Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times where densely packed poultry sheds crowd the landscape the future of Europe’s meat industry hums to the rhythm of millions of broiler chickens Inside, birds bred to grow at record speed shuffle under the constant glow of artificial light grow faster and end their lives in industrial kill lines — destined for export to Germany Here — and across much of the world — it’s a policy choice policymakers have long championed poultry as a “transition meat” — a pragmatic alternative to climate-intensive beef scalable across global markets and often promoted as a leaner lower-fat option compared with pork or beef In political shorthand: the least-worst option But as a fresh wave of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu, sweeps across continents — killing hundreds of millions of birds infecting some mammal species and prompting sweeping lockdowns — the virus is edging closer to spilling over into humans That is putting the poultry playbook under stress more than 90 million birds have been culled over the past year over 11.5 million were culled in the first months of 2025 to stop the disease from spreading Behind those numbers lie deeper dilemmas: ethical shortcuts epidemiological risk and a protein system optimized for speed The European Commission moved in early April to expand protection zones and tighten biosecurity rules in Poland which alone accounted for some 80 of the EU’s 200 confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic bird flu this year The Commission had warned that Poland’s initial response posed a risk to biosecurity in the EU’s borderless internal market and threatened measures that would have effectively shut down all exports from the country Under pressure from Warsaw, Brussels stepped back from its toughest proposals, but not without conditions: The Commission asked the Polish authorities to present an “action plan” to contain the virus Commission food safety spokesperson Eva Hrnčířová emphasized that the response was “not something about Poland without Poland,” noting that the agreed measures were drawn up “together with the Polish national and regional authorities” and “based on information from Poland.” The aim was “to create protection rather than restriction.” What’s notable is where that plan came from. As Polish Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski explained in a radio interview the proposed measures — including containment zones and limits on introducing new flocks but no halt to production or exports — came from the poultry industry itself and were then adopted by the government The plan was formally endorsed by Poland’s chief veterinary officer and submitted to Brussels as the country’s official response “This was a proposal from the producers,” Siekierski said “And it was passed to Brussels as our official position.” Siekierski has repeatedly defended the sector’s symbolic and economic role calling it “the flagship of Polish agriculture.” But he also acknowledged: “The problem of avian influenza in Poland cannot be solved without bearing some costs — but what matters is finding systemic solutions.” Poland is now the bloc’s poultry powerhouse — responsible for nearly one in five chickens produced and a third of all exports The sector supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and sends more than half its output abroad Its rise was turbocharged by industrial scale and genetic homogeneity Most Polish broilers come from a few breeds that reach slaughter weight in just five weeks That efficiency is driven by tight vertical integration: Major poultry companies control nearly every stage of production — from breeding and feed mills to slaughterhouses and export Most of the millions of birds being culled aren’t actually sick the detection of even a single infection can mean killing entire sheds — sometimes hundreds of thousands of birds at once The logic is brutally simple: slaughter the whole flock to stop the virus from jumping to the next farm Jażdżewski has warned of a shortage of trained veterinary inspectors saying: “We have a problem with boots on the ground.” Basic safeguards like disinfecting equipment and securing feed supplies aren’t always applied consistently But even perfect biosecurity may not be enough who was not authorized to speak on the record told POLITICO that the system’s design allows outbreaks to escalate rapidly “When a virus like this lands in a region with high farm concentration it’s like throwing a spark into a powder keg,” they said clothing — even dust and feathers carried by the wind This epidemiologist noted that while there have been discussions about limiting how closely farms can be sited “the law doesn’t work backward” — meaning existing clusters would likely remain Poland’s poultry industry rejects the idea that the system’s scale or structure is to blame the National Poultry Council argued that outbreaks are primarily driven by wild birds — not farm density The group also pushed back against suggestions that producers should shoulder more of the costs insisting that poultry businesses already invest heavily in biosecurity and that “professional economically strong farms are precisely those best positioned” to uphold standards The EU-wide industry group AVEC struck a similar tone telling POLITICO that production at scale “does not necessarily increase” the risk of large-scale outbreaks Some industry representatives go further. “We cannot agree to let irresponsible producers repeatedly expose the whole poultry sector to losses,” said Paweł Podstawka, head of the Polish Federation of Poultry Farmers and Egg Producers, in comments to Polish media He called for licensing poultry farming as a profession Other European countries have faced similar risks — but not on Poland’s scale once the EU’s epicenter for avian influenza has recorded just a single farm outbreak this year Supporters of the poultry-first strategy emphasize the climate calculus chicken emits up to 90 percent less CO₂ per kilo of protein It also uses far less water and land.  The World Bank now touts chicken as a climate asset — one of the least polluting animal proteins and a tool for reducing food system emissions But those environmental gains come with trade-offs. Male chick culling, still widespread outside Germany and France, sees hundreds of millions of baby birds killed each year for being unprofitable. The dominant broiler breeds have been called “ticking time bombs,” prone to chronic pain and heart failure The growing ability of the virus to jump species has reignited fears of a zoonotic leap to humans “This is more than an agricultural crisis,” FAO Deputy Director General Beth Bechdol said in March “The uncontrolled spread of avian influenza and other zoonotic diseases pose serious risks to global health to economic stability — just as we have seen with Ebola and other human pandemics.” meat remains years from mainstream approval There’s no clear successor to chicken on the protein horizon giving the poultry lobby staying power and broiler chickens time to keep growing The deal between Warsaw and Brussels remains shaky An EU veterinary mission visited Poland in late April to assess whether the action plan is being enforced — and whether it’s working A final report is expected in the coming weeks A negative verdict could trigger new restrictions Several scientists echoed concerns that it’s not wild birds or lapses in hygiene but the industrial model itself that makes outbreaks hard to contain — whether in Poland the industry could afford to reduce intensity a leading Danish virologist at the University of Copenhagen he warned: “Somebody will always make a mistake — and once the virus gets into these dense systems it spreads fast.” While vaccination is often floated as a solution Vaccines reduce symptoms but don’t always block transmission — meaning the virus may still circulate silently in flocks Even Siekierski now seems to grasp how fragile the system has become. Over the weekend, he posted candidly on social media: Producers hit by outbreaks get generous compensation; those spared enjoy high prices noting that the ministry had burned through its annual biosecurity funds by March “That’s why I believe it’s time to seriously start an agricultural transformation,” he added Dutch government buys time for farmers but tests the limits of domestic courts and EU environmental law exposing the reach of ultra-persistent chemicals in Europe’s food chain Brussels is chockablock with people trying to influence new rules on everything from Big Tech to pesticide use Here’s where they’ve put most of their efforts Hungary and Slovakia are battling outbreaks of the highly contagious livestock disease Many Americans planning summer trips to Europe head to popular tourist spots in Italy or Greece However, I've wanted to visit Poland for years to learn more about the country's history and explore some of my own Polish roots and Poland defied all of my expectations in the best way gray country with a sterile Cold War feel — perhaps because much of what I know about it is based on its roles throughout history and a fascinating mix of old and new that blended seamlessly Although the cities I visited in Poland have plenty of nondescript Cold War-era buildings they are interspersed with a handful of ornate pre-World War II buildings Although Poland is surrounded by land on three sides it still has beaches and a beautiful range of landscapes I was particularly astonished by the beauty of Zakopane this mountain town seemed like a true haven for hikers and nature lovers I was especially impressed by the local public transportation systems in the two major cities I visited in Poland Warsaw's public transportation network includes buses I used an easy-to-use app to seamlessly navigate around the city throughout the trip the public transportation options in Warsaw were as good as those in my hometown of Washington but I also appreciated the city's robust bus and tram system Trains connect Kraków to several popular nearby sites including the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial and museum Many stereotypes I'd heard painted Poland as a cold place but I was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness and numerous communal spaces I encountered in the country had many lively parks and town squares filled with restaurants I saw families playing and groups taking yoga classes in parks I visited a vibrant open-air food market and enjoyed seeing many people lingering over drinks to chat and listen to live music had main streets designed for pedestrians and promenades with seating areas that seemed perfect for gathering Before my trip, I wasn't super familiar with Polish cuisine beyond pierogi the country's beloved dumplings that are often boiled and filled with mashed potatoes and was delighted to find that most of the food I ate in Poland wasn't as beige or basic the country surprised me with its wide selection of diverse and modern cuisine some serving Polish fusion cuisine and others serving classics like pasta and steak that I'd find back home One Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant served me dishes that looked almost too pretty to eat Because Poland is a relatively affordable country compared to the US It was awesome to dine at Michelin-starred restaurants that I would never have been able to afford in the United States For example, a five-course tasting meal in Kraków's Michelin-starred