Senate to proceed over anti-crisis bill. Coronavirus cases near 2000

Senate Speaker Tomasz Grodzki at a conference in Warsaw

Źródło: TVN24

The Speaker of the Senate Tomasz Grodzki announced on Monday (March 30) he would submit a variety of amendments to the so-called anti-crisis shield. "We want to replace an imperfect, punctured shield with a better one, a true and solid dam that would prevent the spillage of the pandemic" - he explained. Michał Dworczyk, a top aide to the Prime Minister, said on Monday Poland was considering introducing further measures aimed at curbing the coronavirus pandemic and its negative effects.

The Senate was to convene on Monday afternoon to work on the bundle of three bills referred to as anti-crisis shield.

Senate Speaker Tomasz Grodzki declared at a conference on Monday the Senate would "stand behind Polish women and men". "The Senate will make sure no one loses their jobs, no one suffers economic losses, so that everyone has the right to be tested, and so that economic, health and social safety of Poles is preserved" - he added.

Grodzki said that, in his view, the "anti-crisis shield", that had been passed by the lower house, was "imperfect and punctured". He added the Senate would aim to replace it with "a better one, a true and solid dam that would prevent the spillage of the pandemic".

Over 200 amendments

The Left's presidential candidate Robert Biedroń said on Monday he would submit over 200 amendments to the anti-crisis package. "We're not going to let anyone lose their jobs" - he declared.

Deputy Senate Speaker, Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka (the Left), stressed her party would oppose any provisions "having nothing to do with fighting the coronavirus", such as changes to the law on the Social Dialogue Council, or to the electoral code.

The Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, Ryszard Terlecki, said on Monday the lower house would be ready to convene on Tuesday to proceed the package once more, should the Senate introduced any changes to it.

1984 cases and new measures

The Health Ministry announced on Monday afternoon there were 1984 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections.

So far, 26 infected people have died in Poland.

Chief of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Michał Dworczyk, said the government was working to ensure presidential election would be held on May 10, as planned.

Furthermore, he announced Poland was considering introducing further measures aimed at curbing the coronavirus pandemic and its negative effects.

"There is a need to introduce new regulations and the prime minister's statement tomorrow will be connected to them," Dworczyk told reporters.

"At the moment consultations with doctors, experts and most importantly with the health minister are being held," he added.

Poland has already closed schools, theaters and cinemas and limited public gatherings. It has also shuttered borders until mid-April and told Poles to stay at home and plans measures to support the economy.