. “This refers to people who receive their income from only one source, i.e. those who work in one place and currently have to fill out and send PIT forms,” explained the Prime Minister.

The PM highlighted that employees themselves, and not the administration, will decide whether they will fill out and send PIT forms or leave it to their employers. “If, however, employees want to fill out and send PIT forms on their own, then they have to inform their employers about this fact,” said Tusk and stressed that otherwise, employers are automatically obliged to send the PIT form of their employees together with any additional information that tax payers previously filled out. This will include information concerning possible tax allowance for internet, children, as well as information to which non-profit organisation the tax payers wish to donate 1% of their tax. “In order to simplify this procedure and free PIT tax payers from this inconvenient and unnecessary obligation, it is indispensable to introduce certain legal changes,” said the PM. This concerns an amendment to the PIT Act prepared by Minister of Finance Jan Rostowski and which was accepted by the government during Tuesday’s meeting. “We hope that this law will become effective this Autumn,” said Tusk.
Wirtualna Polska

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Alternatives to PO

Should Tusk Be Worried?

The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) is the most popular second-choice party among respondents. Trailing after SLD are Civic Platform (PO) and the Polish Peasants’ Party (PSL) and Piskorski’s Democratic Party (SD) respectively. 36% of Poles would be prepared to vote for a party different from the one they currently support. According to a survey conducted by GfK Polonia on behalf of Rzeczpospolita, SLD tops the second-choice parties. It was the party of choice for 16% of respondents. Coming next among other second-choice parties was PO with 8%, PSL and SD both had 7%, the Party of Polish Women (PK) claimed 5%. Law and Justice (PiS) was the second-choice party for only 4% of respondents. This is a good prognosis for SLD and SD. “For SD the sole fact of making it into the polls is a bonus,” says Wojciech Jabłoński, from the department of Political Sciences at the University of Warsaw. On the other hand, SLD’s result shows that the plans of the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk who made no secret of the fact that he was aiming to slowly drain support from it, might not work. If SLD’s leaders seize this opportunity it may very well be that it will be PO’s constituents moving over to SLD and not the other way around.

According to the Rzeczpospolita poll, SLD is viewed by 26% of respondents as the second most popular choice. The head of SLD Grzegorz Napieralski believes, “Clearly, the spells cast by Tusk and PO are being broken and a bright future is opening up before the left”. SD is also happy with the results: “This shows that our endeavours are bearing fruit and disproves the theory popularised by some politicians that the Polish political scene is sealed shut and there is no room for another party,” says Jan Artymowski, SD’s Deputy Secretary General. Meanwhile PO is keeping its cool. “I do not believe our voters would leave us for SLD or Piskorski’s party. It is far more likely that these camps will be battling it out with each other,” says Grzegorz Dolniak, deputy chairman of PO’s policy committee. He goes on to point out that his party is acceptable for everyone. Indeed, the 8% for which PO is the second-choice party is made up from PiS, SLD and PSL voters. This illustrates why it is so easy for PO to attract the undecided. “Inexpressiveness is its strength,” says Jacek Kloczkowski, a Political Sciences expert at the Center for Political Thought. In Jabłoński’s opinion it is this inexpressiveness that is working to the disadvantage of PiS which was picked as a second-choice party by so few. “This party has nowhere to turn for new supporters,” he says. Kloczkowski, however, points out that about 60% of voters tend to feel attached to the parties they support. “And this is particularly good news for the biggest players: PO and PiS,” he adds.
Rzeczpospolita

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Kwaśniewska a Chef?

Not the President

According to the latest polls Jolanta Kwaśniewska (wife of the former President) would beat Donald Tusk in a Presidential election. However, Kwaśniewska will not change her mind and will not be running in the 2010 elections. The former President’s wife adds that she prefers making soup to being a politician. “It is only a poll,” said Jolanta Kwaśniewska in an interview for TVN24. She explained that she “can surprise her husband in many ways and I have made some soup which I am sure he will love,” she added. However, she also made an interesting remark about Donald Tusk. “I think that the PM is too preoccupied with the Presidential elections and is neglecting our economy and this worries me,” she said. According to a PBS DGA poll for Gazeta Wyborcza, Jolanta Kwaśniewska would beat Donald Tusk 57% to 43%. Despite her advantage over Tusk she will not be changing her mind. “My wife is not a politician and she has never wanted to be one,” said Aleksander Kwaśniewski.
Dziennik

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Unprecedented Offer by PiS to PO

Plotting PO'S Downfall

“We would like to request that Civic Platform (PO) let us broadcast, at our own cost, their 2007 election advertisement, thanks to which they won the last parliamentary elections,” announced Jacek Kurski during a Law and Justice (PiS) press conference. “Donald Tusk claimed Poles deserved more. The only condition to make this dream come true was that Civic Platform wins the election,” said Mr Kurski, concluding that “in contrast to what was promised, we have not witnessed a large scale return of Polish citizens from abroad, the health service has not improved, neither has the general feeling of safety”. Michał Kamiński admits this is an unprecedented move but reassures the general public that it is not a joke. “We do want Poles to watch the advertisement that crucially helped Civic Platform win the elections,” he emphasised. Law and Justice wants to submit an official request to Grzegorz Dolniak, head of the Civic Platform election board, to allow the broadcasting of this advertisement at the expense of the opposition. We hope the ruling party will not be ashamed of it.
Onet.pl

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Buzek Sacrificed For Cimoszewicz?