Bottiglieria 1881 starts at about 60 euros A similar dining experience in the US can easily cost more than double that With the exception of one mediocre fast-food restaurant my kids insisted on trying Countries & Areas Bureaus & Offices About Marco Rubio, Secretary of State I wish all Polish people a joyous Constitution Day When the Great Sejm adopted Europe’s first modern Constitution on May 3 it codified democratic principles also dear to our young American Republic boldly enumerated in the face of external threats have united and inspired both our nations for centuries Poland and the United States stand together as partners in building a safer and more prosperous future for our peoples Poland has dramatically strengthened our shared security through its commitment to NATO and continues to host thousands of American service members Our trade relationship continues to flourish and we look forward to continuing to strengthen our energy security cooperation Our shared future has never looked brighter I look forward to another year of standing together to uphold the values we share – freedom We use cookies to make our website work better and improve your experience May 2, 2025 | Business, Society Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers We cannot do what we do without your support Poland was the only European Union country to record positive consumer sentiment in April It has also seen the strongest rise in consumer sentiment across the EU this year setting it apart in a region where confidence broadly declined driven by mounting concerns over global trade instability and future economic prospects The consumer confidence index rose by 2 points to 1.1 in Poland last month the strongest monthly gain across the EU and Poland’s first positive reading since September with a score above zero indicating positive sentiment where sentiment came in just below neutral at -0.1 Finland (-7.4) and the EU’s biggest country and economy The index across the EU as a whole stood at -16 while the strongest negative sentiment was recorded in Greece (-46.8) Consumer confidence declined in 24 EU member states in April with only Poland and Finland (where it rose by 0.8 points) showing improvements Overall sentiment across the EU in April reached its joint-lowest level since October 2023 the EU-wide consumer sentiment index has fallen by 2.8 points Confidence has declined in 15 countries and increased in 11 with the biggest increases observed in Poland (+3.8%) The decline in consumer sentiment across the EU comes against a backdrop of broader geopolitical and economic uncertainty According to Polish business daily Puls Biznesu recent trade actions by the United States are a key factor contributing to this downturn The newspaper notes that consumer confidence has also deteriorated across the ocean with the US Conference Board’s sentiment index in April hitting its lowest level since May 2020 while households’ assessments of their personal financial situations have remained broadly stable expectations for national economic outlooks have deteriorated since November when Donald Trump won the US presidential election In Poland, however, sentiment appears more resilient. Analysts cite several potential reasons: low unemployment and a comparatively muted reaction to political developments in the US Poland's unemployment rate of 2.6% in January is the lowest ever recorded in the country by @EU_Eurostat and was the joint-lowest that month among all EU member states For more, read our full report here: https://t.co/eP5A9JT4eg pic.twitter.com/A9oHu2zLZ6 — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) March 7, 2025 broader indicators of economic sentiment in Poland are mixed The European Commission’s Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) a composite indicator that tracks the overall economic sentiment in the EU and euro area unchanged from March and down 1.5 points year-on-year This places Poland 11th out of 30 European economies (the 27 EU member states plus Montenegro above the EU average of 94.4 but well behind regional leaders Malta (108.0) The ESI is calculated monthly using survey responses from businesses and consumers across the industry A reading above 100 signals above-average economic sentiment while a value below 100 indicates sentiment is weaker than average Poland’s GDP grew by 2.9% in annual terms last year slightly exceeding economists’ forecasts of 2.8% The rebound followed a period of slow growth in 2023, when GDP expanded by just 0.1%https://t.co/CuaVxFRuFG — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) January 30, 2025 only four countries in Europe recorded positive industrial sentiment in April Poland was the second most pessimistic economy in this domain Retail sentiment also remains weak at -3 points in Poland placing it 11th from bottom across the continent Germany (-26.2) and Hungary (-20.6) posted the lowest readings  Main image credit: Kaboompics.com / Pexels Alicja Ptak is senior editor at Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist , , The proportion of Poles saying the US has a positive influence on the world has also fallen to its lowest recorded level , , , The stunt has also been criticised by Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland as well as politicians from Poland’s main ruling party , , , “This is another step in the great modernisation of the Polish armed forces,” says Poland’s defence minister Apr 30, 2025 | , , , That response will include “large Polish and NATO exercises in Poland” Apr 29, 2025 | , , , Those employed in Poland work on average the third-longest hours in the European Union Apr 28, 2025 | , , , , Westinghouse and Bechtel were first chosen in 2022 as partners on the 192 billion zloty ($51 billion) project please consider helping us to continue and expand it [email protected] Copyright © 2025 Notes From Poland | Design jurko studio | Code by 2sides.pl Senior Research Fellow at the Global Europe Centre ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Weronika Strzyżyńska is currently studying journalism at Goldsmiths as a Scott Trust Bursary recipient She  has written on issues immigration and Brexit for New Statesman and Prospect Agnieszka Wądołowska is managing editor of Notes from Poland She has previously worked for Gazeta.pl and Tokfm.pl and contributed to Gazeta Wyborcza ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland and assistant professor of history at the Pedagogical University of Krakow He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications The Independent and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Stanley Bill is the founder and editor-at-large of Notes from Poland.He is also Senior Lecturer in Polish Studies and Director of the Polish Studies Programme at the University of Cambridge Stanley has spent more than ten years living in Poland He founded Notes from Poland in 2014 as a blog dedicated to personal impressions cultural analysis and political commentary He is committed to the promotion of deeper knowledge and understanding of Poland He is the Chair of the Board of the Notes from Poland Foundation ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Professor of European Studies at Oxford University ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Professor at the Institute of History of the Jagiellonian University ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Executive Director of Taube Family Foundation ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Associate Professor at the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Science ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Maine (WGME) -- An exotic animal rescue and rehab center in Maine has a new home "Mr. Drew and His Animals, too" posted on Facebook that they have a new, long-term home in Poland, Maine. The rescue center has moved multiple times in the past few years. Drew Desjardins, who owns "Mr. Drew and His Animals, too," says this new location is perfect for their needs and he's excited to get started. He says more details about the new space will be released after the lease is signed. Reporting by Jesús Aguado and Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Taste of Poland is bringing traditional Eastern European comfort food to Oklahoma with a local twist The only fully Polish restaurant in the state it’s the labor of love of owner Alicja Sokolowski who blends her heritage with her new home through handcrafted recipes and warm hospitality Sokolowski moved to New York before relocating to Tulsa with her family Her culinary journey began at local farmers' markets where she sold handmade pierogies that quickly grew in popularity she was making over 1,700 pierogies a week out of her home kitchen she crafts nearly every item on the menu from scratch The restaurant’s signature dish is the pierogi stuffed with a variety of fillings like cheese and onion or a more local creation the “Okie pierogi,” made with brisket and beans Other menu highlights include cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and rice pickle soup made from house-brined cucumbers and toasted baguettes known as zappies topped with caramelized mushrooms and homemade mayo Even the salads incorporate house-made elements like honey-ginger pears and farmer’s cheese guests can enjoy a range of lightly sweetened Polish treats like honey cake and cheesecake Sokolowski says her greatest challenge now is staffing she hopes to find new team members who share her passion for authentic cooking and community Graham joined the News 9 team in February of 2025 He is dedicated to sharing the diverse stories that have shaped his country and his community and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information 2025 at 5:03 AM EDTBookmarkSaveTakeaways NEWErste Group Bank AG agreed to buy much of Banco Santander SA’s operations in Poland for about €7 billion ($7.9 billion) confirming a previous Bloomberg News report at the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg the European Prosecutors for Poland and Sweden gave the solemn undertaking to comply with the obligations arising from their duties They were recently appointed to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) by the Council of the EU following the decision of Poland and Sweden to join the EPPO They are appointed for a non-renewable term of six years The solemn undertaking was given by Ms Grażyna Stronikowska (Poland) and Mr Martin Bresman (Sweden) In an address that followed the solemn undertaking European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kӧvesi said:  ‘This ceremony is about the enlargement of the EPPO zone we are welcoming our new colleagues from Poland and Sweden We have overcome initial scepticism of some We have uncovered a new continent of crime still understand that we are stronger together.’ The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU BERLIN — Poland’s top diplomat in Berlin has criticized the incoming German government’s plans to tighten border controls just days before the new regime is set to take office “The current controls at the German-Polish border are already a problem for daily border traffic and the functioning of the EU internal market,” Poland’s chief diplomat in Berlin, Jan Tombiński, told POLITICO’s Berlin Playbook “We therefore do not want to see a tightening of border controls.” The conservatives of chancellor-to-be Friedrich Merz and his Cabinet, who are set to take power in Berlin next Tuesday in a coalition government with the center-left Social Democratic Party, have long promised a tougher stance on migration in order to win back voters on the right. Merz vowed to introduce stricter border checks on his first day in office and to reject illegal crossings “Anyone who tries to enter Germany illegally must expect to be stopped at the German border from May 6,” Thorsten Frei, the incoming head of the Chancellery, a powerful role akin to a chief of staff, reinforced earlier this week When asked whether Poland would accept the return of asylum-seekers Tombiński emphasized that Warsaw stands by its “obligations under EU legislation.” He explained that this includes the reform of the Common European Asylum System countries may not reject asylum-seekers at their internal borders A spokesperson for the Austrian interior ministry told POLITICO “We are confident that the actions of the German authorities at the EU’s internal borders are in line with the legal system.” The spokesperson added: “The European Court of Justice has ruled that informal returns are not legally possible when an application for asylum is made.” Merz — whose top campaign promises also included pledges to improve relations with Germany’s neighbors (including Poland) and to take a more proactive position on the European stage — is set to travel to Warsaw on Wednesday where he’ll have to defend his tough border policy “Our aim is to achieve more at the European level, too. I am already holding talks with European partners on this,” Alexander Dobrindt, the incoming interior minister, said in an interview Thursday but is too slow … We want to achieve more,” he added In order to conduct stricter border controls without overburdening its work force, the German police would need at least 20,000 more staff members, according to the chief of the country’s police union “We do not consider comprehensive controls and returns at German borders to be realistically feasible,” he added in light of Germany’s 3,700-plus kilometers of borders Paris and Berlin have been at loggerheads for years Germany’s chancellor-designate is planning a European tour that could take him to Paris Zelenskyy would like to meet leaders from the so-called coalition of the willing Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz wants to subsidize German industry Other European governments worry about unfair competition May 2, 2025 | Featured, Politics the presidential candidate supported by Poland’s national-conservative opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party has met with President Donald Trump at the White House The invitation has been hailed by PiS as evidence that Nawrocki is best placed to ensure Warsaw’s continued strong relations with Washington some figures from Poland’s ruling coalition have criticised Trump for interfering in the election campaign Great meeting with @POTUS. It was an honour to discuss the bright future of Poland-U.S. relations. https://t.co/FTM2Yrxgl6 — Karol Nawrocki (@NawrockiKn) May 2, 2025 Nawrocki’s team made the surprise announcement that the candidate would be visiting the White House to attend an event marking the National Day of Prayer at which Trump gave an address to an audience gathered in the Rose Garden Nawrocki was pictured speaking with senior US figures there remained questions over whether he would meet with Trump himself who has enjoyed strong relations with PiS in the past the White House released photographs and a statement saying that Trump had welcomed Nawrocki to the Oval Office Speaking later to Polish broadcaster Republika Nawrocki said that Trump had told him “you will win” the Polish presidential election the first round of which is taking place on 18 May “I read that as a kind of wish for my success,” said Nawrocki “You can see…from this conversation it was clear that this relationship is important to President Trump,” he added with leading PiS politicians hailing his visit as evidence that Nawrocki is best placed to protect Poland’s relations with the US “Karol Nawrocki is the only candidate who can guarantee Poland’s security and maintain strong alliances in difficult times especially with the USA,” wrote Elżbieta Witek Many PiS figures contrasted Nawrocki’s warm welcome at the White House with the fact that politicians associated with Poland’s current government have not been invited there 🇵🇱 Polska dzisiaj potrzebuje pewności, że przyszły Prezydent RP zadba o relacje polsko-amerykańskie, bowiem rząd polski na czele z Donaldem Tuskiem doprowadził te relacje do ciężkiej sytuacji – Karol Nawrocki w Waszyngtonie. #Nawrocki2025 pic.twitter.com/ml0Z1MC4Dp — #Nawrocki2025 (@Nawrocki25) May 1, 2025 some politicians from the ruling coalition accused the US administration of interfering in Poland’s election campaign “The attempt to influence the Polish presidential elections by the Trump team shows their colonial attitude towards Poland,” tweeted Roman Giertych “Instead of celebrating the anniversary of Poland’s accession to the EU and Labour Day [on 1 May] with his compatriots [Nawrocki] preferred to fly [to the US] to rat on his own country and ask to be anointed by the most pro-Russian US president,” wrote Tomasz Trela “Trump will not choose our president just as he did not choose the prime minister of Canada,” added Trela referring to this week’s Canadian elections in which the Liberal Party won on the back of promises to stand up to Trump Zamiast świętować z rodakami rocznicę wejścia Polski do Unii i Święto Pracy wolał lecieć donosić na własny kraj i prosić o namaszczenie najbardziej prorosyjskiego prezydenta USA — Tomasz Trela (@poselTTrela) May 2, 2025 Throughout the presidential election campaign the candidate of the centrist Civic Platform (PO) Over the last month, however, Nawrocki has significantly cut his deficit to Trzaskowski whom he now trails by only around four to six percentage points If none of the 13 presidential candidates wins over 50% of the vote on 18 May – as seems almost certain – the top two will head into a second-round run-off on 1 June Weekly average of support in polls for Poland’s main presidential candidates, compiled by eWybory.eu PiS has enjoyed close relations with Trump ever since the period when both were in office between 2017 and 2021. Days before the 2020 presidential election, Trump also invited the PiS-backed candidate Poland is now ruled by a more liberal coalition led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk who has been openly critical of Trump in the past Tusk and his government have sought to maintain strong relations with Washington since Trump’s return to the White House — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) May 1, 2025 Main image credit: WhiteHouse/X Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland [email protected] May 1, 2025 | Politics has dramatically reduced the gap in polls to the main ruling party’s pick What has gone wrong for the frontrunner – and right for his challenger That placed him 12-14 percentage points ahead of his main rival the candidate supported by the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) the main question was not whether Nawrocki could challenge Trzaskowski for first place but whether he could even hang on to second (and therefore a spot in the second-round run-off between the top two candidate) amid a strong challenge from Sławomir Mentzen of the far-right Confederation (Konfederacja) Weekly average of support in polls for Poland’s main presidential candidates, compiled by eWybory.eu But, as we wrote in our recent guide to the election a lot could still change before election day on 18 May – and it has Trzaskowski’s average support in polls had dropped to 32-33% while Nawrocki has risen to around 27-28% meaning the gap between them has closed to just 4-6 percentage points seemingly putting him out of the running for a spot in the run-off While there are always many factors that influence candidates’ and parties’ waxing and waning popularity four particular reasons appear to be behind the shift witnessed over the last month It is likely no coincidence that Trzaskowski’s decline in the polls began around the time that he challenged Nawrocki to a one-on-one debate in early April – a decision that sparked a chaotic series of events We have already reported on them in detail here but the result was days of criticism of Trzaskowski for not inviting all his presidential rivals to the debate That eventually led him to announce less than two hours before the debate was due to start that all candidates were welcome to attend conservative broadcaster Republika had organised its own debate to take place just before Trzaskowski’s and in the same town Some of Poland's presidential candidates took part last night in one or both of two TV debates organised at the last minute in the same town Right up until they began, it was not clear who would participate, resulting in a chaotic five hours of viewing https://t.co/i3SDC2Sm4L — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) April 12, 2025 The entire situation left Trzaskowski looking weak and indecisive scrambling to respond to events rather than setting the agenda and appearing unwilling to take part in debates that were not under his control That impression was reinforced when Trzaskowski skipped another debate organised by Republika a few days later that was attended by Nawrocki and most other candidates (one of whom mockingly placed a cardboard cutout of Trzaskowski on the stage) all three debates – the two organised by Republika and Trzaskowski’s own one – saw his rivals focus their attacks on the frontrunner further undermining his position (especially at the two that he did not attend and was therefore unable to defend himself) A fourth debate organised by newspaper Super Express and televised by leading broadcasters took place this week in which all 13 candidates took part The effect of that event on the polls remains to be seen When PiS chairman Jarosław Kaczyński made the rather left-field choice to back Nawrocki – the head of a state historical body who has never been a member of PiS and has never stood for public office – for the presidency many believed he was hoping for a repeat of 2015 the PiS chairman picked another relative unknown Duda trailed his PO-backed rival – the incumbent president Bronisław Komorowski – in the polls before finally snatching a dramatic victory Trzaskowski is not the incumbent (Duda still is) the mayor of Warsaw and one of the best-known faces on the political scene has had to introduce himself to voters – when he first announced his candidacy in November one poll showed that 46% of the public did not even know who he was (compared to 2% for Trzaskowski) – and learn on the job how to run a campaign his decision to appear at all three debates earlier this month – at which he performed strongly – allowed him to present himself to millions of Poles helping him seize on Trzaskowski’s slip-ups over the last few weeks Nawrocki’s rise has coincided with Mentzen’s collapse with some right-wing voters switching support from one candidate to the other Mentzen likely suffered from skipping both of the first two debates (he argued that he did not want to take part in the “circus” caused by Trzaskowski’s decisions) Far-right candidate @SlawomirMentzen's rise in the polls has turned Poland's presidential election into a three-horse race Mentzen has managed to detoxify his party and has benefited from other candidates mainstreaming