POLISH NEWS BYTES- 05/2025
POLISH NEWS BYTES- 05/2025
Compiled by Robert Strybel, Warsaw Correspondent
Part 1
Maybe Putin doesn’t want to end the war after all? – Polish Radio After Trump had met and talked things over with Ukraine’s Zelenski at Pope Francis’ funeral, the Polish Radio Information Agency reported the hitherto pro-Kremlin US president openly questioning Putin’s sincerity. “There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas over the last few days,” he wrote on X. “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just stringing me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions.’ Too many people are dying!” After conferring with his special envoy Witkoff a day earlier, Trump had said he was close to a peace deal.
Lost Papal Umbracalum honors late Pope in Gdańsk In 1929, an umbrella-shaped symbol of Papal authority known as an Umbraculum was brought to Gdańsk’s St Nicholas Basilica by then Pope Pius XI. But the papal symbol disappeared amid the fierce, last-ditch combat and total confusion of World War II’s final days and was believed lost forever. However, the brilliantly red and gold-striped canopy which some found reminiscent of a medieval monarch’s traveling tent, was rediscovered during restoration work in 2019 and recently displayed at the Basilica in honor of the late Pope Francis. It will stay up until a new Pontiff is elected.
Thousands join march marking Royal Poland’s millennium Poles from around the country converged on Warsaw recently to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of their first king’s coronation. On some now still historically disputed date in April 1025, Bolesław Chrobry (Boleslaus the Brave) was crowned Poland’s first king. His father, Mieszko I, had been the country’s first historically known ruler but only had the title of “książę,” translated into English as prince or duke, and was under the sway of the German-ruled Holy Roman Empire. Under Bolesław, it became a fully sovereign realm which he expanded to include all of Łużyce (Lusatia) and the Miśnia (Meissen) region. Bolesław’s Poland also expanded to the East into what one day would be called Ukraine. The Coronation March, conceived by Law & Justice conservatives to promote patriotic pride, could be compared to a huge forest of white and red flags majestically flowing through the streets of Warsaw. The marchers, many in historical garb, sang old hymns and set a new Guinness World Record for the largest Polonaise dance by 1,165 couples, nearly double the previous figure.
13 candidates to officially compete for Poland’s presidency Poland’s National Electoral Commission has confirmed the final list of candidates who will compete in the presidential election on 18 May. The total of 13 contenders is the joint-highest number to have ever stood for the presidency. Four others had hoped to compete but, the commission found questionable signatures on their election petitions. A candidate is required to collect at least 100,000 citizens’ signatures to qualify. Barring some unforeseen development, the only three candidates who could conceivably win are: the Government Coalition’s Rafał Trzaskowski, the L&J-backed Karol Nawrocki and dark horse Sławomir Mentzen representing the radical right.
Presidential debate marked by confusion and controversy A debate, due to be held ahead of Poland’s 18 May presidential election, predictably got off to a stormy start. Initially, the Law & Justice-backed conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki had invited the government’s top candidate, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, to a face-to-face duel, but the latter failed to show up. He insisted that only those capturing first and second place in the first election round should face off in the second debate. Under Poland’s election law, the candidate that wins at least 51% of the becomes president. If no-one in the lineup does, the top two take part in the final, conclusive debate. Disagreement has also erupted over the event’s format, venue and the TV stations allowed to broadcast it – all par for the course in one of Europe’s politically most polarized countries. Nearly all public- opinion surveys as well as bookmakers have shown that Trzaskowski appears likely to become Poland’s next head of state.
Presidential candidate reports rival over anti-Semitic remarks Hard-left presidential candidate Magdalena Biejat has reported her hard-right rival Grzegorz Braun to prosecutors over allegedly anti-Semitic remarks during a presidential debate. During the live, televised debate, he emphasized that he strongly opposed “the Judaization of Poland.” According to Biejat, “in politics opinions often clash, but there is no room for anti-Semitic filth, a hate crime under Polish law.” A member of the European Parliament, Braun is remembered for dousing Hanukkah candles with a fire extinguisher during a ceremony in Poland’s parliament.
Tusk unveils L&J-parroting ploy to enhance election bid the leader of Poland’s ruling coalition has launched yet another project mimicking a flagship commitment of the conservative Law & Justice party: the re-Polonization of Poland’s economy. Tusk had lambasted L&J’s re-acquisition of formerly Polish-owned assets, its generous welfare handouts and other “Poland First” notions as hopelessly “populistic,” but now regards them as his own. That reflects not his political reorientation, but rather his fear of another four years of a conservative head of state vetoing the government’s key legislative measures. Since L&J enjoys more public support than his ruling coalition, hijacking the enemy’s agenda must seem to be the only alternative.
Poland plans to introduce shorter working time The Polish government plans to shorten the work week after a century of the 40-hour average. Poland now has one of Europe’s longest working times even though its employees are now more efficient, better trained and intelligent than ever. Some companies have already begun allowing employees to work a 30-35-hour or a four-day one. The latter in particular improves worker motivation by providing an extra day a week for family, home and personal hobbies. The pilot program is still in preparation and the official launch is expected to be announced shortly.
Poland plans to introduce shorter working time The Polish government plans to shorten the work week after a century of the 40-hour average. Poland now has one of Europe’s longest working times even though its employees are now more efficient, better trained and intelligent than ever. Some companies have already begun allowing employees to work a 30-35-hour or a four-day one. The latter in particular improves worker motivation by providing an extra day a week for family, home and personal hobbies. The pilot program is still in preparation and the official launch is expected to be announced shortly.