Firmly Behind Buzek

The Polish PM Donald Tusk has recently put forward two candidates for important positions in the EU structures: former PM Leszek Buzek for President of the EU Parliament and another former PM Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz for Secretary General of the European Council. Meanwhile, Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has put forward his own candidate, Mario Mauro, to be appointed to the former position, whilst at the same time mentioning an unofficial deal on this issue with Poland. According to Mr Berlusconi, “an agreement is close”. Poland supports the Italian candidate for the EU Parliamentary President, Italy will return the favour and support the Polish candidate for the EU Secretary General. According to the ANSA agency, Mr Berlusconi has openly mentioned the agreement with the Polish government, though without stating any particular names. However, “there is no such agreement,” claims Paweł Graś, the Polish government spokesperson. He later reassured the public that the only candidate suggested and consistently supported by the Polish government is Mr Buzek. Last Friday, at the Civic Platform’s (PO) convention, Mr Tusk expressed his strong belief that if his party wins the EU Parliamentary elections, it will significantly increase Poland’s influence on EU politics. “If Civic Platform wins, I hereby vow we will have a Polish President of the EU Parliament,” he promised.
Dziennik

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Present from Gordon Brown

Footy Buddies

Donald Tusk’s 12-month-old grandson Mikołaj received a present from none other than British PM Gordon Brown. The head of the British government gave him an Arsenal football strip. Mikołaj’s granddad admired his grandson’s present with jealousy; unfortunately, the strip is not his size. Gordon Brown visited Warsaw in order to take part in serious political talks, but he did not forget about Tusk’s grandson. He brought the famous red and white Arsenal strip with him, according to Fakt. To be honest, it is hard to say whether it was for Mikołaj or his granddad who seemed more delighted with the present than Mikołaj. It is not a secret that the Polish PM loves playing football. Sometimes he even skips voting in the Sejm in order to play the sport. Tusk’s passion for football explains why the Polish PM asked the Government Protection Bureau to guard the strip like the crown jewels. “Please do not lose it; it’s a very important present,” said Tusk.
Dziennik

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Is Buzek Losing?

Buzek Failing

Polish MEPs are alarming that the Italians have struck an alliance with the French and are pushing for their own candidate. Jerzy Buzek’s chances are diminishing by the minute. Currently Mario Mauro, the present EP Deputy President, is Buzek’s greatest threat in his bid for the EP presidency. Our sources are in agreement: the Italians obtained informal endorsement for their candidate from the greatest forces within the European People’s Party (EPP) when the Prime Ministers of the party’s national members met less than two weeks ago. According to Law and Justice (PiS) MEP Ryszard Czarnecki, Italian MEPs are admitting triumphantly that during this meeting Silvio Berlusconi, without any resistance from Tusk, pushed Mario Mauro through as the Christian Democrat main, although informal candidate. “They’re making jokes too, for example, that the Polish Prime Minister was speechless, that he was stunned.” Why are Buzek’s chances against Mauro worsening? The Italians, who after the June elections may very well become the EPP’s largest or second largest power, are trying to negotiate an agreement with the French to get their endorsement for Mauro. On top of that, this is supposed to happen with the approval of the German chancellor Angela Merkel. The French are determined to retain the party’s head position during the new term and the Italian vote in this matter may be key.

A group of Civic Platform (PO) politicians is furious. They discovered that the Italian PM has already discussed Mauro’s candidacy with the French and Germans. Independent MEP Paweł Piskorski confirms this. “Had the Poles officially begun to fight for Buzek earlier then the situation would’ve been different,” Piskorski says. “The Polish faction has always had to be reckoned with within the EPP. But now everybody is simply pretending that Buzek’s name did not even come up. I’ve heard from PO people that Tusk was supposed to have had a round of talks with the European leaders but he failed to do so,” says Piskorski. PO’s Krzysztof Lisek, head of Sejm Foreign Affairs Committee, nonetheless argues: “meetings concerning this matter were and will be held. We, too, are in talks with the French and Italians. I think that Italian endorsement for Buzek is very likely”. Lisek stresses that everything depends on how well the EPP, and PO itself, do in the elections. PO MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski believes that Buzek is still a contender in the race for the post but is cautious in his assessment of the situation. “Such is our will and he is a very good candidate but it is not up to the government and state heads to make this decision.” Saryusz Wolski continues, “It is the elections, the whole parliament has to vote. First, the national delegations have to negotiate within the party because it is the party that has to determine its nomination. Then a second round of negotiations will have to take place: this time between the parties themselves. Therefore, the final outcome is neither guaranteed nor is it a done deal.”
Rzeczpospolita

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