News / Poland's election winning party: PIS proclamations [229]

Ah, good old PZPR-style anti-semitism.

Interestingly enough, you seem to share the same views as Kremlin supporters.

News / Poland bets on Russian oil again [82]


Not a surprise in the slightest. PiS are very much a front for people sympathetic towards Russia, and there are plenty of murmurings that people within PiS are very much aligned to Russian interests rather than European interests.

Having a weak Russia is very much in Poland's geopolitical interests. Signing deals with Russia to increase dependence on Russia is very much not in Poland's interest.


Another ex-PZPR goon with managerial responsibilities in state institutions. No surprise that he's signing deals with Russia.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

Latest update as of 20:00.

There will be more demonstrations added as they get confirmed. I expect quite a few more abroad to occur, too.

Plenty more to be added abroad, including San Francisco and Cologne for the first time, but I'll wait for the updated map to be made.

Nice to see that the Polonia is turning out, too :)

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News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

It's worth reading this article if you want to see exactly how Jarosław Kaczyński controls the PiS-orientated media.

natemat.pl/119717,prywatna-republika-jaroslawa-kaczynskiego-firma-srebrna-ktora-chce-zbudowac-wiezowiec-to-finansowe-zaplecze-pis

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


Patience, Doug ;) This tactic is highly effective - it will be all over the Western media about PiS and their intentions to destroy the free media. A sea of demonstrations and Polish flags all over Poland will be reported abroad - and the soundbite "in defence of free media" is very effective.

Notice how Duda hasn't signed the media law yet...

News / Pope Francis' anti-Polish encyclical? Criticism of coal burning in Poland. [67]


As I understand it, the problem is that in order to protect the original forest, it would be best to have a large buffer zone and to allow that forest to become wild and unmanaged too. But PiS have had an obsession with the areas for years - it's not about economics (it wouldn't cost much to provide alternative employment opportunities there!) - but about something personal.

The problem is that this Minister is very much in the hunter/forester tradition, which means having a rabid hatred of biologists and conservationists. It's a huge problem in Poland, and often not spoken about in the media.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

Latest update.

More to come, no doubt.

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News / Adam Michnik awarded for integrity, professionalism and high standards. Poland's No. 1 fascist? [321]

Your tactics are straight out of the PZPR rulebook : seize power, then use that power to insult, discredit and abuse any potential opposition. They were proud of you, eh?

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

Polonius, no matter how hard you try, the reality is that this weekend will yet again see huge amounts of protests all over Poland.

Law / Can I pay my company tax through UK rather than Poland? [6]

Income tax is a separate kettle of fish, and the law clearly defines liability as those either a) living in Poland for 185 days or b) Having your centre of "vital interests" in Poland.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

As promised.

Warszawa facebook.com/events/550880451745097/
Wrocław Plac Solny Sobota godz. 14.00
Bydgoszcz Plac Wolności godz.14.00
Lublin facebook.com/events/1125448820812229/
Częstochowa facebook.com/events/643448659091372/
Szczecin facebook.com/events/1110121789028255/
Poznań facebook.com/events/1004837562905766/
Konin facebook.com/events/987110948013784
Kraków facebook.com/events/526492084177876/
Katowice facebook.com/events/433907346801230/
Opole - godz. 14-16.00 start pod Radio Opole ul.Strzelców Bytomskich 8 przez Plac Wolności, Rynek, pod siedzibę TVP Opole Szpitalna 1

Waiting for more information before confirming all details, but please check the start time carefully - some will start at 12:00, others will start at 14:00.

Other cities are coming online too, but this is the latest published list.

Law / Can I pay my company tax through UK rather than Poland? [6]

Theoretically, yes, you can. But ZUS have made it very clear recently that it isn't going to be tolerated, and people have been getting caught.

I wouldn't risk it, not with this government operating a huge deficit and needing to get cash from everywhere.

Life / Living Costs and life in Poznan? [70]


You want to try the "Wilda" district. Most Indians live near "Las Wildas"
google.com/maps/@52.3922802,16.9200365,3a,75y,239.15h,77.14t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8PLlv7E1lVanQmxGJ2GV1Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


I honestly don't see how appointing an ex-PZPR prosecutor with a track record of persecuting the opposition to the position of leading the human rights commission is "in the interests of the entire nation."

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

This weekend will see a wave of demonstrations throughout Poland again. I'll give full information tomorrow, but I expect demonstrations in at least every single provincial capital.

News / Poland to sign FATCA, USA will get information about bank accounts [67]


What a silly thing to speculate about. PiS are very much in America's pocket, and they're not going to do anything to upset America.


Not really. The Polonia didn't invest back in the day when the Polish banking system was a free-for-all, so why would they invest now?


Poland puts potentially obtaining the visa waiver above a few dollars from the Polonia.


For now, anyway.


How would you expect to get a return on the property without a bank account in PL?

News / Do you think Germany will stop buying out Polish media? [15]


Funny how TVN is actually controlled by Americans, despite the rage that PiS supporters have for it ;)

News / Adam Michnik awarded for integrity, professionalism and high standards. Poland's No. 1 fascist? [321]

Wulkan, have you ever thought about a career in stand-up comedy? :D

Everything he's doing now is straight out of the Communist handbook - seize control of the media, seize control of all organs of power and eliminate anyone opposed to your views.

News / Adam Michnik awarded for integrity, professionalism and high standards. Poland's No. 1 fascist? [321]

Would that be similar to how Jarosław Kaczyński was brought up in a PZPR setting and even had considerable benefits for doing so?

