It was announced over the weekend that the European Commission would not be examining presidential elections in Poland under the EU’s Article 7 procedure.
The declaration came shortly after the top justice official for the EU, Didier Reynders, reportedly claimed that the presidential elections in Poland might not meet international standards and called for the EU Council to look into the issue under the provisions of Article 7. Such a procedure could theoretically lead to sanctions against Poland.
The presidential election — currently scheduled for May 10 — remains a topic of controversy in Poland, with opposition politicians calling for the election to be postponed until after the pandemic crisis has passed and members of the ruling conservative Law and Justice party accusing the opposition of “playing for time.”
On April 6, the Polish Parliament passed a bill under which the presidential elections would be held by correspondence, an effort the Polish postal service is “100 percent prepared” to undertake, according to Poczta Polska’s Vice President Grzegorz Kurdziel.
During a press conference yesterday, it was announced that Poland’s largest oil refiner, PKN Orlen, would be taking over state-run utility provider Energa.
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin, who also serves as Minister of State Assets, said the takeover would create the largest utilities group in Poland, one which would “be able to compete with large entities on the European market.”
PKN Orlen, which is also state-run, reportedly shelled out close to PLN 3 billion (EUR 662 million) in order to purchase an 80% stake in Energa, a move Orlen CEO Daniel Obajtek called necessary “for our whole economy” in light of the current economic turmoil. The acquisition is expected to be finalized later this week.
In welcome news for residents currently quarantined at home, Poland’s Ministry of Health is planning to launch drive-thru coronavirus swab tests for people coming to the end of their 14-day quarantine period.
As of this morning, 82,643 people across Poland were under quarantine for reasons such as returning after travel abroad or being exposed to someone infected with COVID-19. According to health ministry officials, the goal of the drive-through program is to enable “people ending their quarantine to be 100 percent sure that they are healthy.”
Over 12,000 people in Poland (12,089 as of 10:00 Tuesday) have been diagnosed with COVID-19, of which 570 have died and some 3,000 (2,934) are currently hospitalized. Over 2,500 (2,655) have recovered.
In the face of grim national statistics and a statewide lockdown, two enterprising locals are using their talents to bring cheer to the residents of New Orleans in the US state of Louisiana.
Sarah Grant, a former Peace Corps volunteer and current pedicab operator, has been driving classically-trained Polish violinist Anna Roznowska through the neighborhoods of New Orleans, offering residents a series of free “mini-concerts.” In a city famous for its nightlife and musical heritage, Grant and Roznowska’s “Mobile Music Box” has been welcomed by many residents of the Big Easy, with one resident describing it as “something to make you laugh to keep from crying.”
The state of Louisiana has been particularly hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic and currently has the 9th-highest number of deaths in the US. Nationwide, the estimated number of cases in the US is over 1 million, with a confirmed death toll over 50,000 as of Monday evening.
Roznowska and Grant have indicated that they plan to keep their mini-tour on the road as long as they can, with Roznowska telling Reuters that “we didn’t know how much people needed it.”
To see the Mobile Music Box in action, visit https://youtu.be/xCr_dVmXYV8 or Anna Roznowska’s website at https://waelannamia.com/.
Weather
Today will be partly cloudy and warm with a strong breeze coming in from the west. Temperatures will peak around a high of 19°C, or 67°F with some rain and cooler temperatures arriving overnight with a low of 4°C or 39°F. Wednesday will be rainy and cool, with some sunny skies expected to return again on Thursday.
Elizabeth Peck/ako