its positions, writes @danieltilles1 https://t.co/Ql9LihJ7tu — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) February 28, 2025 One reason behind that may be that the initial appeal of Confederation as an alternative to the dominance of PO and PiS – who have led every Polish government since 2005 – diminishes once there is closer scrutiny of its policies In this particular campaign, Mentzen’s confirmation in late March that he wants all university students to pay tuition fees (currently most study for free) probably had a negative effect particularly as his supporters are disproportionately young Poles Other candidates drawing attention to Mentzen’s hardline anti-abortion views (he opposes allowing pregnancies to be terminated even in cases of rape) also may have harmed him Trzaskowski – an urban liberal with an elitist reputation – is not an ideal candidate for those circumstances. He has certainly talked tough on migration and security (even undertaking military training during the campaign) while also seeking to balance his natural pro-EU inclinations with the need to remain on good terms with Trump Poland’s interior minister and the mayor of Warsaw – who is also the main ruling party's presidential candidate – have declared “zero tolerance” for crimes committed by immigrants They say foreigners made up 5% of suspected criminals detained last year https://t.co/wnCZqgCsZW — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) February 11, 2025 But that image always felt rather shallow and fragile – open to challenge by a rival who can more plausibly present himself as the tough guy Poland needs to guide it through these difficult times His campaign regularly shares images of him training in the gym He has proudly highlighted the fact that he is on a list of those wanted by the Russian authorities due to leading a campaign while head of the state Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) to demolish Soviet-era memorials in Poland 👉trening piramida,👉Światowy Dzień Kociewia w Starogardzie Gdańskim i Tczewie Zachęcam do treningu #piramida.🕐W 23 minuty:55 x klatka 90 kg55 x martwy ciąg 90 kg55 x pompki55 x podciąganie55 x… pic.twitter.com/UsdSCb61mJ — Karol Nawrocki (@NawrockiKn) February 11, 2025 Sikorski would certainly have come with a lot of negative baggage and may have performed no better overall than Trzaskowski But he seems better suited to the kind of campaign that has emerged He himself appeared to stick the boot into Trzaskowski last month he would have attended the debates organised by Republika because “appearing on right-wing TV would be rather useful” Whereas Trzaskowski is not a natural speaker and debater Sikorski thrives on the confrontational cut-and-thrust of campaigning "I advise President Duda against volunteering to be the Chamberlain of this war," said Poland's foreign minister @sikorskiradek after the president called on Ukraine to "make compromises" in order to achieve peace with Russia https://t.co/qQsGFSnEL3 — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) April 25, 2025 It is important to remember that, although Nawrocki has risen rapidly in the polls, a) he remains behind Trzaskowski in the contest for the first round, and b) polling for a likely second-round run-off between the two consistently shows Trzaskowski beating his rival (though far fewer such polls have been conducted than for the first round) remains the favourite to become Poland’s next president But momentum can be a powerful thing in election campaigns as Duda showed in 2015 with his late charge to the presidency And that momentum is certainly with Nawrocki at the moment Main image credit: Silar/Wikimedia Commons (under CC BY-SA 4.0) , , , , , [email protected] May 5, 2025 | History, Society The town of Międzyzdroje has broken the record for the largest-ever Polish coat of arms in an event held to mark the anniversary of the adoption of Poland’s 1791 constitution which was Europe’s first modern constitution and the second in the world (after only the US constitution) The 1,200 square metre (12,917 square foot) national symbol a popular holiday destination on Poland’s northern Baltic Sea coast which has been confirmed as the largest ever by Poland’s Bureau of Records was initiated by the town’s International House of Culture (MDK) scout groups and sports clubs in the project Międzyzdroje once again turned out to be an absolutely unique place on the map of the Polish coast,” wrote mayor Mateusz Bobek on social media the town also broke the record for the longest-ever Polish flag The event took place on 3 May, which is a public holiday in Poland marking the anniversary of the adoption of the 1791 constitution. The document, adopted by the parliament of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is regarded as significant in both Polish and European history It established a constitutional monarchy with a balance of power between various branches of government and more clearly defined rights for various categories of citizens It also abolished the controversial principle known as liberum veto that allowed any member of parliament to single-handedly end the current session and nullify all legislation that had been passed The principle was used to paralyse parliamentary proceedings and stifle reforms with foreign powers bribing MPs to influence the country’s internal politics The liberum veto principle is considered to be one of the main reasons for the decline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth My new Poland history podcast is here! This week, the end of independence in the eighteenth century: anarchy in the Sejm, Enlightenment, reform, Kościuszko, May 3 Constitution, Hasidic Judaism, confederations, Catherine and Frederick, and the partitions. https://t.co/5B6gcZ6GBD — Stanley Bill (@StanleySBill) May 1, 2021 However, the 1791 constitution remained in force for less than two years amid aggression from Poland’s neighbours, Prussia and Russia, that resulted in the partitions of 1793 and 1795 that ended the country’s sovereign existence The eagle has been a symbol of Poland since the reign of Bolesław the Brave The current coat of arms was adopted in 1928 when Poland came under Soviet-imposed communist rule the crown on the eagle’s head was removed for ideological reasons It was restored after the fall of communism in 1989 Main image credit: Burmistrz Międzyzdrojów – Mateusz Bobek/Facebook , , Poland has recorded the strongest rise in consumer sentiment across the EU this year [email protected] The IX Congress of the Association of Ukrainians in Poland (AUP) was held on May 2 during which Miroslaw Skorka was re-elected as chair was elected deputy-chairman of the organization Ukrainian World Congress President Paul Grod congratulated the AUP on the congress and Miroslaw Skorka on his re-election Grod said that the AUP is “the heart of Ukrainian community life in Poland,” and “one of the UWC’s most active and reliable members.”  He added: “The AUP has carried out extraordinary efforts to assist Ukrainian refugees since Russia’s genocidal war against Ukraine began hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have found safety Skorka addresses the audience at the congress The UWC President also praised the AUP’s “inspired efforts in supporting and developing Ukrainian education youth and cultural-educational initiatives as well as integrating newly established community organizations.” “The AUP has truly emerged as a leader in comprehensive support for Ukraine […] Special thanks to AUP Chair Miroslaw Skorka and the entire board for your wise and effective leadership The congress was held in Przemyśl at the Ukrainian Narodnyi Dim where delegates from AUP branches across Poland gathered Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Przemyśl; Jerzy Rejt the first AUP Chair; former Chair Piotr Tyma; Ihor Mrychko head of the Scout movement in Poland; and Hryhoriy Kupriyanovych The congress opened with a minute of silence to honor the fallen defenders of Ukraine The first part of the meeting featured reports from the AUP chair followed by discussions on the organization’s achievements during the previous term participants discussed “Ukrainian Citizens in AUP: Roles Challenges.” Changes were made to the organization’s statute as a result of this discussion The first day of the congress concluded with a ceremonial dinner [email protected] [email protected] FB: @uwcongress [W]hile Poland has the sovereign power to control its borders and regulate the entry of non-nationals universal and non-derogable nature of the principle of non-refoulement UNHCR is concerned that the Bill may provide for the denial of access to the territory of some asylum-seekers without a prior examination of their international protection needs which would be inconsistent with Poland’s obligations under the [UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees] The principle of non-refoulement establishes that “refugees must not be removed to their country of origin or any other place where they would be at risk of persecution or from where they risk being sent to a place of persecution.” AI pointed out concerns about Poland’s ability to adequately conduct assessments of migrants’ circumstances as such assessments require specially trained personnel and time and consequently Poland’s ability to uphold its international obligations Any limitation upon the exercise of constitutional freedoms and rights may be imposed only by statute and only when necessary in a democratic state for the protection of its security or public order or the freedoms and rights of other persons Such limitations shall not violate the essence of freedoms and rights AI also highlighted similar concerns expressed by public institutions in Poland about the constitutionality of the new legislation suspending asylum rights and urged Polish authorities to repeal the law and refrain from unlawful border control practices such as pushbacks and collective expulsions AI also called on the European Commission to review and assess Poland’s compliance with EU law and to launch appropriate infringement proceedings against Poland for “its longstanding violations of the rights of refugees and migrants.” Bank of England granted political independence Chinese Exclusion Act barred Chinese laborers from US Darius von Guttner Sporzynski receives funding from the National Science Centre Poland as a partner investigator in the grant "Polish queen consorts in the 15th and 16th centuries as wives and mothers" (2021/43/B/HS3/01490) Australian Catholic University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU View all partners Anna Jagiellon was elected Queen of Poland in 1575 While many women rose to power by birth or marriage Anna was actually chosen by nobles to rule Today, female world leaders are still rare. According to recent data, only about one in four national parliament members globally are women: 27.2% of parliamentarians in single or lower houses in 25 countries women serve as heads of state or government That number has improved over the past few decades but men continue to dominate elected office shows a woman could secure power through a vote even in an era when female rulers were nearly unheard of Anna was born in 1523. Her father was King Sigismund the Elder and her mother was Queen Bona Sforza The family, the Jagiellon dynasty, ruled a vast realm of Poland and Lithuania. Her brother, King Sigismund II Augustus Anna became the only living member