Law / Biggest supermarket chains in Poland vs Germany [23]


Indeed, it's pretty clear to anyone that spends time in Germany that the German model of retailing is very difficult to make an in-road into. I hate the way that Germany does supermarkets - only Kaiser's seems to be tolerable and on the level of a normal supermarket. And even then, a few years ago, they were also mostly horrid "diskont-markt" crap.


They will actually do the exact opposite. Biedronka already signalled that if the tax comes in, they'll just abandon the old strategy and move to building 249sqm local shops instead everywhere. The brand is worth so much (and their buying power is so strong) that it will actually destroy the local shops as a consequence.

Furthermore, PiS are relying on people being ignorant. The tax will actually hurt consumers and suppliers, not the supermarkets.

If PiS genuinely wanted to help local retail stores, they would allow shops under a certain size (100sqm could be a good benchmark) to not pay ZUS contributions provided it was owner-operated. 1100zł a month is nothing if you own a 249sqm shop, but a 20-30sqm shop is crippled by such tax.

News / Poland to sign FATCA, USA will get information about bank accounts [67]


Who will tell you that unless you're an extremely valued client of the bank, they're not going to entertain any other proposals.


You're missing the vital part that while Poland demands you identify yourself as a Polish citizen, the Polish State has no opinion on your dual citizenship. It's not permitted, it's not banned, it's merely dealt with through the obligation for you to identify yourself using a Polish document to the authorities.


There's no discrimination. The law requires you to identify yourself as an American citizen when conducting financial affairs within the Polish banking system. Poland is not breaking any laws by requiring you to do so, because there's no law against holding dual citizenship. The penalties only exist for very specific offences, such as identifying yourself to the Polish authorities using a non-Polish document.

I understand where you're coming from, but Poland has no restriction on holding dual citizenship.


There's no such thing as a right to open an investment account.


I don't see any harm in sharing information with the Americans, as long as they share information with us. I don't see why Americans should be able to get away with blatant tax evasion in Poland just because they've got Polish citizenship, for instance. The law itself might be insane, but that's an issue for the American people to deal with.


That's why they won't let you open an account. A basic condition of doing business with a bank here is to agree to the transferring of data. If you don't like it, there are banks in interesting places that won't ask questions.

I'm still waiting for you to outline the parts of the Polish Constitution which prohibits the Polish government from sending your data to the USA.

News / Poland to sign FATCA, USA will get information about bank accounts [67]


I think the Poles prefer to do business with the predictable Americans (who merely want to extract every last dime out of their own people) than to do business with Putin.

Law / Biggest supermarket chains in Poland vs Germany [23]


It's worth bearing in mind that the German shopping culture is quite strange by European standards. It's only in the last few years that credit/debit card use has been widespread in shops for instance, and they also like their "discount markets" much more than other Europeans. It's why Netto has succeeded there while others haven't. The Germans also haven't really taken to Polish/British style hypermarkets too, which also doesn't help any potential competitor. Then you've got the way that you need to make a profit on relatively restricted opening hours.

Nothing is stopping Polish companies from expanding there, and I think the Alma concept in particular could succeed.

News / Poland to sign FATCA, USA will get information about bank accounts [67]


The bank would be entitled to recover any losses as a result of the fraudulent declaration.


It doesn't work like that. The "recognition" comes from the fact that you must identify yourself as Polish to the Polish authorities should they wish you to confirm your identity. The question asks clearly if you're an American citizen - and financial fraud is serious here.


Good luck arguing that one when you're hauled up for fraud in front of the Polish courts.


Polish law requires you to follow the requirements of FACTA irrespective of being a Polish citizen or not.

Again, if our hypothetical Polonia investor wants to invest without the Americans finding out, renouncing American citizenship is how it's done.

News / Poland to sign FATCA, USA will get information about bank accounts [67]


Not really. Polish banks prefer being able to stay within the American banking system. It's not discrimination, it's a wise business choice.


Polish governments since 1989 (and even before) have not seen any particularly good reason to not cooperate with the United States. This law hurts Americans, not Poles.


Where's the bullying? And why would Europe start a trade war with the United States over something that only affects American citizens?

By the way, I'm still waiting for you to reference which article of the Polish constitution is being broken.

News / Poland to sign FATCA, USA will get information about bank accounts [67]


Could you perhaps provide some answers to my questions first?

There is no discrimination here. The question - "Are you an American citizen?" is being asked by a private company. The law which treats Polish citizens as only being Polish in Poland refers to the State institutions, not private businesses.

As for your "simple rule" - sure, easy enough to enforce. Polish banks then find themselves locked out of the American financial system, which they absolutely do not want. It's much easier to simply go along with FACTA.

Sure, this law is ridiculous for Americans, but they get what they vote for.

Having said that, has the IRS ever actually succeeded in punishing an American citizen abroad for tax issues?

News / Do you think Germany will stop buying out Polish media? [15]


Which media is German owned?

News / Adam Michnik awarded for integrity, professionalism and high standards. Poland's No. 1 fascist? [321]


...you decide so at the USC.

News / Adam Michnik awarded for integrity, professionalism and high standards. Poland's No. 1 fascist? [321]

You mean "he doesn't tell the PiS version of events".

It's hilarious to watch PiS supporters repeat the same old antisemitic garbage that the PZPR started.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


See how anyone that opposes PiS is immediately described as "a tool".


I think we can all look forward to high quality shows that discuss how evil the opposition is and how great the government is doing.

Kaczyński's not a fool, he knows fine well that Putin controls Russia through the TV and not through force.