News / The shame of Duda making late night visits to Kaczyński [79]


Komorowski was never seen visiting Tusk in the middle of the night! As for Kopacz and Tusk - by all accounts, they have quite the arms length relationship.


What has PO got to do with the utter shame of the Head of State making secret late night visits to the leader of the opposition?

Kaczyński visiting Duda would be understandable and not worth discussing. Duda visiting Kaczyński shows who gives the orders.

I think the time has come for a "Duda gaffes" thread, to be honest.


I'm not sure what this has to do with the utter shame of Duda having to visit his boss in the middle of the night.

I cannot imagine The Queen visiting Jeremy Corbyn, or Hollande visiting Nicolas Sarkozy. Duda has (already) managed to screw up several times, and this shocking breach of protocol shows what little respect he has for the Presidency.

News / Poland's Justice Minister, Z. Ziobro appeals to Kora (and won't face State Tribunal) [51]


And an absolutely dreadful idea. Ziobro really showed his real intentions with his moves there. It was probably the hallmark of Communism that prosecutors and judges were under state control, just like PiS attempted.


Something common to most parties in Europe, sadly.

News / Afera taśmowa (recordings scandal) in Poland - media coverage [17]

What connections? You've posted so many wild things in the past that one can only assume that your connections are from the same fantasy planet as PiS and their economic policies.

Which reminds me, you haven't provided proof of many of your previous allegations. Could you perhaps do so?

UK, Ireland / Traps for "expats" returning to the UK - bank account and tuition fees [13]


Lloyds have always been quite good for new arrivals.

Life / Russian citizen wants immigrate to Poland [39]

Do you know if she spoke Polish or had a Polish name? If you can prove it in any way, then you *might* be able to get the Karta Polaka if you join a Polonia organisation for a couple of years. But in general, my route that I advised will work.


Good luck!

renego.pl/praca-russian-w-krak%C3%B3w - here's an example of jobs available in Kraków for Russian speakers. As you can see, they're in demand.

PS : Robot Unicorn Attack?

News / Poland's Justice Minister, Z. Ziobro appeals to Kora (and won't face State Tribunal) [51]


Surely they can't proceed as he has immunity.

(By the way, it was PiS that attempted to control the prosecutors. Do stop mistaking PO for PiS)

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


I really don't understand their methodology at all. You're right, it makes no sense.

The interesting thing to notice here is that the German Minority rise (to 2 seats from 1) may be a sign of PO losing support in the rural Western provinces. There were already signs in the Presidential election that this was the case (arguably, Komorowski lost the election by totally ignoring those areas) - so it may be part of a bigger trend.

But I'm still bewildered by these seat counts. PO in 2007 got 41.5% and 209 seats, while the SLD in 2001 got 41% and 216 seats. So how can PiS be on 238 seats with only 38%?

USA, Canada / Do many Polish people in America hate Americans? [592]


Biggest support, Paulina ;) Are you sure it's fine? (I'm teasing, don't take it seriously)

I think their views are very much in the minority among Polish-Americans, and it's a shame that the forum shows them in such a light. From what I can gather, most of them would be rather appalled by the racist, backwards views seen on here.

Life / Russian citizen wants immigrate to Poland [39]


Finish your education first. When you do that, you should be able to get a job with English and Russian in a "Shared Service Center". Essentially, these are huge offices designed to support worldwide clients - Russian is quite highly in demand right now. They will sort out the work permit and so on, but it's absolutely essential to finish off your studies (in any discipline).

Try and get a certificate in English too - such as FCE/CAE/etc.

News / Poland's Justice Minister, Z. Ziobro appeals to Kora (and won't face State Tribunal) [51]


It isn't for anything, other than allowing corrupt politicians to hide behind their parliamentary position.

Why would a party that is supposedly anti-corruption hide behind immunity? It makes no sense whatsoever.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


I actually think it's a very good strategy on their part. They're showing that they've learnt a lesson from those bad days of 2005-2007, and it shows that they want to win the election rather than sneaking in the back door.

News / Poland's Justice Minister, Z. Ziobro appeals to Kora (and won't face State Tribunal) [51]


You do realise that it's a feature of almost every single parliamentary assembly for parties to operate in this way? PiS (and everyone else) will do the same at important votes. I think the US Congress is quite unique for having such loose party discipline.