of that royal line residing in Poland The nobility of the Jagiellon realm decided to elect their monarch, as Sigismund II Augustus did not have a son to inherit the throne. In May 1573, 22-year-old Henry Valois of France was elected king His reign did not last much more than a year Henry returned to France to become Henry III Anna had once been on the sidelines of court life Perhaps she was overshadowed by her powerful mother and siblings Yet after her brother’s death and Henry’s abandonment of the Polish throne In the time when the throne was vacant, Anna became an important figure in deciding who would rule next. Many people viewed her as a political pawn, but she aimed to protect her family’s legacy She made bold moves to shape alliances and ensure she herself would not be pushed aside a group of nobles and officials assembled to pick the next monarch This was the second time in Poland–Lithuania royal elections were held instead of the throne passing down the dynasty line Standing for royal election was unusual among women in the 16th century At that gathering, the electors did something almost unheard of in Europe: they chose a woman, Anna, to wear the crown. They also selected a husband for her, a man named Stephen Báthory Yet Anna was crowned as a queen in her own right, not just as a wife of a king. She signed laws, granted privileges and held ceremonies that emphasised her royal power. Some historians once doubted her independence, but newer research points out her keen political sense Anna invested her own money and energy to defend her inheritance from foreign claimants She made deals to secure alliances and pushed hard to protect her family’s interests sealed her reputation as a serious political player Anna’s rule broke with expectations of her era. Like Mary I the first queen to rule England in her own right (1553–58) and her successor Elizabeth I (1558–1603) she stepped into a job usually held by men She faced scepticism and criticism, often based on stereotypes about her age, her fertility or her ability to manage power. Some described her as emotional and unfit to lead. Others cast her as incapable because she had spent so long as a single woman Despite these biases, Anna went on to promote her family’s legacy. She commissioned a funerary monument for her mother in the Basilica of San Nicola in Bari and completed the Jagiellon chapel at Wawel Castle in which her father She arranged key alliances and rewarded those who remained loyal She also supported religious and cultural projects building on the traditions of her royal parents she showed a queen could manage statecraft and political negotiations Women in leadership continue to face hurdles in modern elections Many still question their abilities or focus on their appearance Others highlight social structures that limit women’s options Her success in a challenging environment underlines two major lessons women have long claimed a rightful place in government Anna achieved electoral victory and took an active role in shaping policy proving her ability to steer the political landscape Anna Jagiellon’s tale broadens our view of female leadership Her life reminds us that a woman could win a political contest centuries ago It proves there is nothing new about women excelling in positions of power An official website of the United States government Secretary of Energy Chris Wright oversaw the signing of the Engineering Development Agreement with U.S companies Westinghouse and Bechtel and Polish Company PEJ at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland today This agreement is also a significant milestone for the U.S.-Poland strategic relationship and underscores the commitment of the United States to work with Poland and other partners in the region to advance global energy security. The cooperation between the two countries will strengthen U.S. leadership in Europe and bolster America’s position as a secure and reliable provider of civil nuclear energy.  Apr 30, 2025 | Defence, Politics Poland’s defence ministry has announced that the country and its allies will respond in an “appropriate manner” to upcoming joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises in Belarus Russia holds its “Zapad” (meaning “West”) military exercises held jointly with Belarus in 2021 and involving around 200,000 military personnel were later seen by experts as part of Moscow’s preparations for its invasion of Ukraine the following year This year’s exercises will take place in September in Belarus and will include the training of rapid reaction forces Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky warned that this year’s Zapad manoeuvres could again be used as preparation for “new attacks” by Russia But we all have to be prepared,” he said ⚡️ Zelensky warns Russia is 'preparing something' in Belarus under guise of military drills "This is how its new attacks usually start," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.https://t.co/oIh49856Kp — The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 30, 2025 “Poland will respond to the Zapad 2025 exercises which will be held in Belarus…in an appropriate manner on the Polish side [of the border],” Polish deputy defence minister Cezary Tomczyk told broadcaster RMF on Monday “We will respond to these exercises both as the Polish army and as NATO,” he added “There will be large Polish and NATO exercises in Poland “Let us also remember that last year we had the largest NATO exercises in history which gathered about 100,000 soldiers,” said Tomczyk “NATO is stronger than Russia.” — RozmowaRMF (@Rozmowa_RMF) April 28, 2025 The Steadfast Defender 24 exercises mentioned by Tomczyk were NATO’s largest since the Cold War Part of them were conducted in northern Poland under a drill dubbed Dragon 24. Around 20,000 troops from nine countries tested the alliance’s deterrence and defence capabilities, including around the Suwałki Gap Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has raised its defence spending to the highest relative level in NATO Its defence budget this year will reach an estimated 4.7% of GDP This is a final appeal for our emergency campaign to save Notes from Poland we may lose the major grant that sustains our work If you value the service we provide, please click below and make a donation to help it continue https://t.co/0gVkMlaA0W — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) April 22, 2025 Agata Pyka is an assistant editor at Notes from Poland She is a journalist and a political communication student at the University of Amsterdam She specialises in Polish and European politics as well as investigative journalism and has previously written for Euractiv and The European Correspondent , , Karol Nawrocki even suggested that the state security services were involved in creating the scandal , , The 1,200 square metre national symbol was unfurled on the beach in Międzyzdroje Apr 25, 2025 | , , , , Among the participants in the march were not only elderly Holocaust survivors but also former Hamas hostages [email protected] Poland told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday that Israel is legally obligated to lift any blockade preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza calling it "unacceptable" that people are dying while food and vital medical supplies are held at the border "It is unimaginable that these basic rules are still violated," said Patrycja Grzebyk "The situation where people die because at the border and vital medical equipment has stopped cannot be accepted .. Grzebyk also stressed that hospitals must be respected as sanctuaries in wartime humanitarian workers and supplies must be protected and all attacks on them must be investigated Poland also emphasized that any blockade that delays or obstructs humanitarian assistance is incompatible with international humanitarian law "Any arbitrary blockade can be understood as an obstruction that is unreasonable or otherwise inappropriate," Lukasz Kulaga reaffirmed Warsaw's longstanding position supporting a two-state solution as the only path to guarantee Palestinian self-determination and Israel’s security While recognizing Israel's right to self-defense he said this must be exercised strictly within the bounds of international law Poland called on the court to uphold these fundamental legal principles to ensure that humanitarian relief reaches civilians without delay and that the suffering in Gaza does not continue unchecked blocking essential supplies from entering the enclave despite multiple reports of famine in the war-devastated territory The Israeli army renewed its assault on Gaza on March 18 19 ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas More than 52,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023 arrested in Greece on an international warrant for a murder in his home town of Mlawa is seen in a police vehicle after making a court appearance in Thessaloniki Greece — A 17-year-old Polish high school student appeared in a Greek court on Monday after being arrested over the killing of a 16-year-old girl in Poland who was in Greece as part of a school exchange program refused a voluntary extradition request during his court appearance in the northern city of Thessaloniki He was taken into police custody pending a decision on extradition by a panel of judges Polish police discovered the victim’s body on May 1 in shrubbery near railroad tracks in Mlawa ending a weeklong search that began after she went missing on April 23 The search operation involved drones and scent-tracking dogs The girl had told her mother she was meeting a friend who lived on a nearby street before she disappeared police spokeswoman Katarzyna Kucharska said “We considered various scenarios — including the worst and most tragic possibility that’s the one that turned out to be true,” Kucharska said when a search-and-recovery dog led us to the location where officers discovered the body.” Get the latest breaking news as it happens By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy the 17-year-old suspect could face murder charges involving excessive brutality under Polish law Authorities in Poland have launched formal extradition proceedings to bring the suspect back to face charges Trump's influence on NY's future .. Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months Net profit for the period increased 13% to 1.05 billion zlotys ($278.40 million) from a year earlier, the company said on Monday. Analysts polled by Reuters expected quarterly net profit at 1.02 billion zlotys. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) rose to 1.94 billion zlotys, with the mining segment contributing 389 million zlotys and the distribution segment 744 million zlotys. Enea said higher mining EBITDA resulted from higher revenues achieved thanks to higher coal sales volumes despite lower average sale price. Enea, Poland's third-largest power utility by market capitalization, is under pressure from falling profitability in its coal-fired power generation fleet, as renewables capture an increasing share of the nation's energy mix. Poland is reducing its reliance on coal, which accounted for about 57.1% of its electricity generation in 2024, according to energy policy think tank Forum Energii. The utility is scheduled to release its full first-quarter results on May 20. Copyright © 2025 FactSet Research Systems Inc.