Marek Kuchcinski on the chances of a third term for the Law and Justice Party
The head of the CPRM was asked whether the statement referred to him, among others. As he stated, rather not, as he considers himself a "moderate optimist."

I think a third term is within reach. It's actually a matter of effectively reaching out to the citizens and letting them know about such good results in state policy that the Law and Justice government has achieved in recent years in terms of security and improving the standard of living of citizens that basically no reasonable person should vote against us, actually everyone should support us. I'm a little surprised that we don't have 70 percent support, because that's what I would have hoped for," Marek Kuchcinski said.

Asked jokingly why "only" 70 percent, the head of the Chancellery said that "one can understand that here ideological issues play a role." - Some memory of communist times - many people are still alive who ruled Poland at that time - and yet we are for the continuation of decommunization and vetting, including in the judiciary and in the courts, and this has not yet happened," the head of the Chancellery added.

He referred to Law and Justice's performance in 2015, for example, when part of the left-wing electorate shifted their vote precisely to the right-wing Law and Justice. In his view, this shows that this aspect of PiS's program of supporting the needy and solidarity measures is the right direction and the right thing to do.

Head of KPRM: Poland is Ukraine's logistics hub. This strengthens our position
If there had been no help from the countries of the free world: the United States, Poland, Great Britain and others, then surely the heroism of the Ukrainians alone would not have been enough.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski returned from the United States on Thursday. On the way - taking advantage of his trip through Poland - he met with President Andrzej Duda in Przemyśl. The leaders' conversation lasted more than two hours. The PR24 guest noted that the talks between Presidents Andrzej Duda and Volodymyr Zelenski have recently intensified so much that the leaders' relationship has become very close, and, he said, it is somehow natural that, passing through Poland, Zelenski met with the Polish president.

They already have such good contacts that with such important trips - this is President Zelensky's first trip since the great Russian invasion - this is a standard action, a very good one - Marek Kuchcinski said. According to him, Andrzej Duda's conversation with Volodymyr Zelenski has been or will be discussed between the president and the prime minister, as both the politicians themselves and their offices are in constant contact.

This requires cooperation on the part of the authorities of the Polish state, because we - Poland - have the burden of organizing the transport of not only people, but above all military, humanitarian and other aid to Ukraine - Kuchcinski added.

Poland the organizing hub for aid to Ukraine

The head of the Chancellery was asked whether the war would still be going on if Poland had not helped Ukraine - including in transporting military support. As he stated, this is speculation that cannot be answered, but "it would certainly be very difficult for Ukraine, because the question is which way the aid would go."

If there was no help from the countries of the free world: the United States, Poland, Great Britain and others, then surely the heroism of the Ukrainians alone would not be enough. And the fact that the main transshipment or organizational hub for the transfer of aid is the territory of Poland, Polish border crossings, etc., this only strengthens our position in the international world as well - Marek Kuchcinski said.

The broadcast recalled that virtually all aid to the embattled Ukraine arrives there via Rzeszów, where the Rzeszów-Jasionka military airport is located, and via Przemyśl.

Relations with the coalition partner

The head of the Chancellery was asked about talks announced on Friday between Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Justice Minister, head of Solidarna Polska, Zbigniew Ziobra, on draft amendments to the SN law, the adoption of which is expected to enable Poland to pay out KPO funds.

Perhaps rightly so, President Andrzej Duda urged the government camp to bend even further to this project, in order to be 100 percent sure that constitutionality would not be called into question - Kuchcinski said.

Asked whether Solidarna Polska, which opposes the project, would yield, Kuchcinski stressed that "an agreement is needed." In my opinion (...) there is a chance for an agreement with Solidarity Poland when it comes to this particular law - he pointed out.

Asked if a minority government could be formed, for example, if an agreement could not be reached, Kuchcinski replied: I do not assume such a scenario.

On December 13, Law and Justice (PiS) deputies submitted to the Sejm a draft amendment to the law on the Supreme Court, which the authors say is expected to fulfill a key milestone for the European Commission's unblocking of NAP funds. The project's assumptions were negotiated during talks by EU Affairs Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk in Brussels.

Two days after the draft was submitted, President Andrzej Duda said he had not participated in its preparation or been consulted. He called for calm and constructive parliamentary work on the project. At the same time, he stressed that he would not agree to solutions that undermine the constitutional system and would not allow any legislation to be introduced into the Polish legal system that would undermine judicial appointments or allow anyone to review them.

The Sejm was supposed to deal with the draft before Christmas, but it was taken off the agenda. It was announced that it would be consulted and that two legislative teams, a presidential team and a government team, would work on the project.

According to the draft, disciplinary and immunity cases of judges will be decided by the Supreme Administrative Court, and not by the Supreme Court's Professional Responsibility Chamber, as is currently the case. The amendment proposal also envisages expanding the scope of the so-called test of a judge's independence and impartiality, which could be initiated not only by a party to the proceedings, but also ex officio by the court itself. The draft also supplements the tests during the test with the premise of establishing a judge "under the law."

Opposition clubs already stated last week that they are ready to work on the draft. The opposition wants to submit amendments to the draft, which include entrusting disciplinary cases of judges to the Supreme Court's Criminal Chamber, restoring the old procedure for electing the National Council of the Judiciary, and abolishing the amendment to the Law on the System of Common Courts and the Law on the Supreme Court, passed on December 20, 2019. It introduced disciplinary liability of judges for acts or omissions that may prevent or significantly impede the functioning of the judiciary, for actions that question the effectiveness of a judge's appointment, and for public activities that are incompatible with the principles of judicial independence and the independence of judges.

Last week, Zbigniew Ziobro said that Solidarna Polska expects the prime minister to meet and "indicate a way out of the new political situation related to the submission of the draft amendment to the SN law." Earlier, Ziobro said that the Justice Ministry and Solidarna Polska would not accept the draft on the Supreme Court in the form submitted by the Law and Justice Party. This is because, in his view, the proposed legislation violates the Constitution in many places and interferes deeply with Polish sovereignty.