News / Poland's Justice Minister, Z. Ziobro appeals to Kora (and won't face State Tribunal) [51]

So in other words, he had the chance to clear his name, but instead - he chose to oppose the chance to do so. That makes no sense for someone who claims to be interested in genuine justice.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

No idea, the last I saw was that he "didn't rule out" joining forces with ZL. Quite surreal, when you consider that some of his remaining support is coming from Ruch Narodowy supporters.

News / Poland's Justice Minister, Z. Ziobro appeals to Kora (and won't face State Tribunal) [51]


If he had done nothing wrong, he would be happy to face the State Tribunal, wouldn't he?


Yes, it's very strange that they would vote against it. Perhaps they are actually soft on crime.

We can perhaps add this to the list of PiS members and crime.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Remember, PiS are entirely dependent on Kukiz or Korwin getting 5% of the vote, or doing something highly unlikely in the D'Hondt system - obtaining a majority.


The problem PiS have is that some of their supporters are already talking about Premier Kaczyński. If they continue, they're going to have problems.

News / Poland's Justice Minister, Z. Ziobro appeals to Kora (and won't face State Tribunal) [51]

Actually, a majority that voted in the Sejm voted to take him to the State Tribunal. The problem was that only 271 voted in favour, and 276 votes were needed (a 3/5ths majority of the entire Sejm).

The fact that Ziobro has escaped now should be a lesson to him, and means that he's almost certainly going to come under investigation when he loses parliamentary immunity.

USA, Canada / Do many Polish people in America hate Americans? [592]


Well, I'm being objective rather than simply mocking Polish-Americans like I used to - as you say, these are teenagers, and that sort of behaviour is entirely normal. I'm still confused by the "we spent thousands of dollars on them" part, though.

At the same time, Americans do have some sense of "honour" that Europeans don't have. I can't put my finger on exactly what it is, but to me, it's very strange that the guy above chose to spend his little free time with some exchange students rather than his own family.

I suppose the cultural differences between Americans and Europeans is a lot bigger than we normally think. It is very American to me to be shocked by how little Europeans care about any perceived friendship with the US.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


Nice try, but unlikely. Anyone looking at this election (or in fact, any election since 2007) can see that it will all go down to how Małopolska votes. Komorowski lost the Presidential election there (and by not winning well enough in some provinces).


I think PiS will still win, but it won't be enough to form a majority government.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


Szydło thinks that there's 50 billion złoty to be found in unpaid taxes, but I think we all know what they'll do to make up the holes in their budgets. They won't go after the big boys because the big boys will pour money into the opposition, so the only people left to harass will be the small business owner.

And you're right, they are complete communists masquerading as patriots. The research shows that the language they use is similar to what the Communists used (simple, crude propaganda) - and all their economic policies are just a repeat of late 1940's/early 1950's PRL.


They shouldn't come looking for me then, given that my command of Polish isn't bad at all ;)


The mere fact that you're talking about "haters" shows the real mentality of PiS.


Pomorskie went 59.78% to Komorowski vs 40.22% for Duda. The Trójmiasto went even higher - something like 62-63% for Komorowski.There's no way that Pomorskie is going to PiS.

USA, Canada / Do many Polish people in America hate Americans? [592]

Ironside, this must be a forum first if me, Doug and you are all in agreement ;)

Mods - please don't take this as me bashing Polish-Americans, I'm just trying to show it from a Polish point of view.


Many educated Poles aren't particularly fond of Polish-Americans. It might seem strange to you, but for instance - I've seen parades on YouTube where they're waving a flag that isn't the Polish flag. Or they will insist that their activities are Polish, but to Poles, the activities are foreign and without any real link to Poland. Or for instance - Polka dances are completely misunderstood by Polish-Americans as being Polish instead of Czech.

There are many such examples - you could say that many Poles regard Polish-Americans as being simply Americans with a strange hobby. So you shouldn't take it personally - the time and distance means that Polish-Americans have diverged quite dramatically from Poland. I've shown examples of Polonia parades to Polish friends, and they all have had the same "...what on earth?" reaction. Even small things are perceived as complete ignorance, such as using words like "pierogies" and "golumpkies".

The biggest support from the Polonia will come from lesser educated, rural Poles. But you won't read their opinions on here because they're highly unlikely to speak English.

Maybe this is a cultural thing, but why on earth would you spend thousands of dollars on an exchange student? If he could afford to come in the first place, then I rather suspect that he was from a pretty wealthy Polish family. Ironside will no doubt be along to explain to you that anyone that can afford to send their children to the US for an exchange trip will be wealthy by Polish standards.