© 2025 TradingView The Netherlands and Poland will strengthen their military cooperation through a new agreement set to be signed in early July in Warsaw, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk announced Monday, de Gelderlander reported. The two leaders made the announcement during a joint press conference in Oosterbeek Although the full content of the agreement has not yet been disclosed both governments confirmed their ministries of defense are actively working out the details “Our cooperation is actually progressing very naturally,” Schoof said He emphasized that it was essential to further develop European military collaboration “It is important to shape the defense cooperation we seek—whether it's about training or the defense industry—within Europe,” he added The military partnership comes amid increasing concerns over Russian aggression and growing uncertainty about the future presence of U.S Poland has been reinforcing its defense ties with multiple European countries Tusk is scheduled to sign a similar far-reaching military and economic cooperation agreement with France Schoof praised Poland’s leadership in driving defense collaboration within the European Union “The Netherlands appreciates the leading role Poland is playing in strengthening European defense,” he said Poland has “really put that discussion on the map” since taking over the rotating EU presidency on January 1 Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago the Polish government has significantly increased its defense spending Poland is currently allocating 4.7 percent of its gross domestic product to defense the highest level among NATO member states Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated in early April that Warsaw intends to raise that figure to 5 percent next year the Dutch cabinet under Prime Minister Schoof currently spends just 2 percent of GDP on its Ministry of Defense your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt Hailstones as large as eggs were reported in several areas The worst of the weather struck the regions of Małopolska where residents witnessed sudden downpours and hailstorms leaving parts of the district without electricity with windows shattered and roofs torn from at least six houses Firefighters worked late into the night to deal with the aftermath Apr 29, 2025 | Business, Society Poland’s government has announced that it will launch a shorter working week pilot programme Poles on average currently work some of the longest hours in Europe “This will be the first pilot of reduced working hours in this part of Europe the first such large-scale pilot in Poland,” said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk “More than a century after the introduction of the eight-hour working day Poles are definitely working more efficiently It is time for them to start working less,” she added Polskie społeczeństwo pracuje ciężko. Jesteśmy w europejskiej czołówce pod kątem godzin spędzanych w pracy. Czy da się to zmienić? 🤔👉 Kraje takie jak Francja, Belgia i Dania pokazują, że tak – jest to możliwe. Jako Ministerstwo Rodziny, Pracy i Polityki Społecznej wierzymy, że… pic.twitter.com/APlarOaL6u — Ministerstwo Rodziny, Pracy i Polityki Społecznej (@MRPiPS_GOV__PL) April 28, 2025 foundations and trade unions to voluntarily test a shorter working week by either reducing working hours each day participating organisations will have to maintain current salaries and staff numbers The ministry plans to present more details in June and launch recruitment for the pilot in the subsequent months 10 million zloty (€2.3 million) will be allocated toward implementing and executing the programme the ministry highlighted that Poland is among the most over-worked nations in Europe Poles work the third-longest hours in the European Union those employed in Poland worked on average 39.3 hours a week and behind only those in Greece and Romania who worked on average 39.8 and 39.5 hours a week respectively The ministry’s goal is to reduce annual working hours by 20% It said that its analyses of a shorter working week point to benefits for employees such as better health opportunities for personal development and longer-lasting professional careers employers benefit from employees’ increased efficiency and creativity and greater competitiveness on the labour market The ministry also cited two examples of the successful implementation of a shorter working week in Poland – in the city of Włocławek in central Poland and in one of the country’s oldest firms Poles work the second-longest hours in the EU, new @EU_Eurostat data show In 2022, they worked on average 40.4 hours a week compared to the EU-wide figure of 37.5 hours and behind only Greece (41 hours) https://t.co/dXTDGdg0O3 — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) September 22, 2023 Speaking at the announcement, Krzysztof Kukucki, the mayor of Włocławek, explained that a shorter working week was first trialled in the town hall before later being expanded to other public institutions Currently “several thousand people enjoy the benefits of the 35-hour working week,” he said Meanwhile, Herbapol Poznań first introduced a four-day working week in 2023 “The principle we followed was: the employee can only gain from this change and the company cannot lose,” explained Tomasz Kaczmarek president of the company’s management board While at first Herbapol’s decision was met with criticism and scepticism and the company’s best financial results in many years the Polish economy certainly cannot afford it We are in a phase when labour resources are shrinking very rapidly due to the demographic crisis,” said Rafał Dutkiewicz Main image credit: Poland’s ministry of family, labour and social policy [email protected] An update from Erste Group Bank ( (EBKOF) ) is now available Erste Group Bank AG has announced its acquisition of a 49% controlling stake in Santander Bank Polska and a 50% stake in Santander TFI positioning itself as the third-largest bank in Poland This strategic move enhances Erste Group’s presence in the fast-growing CEE banking market promising significant improvements in profitability and growth with the transaction fully funded through internal resources and expected to boost earnings per share by over 20% by 2026 Erste Group Bank AG is a leading financial services provider in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) offering a range of banking products and services The company focuses on expanding its footprint in the CEE region which is known for its rapid economic growth and profitability in the banking sector For a thorough assessment of EBKOF stock, go to TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue An update from Erste Group Bank ( (EBKOF) ) is now available Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue previously a subsidiary of the Spanish Banco Santander is the third-largest bank in the country with around 7.5 million customers It achieved record profits in 2024 and its shares rose to an all-time high at times Erste Group is entering a market that not only has strong economic fundamentals but also long-term growth prospects Poland has been regarded as the economic engine of the region for years and has a stable banking system with a high demand for credit and digital innovation The acquisition of a 49% stake—equivalent to a controlling influence due to full consolidation—enables Erste Group to enter the market with immediate effect The agreement also includes Banco Santander acquiring 60% of Santander Consumer Bank prior to closing a seller's liability for certain risks was agreed upon whereby Erste Group can partially hedge against potential special effects Financing from own resources - clear capital strategy The acquisition will be financed entirely from Erste Group's own funds This is made possible by the cancellation of a planned share buyback program with a volume of EUR 700 million a temporary reduction of the dividend payout ratio to a maximum of ten percent for the financial year 2025 as well as internal efficiency and balance sheet optimization measures The bank's common equity tier 1 ratio (CET1) should remain above 13.5% after the transaction is completed and rise above 14.25% again in 2026 - this corresponds to the new target ratio According to the bank's internal calculations earnings per share will increase by over 20 percent in 2026 compared to current market expectations (EUR 7.10 per share) The return on equity (ROE) is expected to be around 16% in 2026 while the adjusted return on equity (ROTE) is even expected to be around 19% The expected return on investment (ROI) is around 11% - a figure that is also impressive in comparison to alternative uses of capital Cooperation with Banco Santander and market reactions a strategic cooperation with Banco Santander was agreed This includes the areas of corporate and investment banking as well as payment transactions The partner banks intend to bundle their respective strengths - Erste Group in Central and Eastern Europe The cooperation is intended to open up new customer potential and access to local networks for both groups The stock market reacted to the announcement with optimism: Erste Group shares rose by more than six percent during the course of the day the shares of Santander Bank Polska lost around five percent in value which is seen as a typical reaction to changes of control and strategic restructuring Analysts see the transaction as a substantial upgrade of Erste Group's business model and praise the consistent implementation of the regional growth strategy Erste Group is continuing its long-term strategy of establishing itself in the most profitable markets in Europe The acquisition marks a milestone in the Austrian banking group's expansion policy and underlines its claim to leadership in the Central and Eastern European banking sector ERSTE Group Santander Polska At the start of the day, there were three players in the lead: Fedoseev, Aravindh, and GM Alireza Firouzja Both Aravindh and Firouzja slid down the standings Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland Standings After Blitz Day 1 it seemed that Fedoseev won them all on Tuesday He made the most of his opportunities and he slipped out of some very difficult spots as well it was such a wild day when in most of the games all kinds of results were possible It's probably my best day of blitz at the end The one against Praggnanandhaa was a miracle save from a piece-down endgame while he could even have won the last game against Firouzja The Russian-born Slovenian GM had plenty of help, it can't be denied. In round two, Aravindh over-pressed in an opposite-color bishop endgame with queens on, rather than trade queens for a safe draw. GM Peter Svidler said of the late-blooming Indian GM's overoptimism: "I think experience will teach him not to do these things."  