TVN24 News in English

TVN24 News in English

Ambassador Brzezinski: Poland's voice matters and Washington can hear it

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski on Monday (Dec. 4) met with Szymon Hołownia, the speaker of the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish parliament. Hołownia assured the ambassador ahead of the talks that members of the Brzezinski family were always very welcome in the Sejm. The discussion pertained, among other things, to U.S.-Polish relations and the position of the likely new ruling coalition with regards to relations with the EU.

Poland keeps demanding restoration of EU limits on Ukrainian truckers as one border crossing opens

The first 30 empty lorries drove through a newly opened Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv crossing on the Ukrainian-Polish border, which Kyiv hopes will offer relief as Polish driver protests blocked other land corridors, Ukraine's border service said on Monday (Dec. 4). "We will very strongly and unequivocally demand the restoration of transport permits for Ukrainian drivers," Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters ahead of Monday's EU ministers' meeting in Brussels.

Tusk: new government won't do anything that would harm central bank

Poland's incoming government will not do anything that would destabilise the central bank, likely next prime minister Donald Tusk said on Friday (Dec. 1), raising a question over whether his political coalition would follow through on a threat to put the bank's governor before a state tribunal.

Tusk: expect new government on Dec. 11 or 12

Expect a new government on Dec. 11, and if there isn't enough time, on Dec. 12 - Poland's likely new prime minister Donald Tusk said on Friday (Dec. 1). Tusk and parliament speaker Szymon Hołownia held talks earlier that day regarding a so-called second constitutional step in the government appointing process. Poland's President Andrzej Duda said on Friday he would not be delaying the procedure.

"History is in the making". Hołownia to discuss expose date with Tusk

Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia said on Thursday (Nov. 30) he would meet with the opposition's candidate for prime minister Donald Tusk on Friday to set the date for his expose. He added there would be a number of options to do that on Dec. 11 and 12. "One way or the other, on Dec. 12 we should have a Sejm session that will finally give us a prime minister with a vote of confidence," the speaker said.

"Fakty" TVN: members of Donald Tusk's new cabinet have been agreed

"We have a government" - this is a message "Fakty" TVN reporter Arleta Zalewska received yesterday evening from a politician close to the negotiations held by leaders of the new ruling coalition. A meeting crucial for closing this stage of talks took place on Wednesday (Nov. 22). "Health and education for Civic Coalition, education plus something extra for New Left," another politician tells us. This "extra something" is an important plenipotentiary role in the government. The fight for this last post is still on. According to our unofficial information, on the table is the candidacy of the New Left MP Katarzyna Kotula.

ECHR: Polish judges' appointment procedure is defective

The procedure to appoint judges to a new chamber of Poland's Supreme Court is defective and Warsaw has to take appropriate legislative measures to correct the process, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said on Thursday. The case was brought to the ECHR by former Polish president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Wałęsa.

President Duda's aide on "the most realistic date" for Donald Tusk to form new govt

Secretary of State in President Andrzej Duda's office, Andrzej Dera, told TVN24 on Wednesday (Nov. 22) about most likely dates when Donald Tusk's new government could be appointed, should the current PM Mateusz Morawiecki's cabinet failed to win a confidence vote in the parliament. Minister Dera mentioned "the most realistic date" when that could happen.

EU parliament votes in favor of changes to EU treaties

The European Parliament (EP) on Wednesday (Nov. 22) voted in favor of a report compiled by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) which recommends changes of the EU treaties. Contrary to the narrative purported by Poland's PiS party, it does not mean that the EP has actually decided to change the treaties. TVN24 Brussels correspondent Maciej Sokołowski explains that the whole process of changing EU treaties is much longer, more complicated, and requires a unanimous approval from all EU member states. The EU parliament, which plays only an advisory role in said process, has also adopted a resolution accompanying the AFCO report.

Huge financial boost for Poland. EU Commission approves Poland's modified recovery plan

The European Commission has approved Poland's modified recovery and resilience plan worth 59.8 billion euro, including a REPowerEU chapter - the EU executive announced in a statement released on Tuesday (Nov. 21). The final approval of this decision lies in the hands of the Council of the European Union. "The Council's endorsement will allow Poland to receive €5.1 billion in pre-financing of the REPowerEU funds," the Commission explained.

Parliament appoints new members of Tribunal of State

At Tuesday's session, Poland's lower house of parliament - the Sejm - has appointed two vice-presidents and 16 members of the Tribunal of State. According to the constitution, the First President of the Supreme Court by default serves also as the President of the Tribunal of State. Two deputy presidents of the Tribunal and 16 regular members are appointed by the Sejm in a vote. The candidates cannot serve as MPs or senators in a given parliamentary term.

Poland likely to receive first batch of EU recovery funds soon

The first batch of the EU recovery fund money for Poland is nearly certain - TVN24 correspondent in Brussels Maciej Sokołowski reported on Monday (Nov. 20). The point regarding approving Poland's Nationa Recovery Plan has been added to the agenda for Tuesday's session of the European Commission, while the chiefs of EU commissioners' offices have not voiced any reservations regarding said point nor have they planned any debate on the matter. It all suggests there should be no controversies tomorrow and the College of Commissioners will greenlight the payout of over 5 billion euro for Poland.

U.S. Senator Jim Risch: majority of Americans understand Putin has to stopped

I can assure you that the side that is in favor of seeing Ukraine beat Russia, maintain its independence, join the European Union, join NATO, is the vast majority of opinion here in the United States - U.S. Senator Jim Risch told "Fakty" TVN U.S. correspondent Marcin Wrona. The senator also commented on the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.

PM Morawiecki: I will present members of new cabinet in 7-8 days

In 7-8 days, I will present members of the new Council of Minister and it will be up to the Sejm to decide if the new government is formed or not - Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday (Nov. 16) after an informal meeting of EU states' leaders in Croatia's capital city of Zagreb.

Newly appointed parliament speaker delivers his first address to the nation

My aim is simple: I want the quality of debate and the quality of law established by the Sejm to radically improve. So that in two years you could see the Sejm as an example of culture in mutual relations, and not as its contradiction. So that you don't lose nerves over politics, so that it could finally start giving us all hope that it can be normal - Poland's new speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia said on Thursday (Nov. 16) in his first televised address to the nation.