It's also worth bearing in mind that the Polonia had an unfortunate habit of boasting about what support they gave Poland. Poles tend to get quite hurt by it, especially when it's used to justify some sort of...hmm, niekulturalne behaviour.

Then in general, it's also worth considering that "something-Americans" tend to annoy Europeans. It's not just limited to the Poles - I find the Scottish-Americans to be very annoying people, and Irish friends tell me that the Irish-Americans were pouring a considerable amount of money into IRA funds without even considering the consequences. The list goes on...

USA, Canada / Do many Polish people in America hate Americans? [592]


If I believed what I read on internet forums, I wouldn't go anywhere on holiday.


I'm not sure I understand your point here?

You certainly won't find much love for America in Europe. Poles are by no means unique.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


Oi. Wielkopolska (mostly) has never embraced the nonsense found in the East and South. Neither has Opole.


I wouldn't worry too much. 25 years of democracy and not a single year of it yet - PiS between 2005-2007 were far more centrist economically than now. I remember how Jarek refused to compromise with nurses, for instance.

I think if PiS do win power, most damage will be done in state-run institutions as they try and place their cronies in almost every single position.


There's a lot of fear among small business owners in particular, especially as PiS hate them.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


These polls are getting stranger and stranger. Even the most hardened PO supporter couldn't imagine them with a 4% lead over PiS right now! I wonder however, if this poll doesn't reflect the return of Kaczyński and Macierewicz to politics. What may be happening here is that the "undecided" voters were torn between PO and centre/left candidates - so this may reflect them becoming more certain in their choices.

Right now however, I wouldn't take this poll seriously. We need to wait and see what the polls say next week, as the fallout from the refugees comes clear.


It's honestly hard to predict what could happen here. Would PiS really be happy to form a coalition with Kukiz or Korwin if they know how easy it will be for the opposition to pick on them as the weak links? But we shouldn't rule out stranger coalition ideas. In Greece, Szriza have re-entered government with the right wing Independent Greeks. Could we see the same here?

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


I think there would still be the potential for a German-style Grand Coalition between PiS and PO. Many of the prominent figures from the 2005-2013 period have now gone, and Szydło leading PiS without the toxic figures (Kaczyński, Macierewicz and a few others) and with the backing of Duda could work. Both PO and PiS have signalled their willingness to spend on welfare, and neither party would lose very much by entering some sort of coalition with each other. It would be more or less a repeat of the AWS era - so not unthinkable.

My gut feeling is that in such a scenario (assuming PiS can't reach agreement with Kukiz), PO would agree to step aside to let PiS run things. They would have nothing to lose by giving up power in such a scenario - and they could play on PiS weaknesses such as Kaczyński and Macierewicz. PiS would also have to contend with their electorate demanding significant changes - but every competent person fired by PiS would result in electoral gains for PO. So - from a strategy point of view, it would suit PO to stand aside.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Bit of a weird statement, Polonius, given that many PiS voters left between 2007-2015. Ironside also clearly stated that he would give up Polish citizenship if PO win.

Having said that, I agree. A real patriot would stay and make things better regardless of who wins. If PiS wins, then I'll join an opposition party and help with removing them with power.

Work / Income tax for remote workers in Poland [5]

From how I understand it, you (can/should?) provide evidence to the Polish tax office of the tax paid in Germany at source when submitting your PIT. You will account for the tax already paid on your PIT, and the deduction from your Polish tax bill should be automatic. I don't think it's more complicated than that - they will do the hard work with getting the tax returned from the German tax office.

I haven't done it personally, but this is how it was described to me. Whether it's still the same method, I'm not sure.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


No, they need to still win seats in the "okręg". It's why other national minorities don't win seats in the Sejm, as they can't win enough votes.

wybory2011.pkw.gov.pl/wsw/pl/sjm-21.html - here's the result from 2011 that shows where MN won their singular seat.


It's all to play for. The PSL will do better than the opinion polls give them credit for, but I also have severe doubts about the ability of Korwin, Kukiz and the ZL to make it.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


It's a nice idea, but you're forgetting that the PSL have more to lose than gain by forming a coalition with PiS. They will be well aware of the tricks that Kaczyński played on his old coalition partners, and so it makes more sense for them to stay outside than to enter government.


You still don't know the details. It could well be that Germany will be paying for it all.