But the game against GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda was an even bigger gift who mentioned "If I was younger I think I would have won the first four games," gave himself some false praise for the following game: "I had to show some really special talent to lose that game I had to show some really special talent to lose that game Fedoseev created his chances with the desperate Fedoseev hasn't lost a single one of his 18 games in Warsaw. If there's one he came closest to losing on Tuesday, it's the one against Praggnanandhaa. Though, as GM Yasser Seirawan pointed out in the time scramble: "I think both players had four chances of winning this game."  and ultimately it was Praggnanadhaa who had to hold a pawn-down rook endgame to draw the game "We had some really dramatic game with some really low quality of play The same cannot be said of the quality in his interesting battle against Aronian in the penultimate round, in a Petroff that got funky real quick. By this point, Aronian was his closest trailer, though still behind by three points. Fedoseev's ability to set practical issues for his opponents from an inferior position was on full display in this one. GM Dejan Bojkov annotates the Game of the Day below Fedoseev can't really ask for more ahead of the final day but he said he's famous for losing important games at the end of tournaments How will he handle the most crucial games tomorrow Praggnanandhaa started the day with two back-to-back losses, but in his interview he pointed out that this isn't such a big deal in speed chess events. "It's a long event and you just have to keep going," said the Indian GM, reminding us that in Tata Steel Chess India 2024 he started with three losses "so all these streaks are possible in these events." Game two, which he lost against Aronian, showed that Fedoseev wasn't the only one who got away with dubious play in the blitz. GM Maurice Ashley pointed out a nice line that would have punished Black's "loosey-goosey" opening play The Armenian-American got away with it this time Vachier-Lagrave only made one draw on Tuesday, against Aravindh in the last round. Besides that, he also started with two losses but went on to win five games (and lose one more against Praggnanandhaa). His win against GM David Gavrilescu was the start of a four-game winning streak even though it should not have been a winning move Ashley found a hidden gem in the game Firouzja vs Vachier-Lagrave in round eight that just has to be shown Vachier-Lagrave had to find the only winning (and only non-losing move) 29...Bxd4 with the incredible follow-up of 30.Qxd4 Ne4!! that tactic had little to do with the result as Firouzja achieved a winning position but went on to lose after many see-saws in evaluation "Things started to go my way in these tense fights," giving the above game as an example of one he should have lost "Somehow when you get into some sort of flow in blitz it's helpful." Firouzja and Aravindh still have scores decent enough to put them in contention for second (and But they're bolstered by their performances in the rapid Across nine rounds, Aravindh scored just 3.5 points, and Firouzja 3 (the same as GM Veselin Topalov) There's one more day and nine more rounds of blitz before we have a winner "There's a huge pack fighting for second place and I'm glad to be part of it after what looked to be a very bad day at the office." The 2025 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland is the first event on the 2025 Grand Chess Tour and runs April 26-30 in the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw The 10 players first compete in a single rapid round-robin with a time control of 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move followed by a blitz double round-robin with a 5+2 time control Apr 27, 2025 | Law, Politics, Society The last local authority in Poland to still have an anti-LGBT+ resolution in place has repealed the measure around one third of the country’s area was covered by such resolutions in large part due to the threat of losing European funds The “Atlas of Hate” showing local authorities in Poland that have active anti-LGBT resolutions (in red) and those that have rejected or withdrawn them (in green) Areas in yellow show where lobbying for such resolutions has taken place councillors in the county of Łańcut in southeast Poland held an extraordinary session with just one item on the agenda: whether to retain or repeal a so-called “charter of family rights” they had adopted in 2019 A majority of 13 out of the 18 council members voted to repeal it In a statement issued afterwards the local authorities made clear that the decision had been made for financial reasons: due to the charter being in place the county’s only medical centre is set to miss out on 750,000 zloty (€175,600) in EU funds “The [council] is of the view that the over 80,000-strong community of Łańcut county cannot be deprived of benefits resulting from participation in many programmes and grants,” they wrote Their decision “is therefore aimed solely at preventing the exclusion of residents of Łańcut county” over 100 local authorities around Poland adopted anti-LGBT+ resolutions Some specifically declared their regions to be “free from LGBT ideology” but most were the so-called “charters of family rights” which do not mention the term “LGBT” specifically Instead, they express support for marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman and pledge to “protect children from moral corruption” (language often used as part of anti-LGBT rhetoric) After repealing its charter of family rights Łańcut council maintained that it had “not contained any provisions discriminating against any group of people or individuals” It hit out at the “aggressive” and “unfair” criticism the resolution had faced “It shows that the people or groups criticising the resolution in question probably did not even familiarise themselves with its entire contents,” wrote the local authority A local authority that was the first of many in Poland to adopt a resolution declaring itself “free from LGBT ideology” has now voted to withdraw the measure It did so under the threat of losing millions in EU funding over the issue https://t.co/kNP4jaSlhm — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) November 2, 2023 the LGBT rights activists behind the creation of an online “Atlas of Hate” that has mapped Poland’s anti-LGBT resolutions told broadcaster TVN of their “relief and satisfaction” at Łańcut’s decision “Thanks to the efforts of many people over a hundred discriminatory anti-LGBT resolutions and family charters have disappeared from Poland,” said Paulina Pająk “These resolutions were an extreme manifestation of systemic discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.” “I am very glad that this stage is coming to an end,” added Jakub Gawron “But that does not change the fact that these resolutions should not have been passed at all.” Gawron also noted the important role the EU had played in bringing about the repeal of all the resolutions by prohibiting financing of projects involving local authorities that adopt discriminatory resolutions Uchwała SKPR powiatu łańcuckiego została uchylona Na bloga puściliśmy podsumowanie historii stref i Atlasu Nienawiści Uprzedzam – komunikat jest długi, bo dużo się działo przez te 6 lat 📷https://t.co/eJFSjpusIj pic.twitter.com/sTFn6Xf2Zi — Atlas Nienawiści | Atlas of Hate ✨🦋| 🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈 (@AtlasNienawisci) April 24, 2025 In July 2021, the European Commission launched legal proceedings against Poland due to its anti-LGBT resolutions which it argued “may violate EU law regarding non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation” Soon after, Brussels “put on hold” funding for Polish regions that had passed such resolutions who were informed that “declaring LGBTIQ-free/unwelcome territories…constitutes an action that is against the values set out in the Treaty on European Union” The EEA and Norway Grants programme, which is separate from the EU and provides funds to Polish local authorities, also announced that it would not finance projects run by places that have passed anti-LGBT+ resolutions Poland has been ranked as the worst country in the EU for LGBT+ people for the fifth year in a row https://t.co/5ciljeroir — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) May 15, 2024 Most of the resolutions were passed with the support of the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party which led Poland’s national government at the time During PiS’s time in power, it led a vociferous campaign against what it called “LGBT ideology” and “gender ideology”. As a result, Poland slid to be ranked as the worst country in the EU for LGBT+ people President Duda has not signed into law a government bill criminalising anti-LGBT+ hate speech Instead, he has sent it to the constitutional court for consideration, saying he has concerns it violates the right to free speech enshrined in the constitution https://t.co/jLHQvlCtup — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) April 17, 2025 [email protected] Lucia MacKenzie | 05/02/2025 12:07 PM EDT and deepening ethical and biological risks are exposing flaws in the world’s most efficient meat machine over 11.5 million chickens were culled in the first months of 2025 to stop bird flu from spreading Chicken is lower-emissions; relatively affordable; scalable across global markets; and often promoted as a leaner Request a FREE trial to receive unlimited access to GM Vladimir Fedoseev has won the 2025 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland with three rounds to spare and ultimately finished with 26.5 points one of the highest scores ever in Grand Chess Tour rapid and blitz events The Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2025 the first classical event of this year's Grand Chess Tour Fedoseev handily won the tournament with a five-point gap ahead of GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. In third, GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu leapfrogged GM Levon Aronian with a black win in the final round.  (See all standings here.) players vie for GCT points and Vachier-Lagrave now leads with 10 Players with zero points didn't participate in this first event. We will see the rest of the Grand Chess Tour participants, including World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju Fedoseev went far above expectations as the wildcard in this world-class event. He put up one of the best performances ever in 10 years at Grand Chess Tour rapid and blitz. Unsurprisingly, GMs Magnus Carlsen's name comes up a few times in the records from previous years Highest Ever Scores In Grand Chess Tour R&B The Russian-born Slovenian GM gains 71 rating points in blitz and jumps to world number-13 on the live rating list That's 23 places up from where he was five days ago At the same time sometimes you can't believe it's happening with you As a wildcard, he isn't scheduled to participate in other Grand Chess Tour events this year. But in terms of goals for the future, he said he would like to play in more tournaments with elites such as (he named these three) Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Fabiano Caruana "Since 2014 I was seen as a player who could make it to the elite group The main question was whether Fedoseev could hold onto his 3.5-point lead from the day before He said he was lucky the previous day, and his luck carried over to game one against Vachier-Lagrave, where he won yet another lost position ("Picking up where he left off," said GM Yasser Seirawan) After a completely unsound sacrifice by Fedoseev the French number-two gave the wrong check and froze when 47.Ra6? Fedoseev called this game "a smile of God when everything goes your way," although that can be said of his last two days After a win against GM Aravindh Chithambaram, Fedoseev suffered his only loss of the event, against GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda It was at least symbolic justice for the Polish number-one who lost a two-pawns-up position on the previous day If he lost his next four games and Aronian won all four of his the worst fate for Fedoseev would be tied first only scored one point out of the last four games Aronian was a half-point behind second-placed Vachier-Lagrave and this allowed the Frenchman to push ahead With a final win against GM Alireza Firouzja Fedoseev won the tournament with a resounding statement.  