Last Thursday, European lawmakers, including members of Polish opposition parties Civic Platform, PSL, and Lewica, voted to condemn what they said was an attempt to undermine the primacy of EU law by Poland’s governing conservatives.

The vote comes amid a bitter dispute over judicial changes and the rule of law in Poland, spurred by a ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal earlier this month that some aspects of EU law were incompatible with the Polish constitution.

At stake is some EUR 36 billion in stimulus funds yet to be authorized by the European Council.

Source: Radio Poland, Bloomberg.com

Hundreds took to the streets of the capital Warsaw and other large Polish cities over the weekend to demand more rights for women and oppose more restrictive abortion laws.

The rallies took place on the first anniversary of a ruling from the country’s Constitutional Tribunal banning abortion in the case of fetal defects, resulting in a near-total ban on abortion in Poland.

The court’s decision and its subsequent implementation set off a series of massive, nationwide protests and launched the ongoing „Strajk Kobiet” movement.

Source: Radio Poland

Former Prime Minister Donald Tusk was elected the new leader of the Civic Platform (PO), Poland’s largest opposition party, in elections held across the country on Saturday.

According to PO’s national election commissioner, Dorota Niedziela, Tusk received over 97% (11,474) of all votes cast. Slight over 2% (253) people voted against Tusk, who was the sole candidate on the ballot. Tusk has been the acting president of the party since July and will take over for the current leader, Boris Budka, whose term was set to expire in January 2022.

Tusk served as Prime Minister of Poland from 2007 to 2014 before becoming a top official in EU government. He became the first Pole to serve as President of the European Council, and in 2019 became the leader of the European People’s Party, the largest grouping in the European Parliament.

Source: Radio Poland

Poland’s lower house of parliament is set to vote this week on a bill tightening the country’s traffic laws in an effort to improve road safety.

Under the bill, the maximum fine for traffic offenses would go up from PLN 5,000 (EUR 1,100) to PLN 30,000 (EUR 6,500).

The minimum fine for drivers failing to respect pedestrians at crosswalks would also be increased to PLN 1,500 (EUR 325), with repeat offenders facing a penalty of PLN 3,000 złoty (EUR 650).

Additionally, those exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 kph would be subject to a fine of no less than PLN 1,500 (EUR 325).

Voting on the legislation is scheduled for the next session of the Sejm, set to take place later this week. The changes are expected to come into force in December.

Source: Radio Poland

A new section of the Vistula Cycling Route opened over the weekend in Gdańsk, allowing cyclists to tour all of Sobieszewo Island by bicycle.

The new section of the Wiślana Trasa Rowerowa or „Wisła Cycling Route” is slighly over 6.5 km long and runs along flood embankments overlooking the Wisła River. The path now links Cedry Wielkie to Świbno and Wały Wiślane to the marina in Błotnik.

The project is reportedly the longest, one-time bicycle route investment ever implemented in Gdańsk, and adds to some 600 kilometers of bicycle routes available for use in the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

Speaking at the opening on Saturday, Pomeranian Marshal Mieczysław Struk praised the project as a positive example of „the power of local governments” and “how we can get along to create one great tourist product,” highlighting the cultural resources of the region.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be partly cloudy and cool, with very little chance of rain and a light breeze coming in from the south. Temperatures will peak around a high of 11°C, or 52°F, dropping to a chilly overnight low of 2°C or 36°F. More clouds and a chance for rain are expected tomorrow, with slightly warmer temps and sunny weather returning on Thursday.

Elizabeth Peck/MarWer