the most the other players could hope for was second place Vachier-Lagrave had a tremendous day—after losing that first game to Fedoseev The last game in that streak of five wins was against GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac where Vachier-Lagrave essayed a modern concept in the Dilworth Variation of the Ruy Lopez which had most recently been played by Nepomniachtchi allowed Vachier-Lagrave to show off the power of the bishop pair with his unopposed dark-square bishop cutting through the position like a knife through butter Praggnanandhaa jumped into third despite losing four out of five games in the beginning. His game against Deac, the first of the day and a game Pragg lost featured a comically chaotic time scramble Praggnanandhaa-Deac descended into chaos as pieces fell in time trouble! #GrandChessTour pic.twitter.com/ZOC4MoIHHQ But he won his last four and thus continued the streaky play he showed on Tuesday. With his win in the last round against GM David Gavrilescu Praggnanandhaa jumped just half a point ahead of Aronian who had been in contention but floundered in the second half of the day Aronian showed a spark of brilliance in his last game but wasn't able to put away what could have been a masterpiece of an attack While it's a disappointing tournament for two-time GCT Champion Firouzja who co-led early on but then collapsed in the blitz it won't be long before he gets another chance and he'll get the chance to prove himself against even stronger opposition and in the classical time control The 2025 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland was the first event on the 2025 Grand Chess Tour and ran April 26-30 in the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw The 10 players first competed in a single rapid round-robin with a time control of 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move Creativity kicked off the first weekend in May at the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning Subscribe now to read the latest news in your community Create an account or sign in to keep reading Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience which featured 40 of the region’s finest artists watercolour and fabric — stretched on canvas or available in print — adorned the lower level of the Tett Centre over the weekend gems and jewelry aplenty were main attraction one of the notable creators featured at the showcase on Saturday said she has been an artist most of her life Evans said she came by her talents honestly a chartered accountant but an artist at heart encouraging her to paint at a very young age She still has his paint box on display in her studio today The graphic designer-turned-art teacher has mastered many disciplines and is a stranger to very few mediums Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of The Kingston Whig-Standard's Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. “I will create something in watercolour, then the same image in an oil painting or acrylic,” Evans said. “I’ll sketch something then go and do it again another way. For me, I like to repeat image, not medium.” During a recent trip to Portugal with her sister-in-law, Evans said she took a hiking tour along the Camino trail, near the border to Spain, where stops were made every 25 km. There, she captured the beautiful surroundings in sketches and quick watercolours, snapped a few photos for reference, then later rendered select images in oils or acrylics. Many artists would stop there, quite pleased (or tortured) with their results, but Evans’ desire to explore new mediums had her hunkered down at a sewing machine where she stitched together the final rendering, in what she calls “thread painting.” “I use the thread as my paint. So, wherever I want to put colour, I use thread,” Evans said. She has been working in this medium for about a year and a half and claims it was born out of injury. “We had just purchased a new home, and I was in the basement when I hit my head on a pipe, fell back and hit it again on a box, then down on the concrete, bang, again. Three hits turned into a nasty concussion,” Evans explained. As part of her therapy, Evans took to thread painting more seriously. With lots of recovery time on her hands, 40 hours a week for about 10 weeks, she honed her talents to reinvent herself as an artist, delving deeply into a new medium. Evans is currently planning another trip to Portugal where she will lead an art tour of her own. Meanwhile upstairs at the Tett on Saturday, the Kingston Lapidary and Mineral Club’s Metal Rocks Show and sale took place, featuring rocks, gems and jewelry aplenty. Jagoda Niesluchowska, a 76-year-old Polish artisan who emigrated to Canada from Ostroleka — a city north of Warsaw — for a better life, eventually found that in Kingston. Her husband came first to Canada to gain employment in 1992 and she and their two daughters soon followed. Niesluchowska said on Saturday that she always loved jewelry, but could never leave it alone. “Whenever I bought jewelry, it was never enough. I would always have to add something or change something,” Niesluchowska said. “I had a friend who had this big, very nice, bracelet. She told me there was this place where I could also go and make my own jewelry like she did.” That’s when Niesluchowska came to the Lapidary and Mineral Club and learned how to make it herself. Her first piece was a silver bracelet she gave her daughter for graduation. It started as a hobby for Niesluchowska in 2005, crafting gifts for friends and family. Once retired, this shiny pastime grew into much more. “I couldn’t stop. I just enjoyed it so much,” Niesluchowska said. “The designing, forging and polishing the metal into a finished piece of jewelry was so satisfying.” “When I first joined the Lapidary Club, I saw a woman vigorously pounding metal with a hammer. I asked her, ‘Are you angry?’ She said, ‘Not anymore.’ We are friends to this day,” Niesluchowska said. The jewelry maker said it also brings her joy to teach others. As a member of the Lapidary and Mineral Club, she shares her gifts through jewelry making classes. Niesluchowska said, as she wrung her hands, “I hope I can continue. I have arthritis and I must use my hands a lot for this. That would be bad if I had to stop,” said Niesluchowska. You can find Niesluchowska on Instagram at silveretcetera. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy May 2, 2025 | Law, Politics, Society Poland’s justice minister has announced that police and prosecutors are investigating far-right presidential candidate Grzegorz Braun for his involvement in an incident in which a Ukrainian flag hung outside a Polish city hall in solidarity with Ukraine was removed Tak wygląda wiec Brauna w Białej Podlaskiej. Ludzie weszli na budynek Urzędu Miasta i zerwali ukraińską flagę. Polityka nienawiści zbiera żniwo. To nie jest patriotyzm. To hańba. pic.twitter.com/qxpPrmkchg — Marta Wcisło #Trzaskowski2025 (@WcisloMarta123) April 30, 2025 The latest stunt took place during Braun’s rally in the city of Biała Podlaska in eastern Poland on Wednesday A man – introduced by Braun as his assistant – climbed a ladder outside city hall while Braun stood at the bottom The man then removed the Ukrainian flag hanging from the building Many public and private buildings in Poland have Ukrainian flags hanging (alongside Polish ones) as a sign of support for and solidarity with Ukraine in its resistance to Russian aggression “I call all of you as witnesses that…my assistant…at my request and my express order it is my responsibility,” said Braun He then announced that he will pass the flag to the Ukrainian consulate Braun has long railed against what he calls the “Ukrainisation of Poland” referring to the large number of Ukrainian migrants and refugees that have settled there as well as Poland’s strong support of Ukraine His supporters declared Wednesday’s flag incident to be a “repolonisation of city hall” politicians from Poland’s main ruling party it is a disgrace,” wrote PO MEP Marta Wcisło “The politics of hatred are taking their toll.” Police are investigating far-right presidential candidate and MEP Grzegorz Braun after he vandalised an LGBT+ exhibition The city where it took place immediately cancelled a meeting he was due to hold there and is seeking compensation for the damage https://t.co/EbDpMzmpFw — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) March 20, 2025 accused Braun of “pro-Putin propaganda” and said that a Ukrainian flag would again be hung at city hall called Braun’s actions a “deliberate provocation…aimed against Polish-Ukrainian friendship” He urged people to “stand up to such provocations together especially during the time of Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine when we are fighting for our common security” 1/2 Świadoma prowokacja w Białej Podlaskiej jest wycelowana przeciwko 🇺🇦-🇵🇱 przyjaźni Stawmy się takim prowokacjam wspólnie i zdecydowanie Szczególnie w czasy trwającej brutalnej wojny rosji przeciwko Ukrainie kiedy walczymy o nasze wspólne bezpieczeństwo — Vasyl Bodnar (@VasylBodnar) May 1, 2025 Local police issued a statement saying that they have established the personal information of the man who took down the Ukrainian flag and are analysing recordings from the event and securing other evidence “We will not allow attacks on public buildings or incitement to break the law,” wrote the police “Legal consequences will be drawn against those responsible for such behaviour.” Justice minister Adam Bodnar later confirmed that “police and prosecutors are taking action in the matter of the outrageous events at the rally in Biała Podlaska…Grzegorz Braun’s excesses will not go unpunished” Ekscesy Grzegorza Brauna nie pozostaną bezkarne 12:00 w Parlamencie Europejskim odbędzie się głosowanie nad wnioskiem o uchylenie immunitetu europosła Prokuratura Okręgowa w Warszawie chce mu postawić zarzuty popełnienia 7 przestępstw — Adam Bodnar (@Adbodnar) May 1, 2025 Braun – a minor presidential candidate currently polling around 2% – has a long history of conducting similar stunts aimed at expressing his opposition to various religious as well as women’s reproductive rights In March, he vandalised an exhibition about LGBT+ people graffitiing “Stop the propaganda of perversion” on display boards that had been set up on the market square in a Polish city Most infamously, in December 2023, Braun sprayed Hanukkah candles with a fire extinguisher during a ceremony in the Polish parliament, an incident for which he was later charged On Wednesday this week, prosecutors confirmed they have opened an investigation into Braun after a fellow presidential candidate accused him of inciting hatred towards Jews during a televised debate in which he expressed opposition to the “Judaisation” of Poland Braun warned of the "Judaisation" of Poland saying "Jews have far too much say in Polish affairs" He also criticised commemoration of the Warsaw ghetto uprising For more, see our earlier report: https://t.co/GyQYAl9Cte — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) May 1, 2025 Main image credit: Robert Kowalewski / Agencja Wyborcza.pl [email protected]