Thousands of demonstrators gathered yesterday outside the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw to voice support for disputed changes to Poland’s judicial system. According to state news agency PAP, those taking part in the demonstration included communist-era opposition leaders and people who claim they have been unfairly treated by Polish courts.
Earlier this week, President Andrzej Duda signed into law controversial judicial reforms on disciplinary measures for judges, a move seen by critics as a means of silencing opposition and dissent within the judiciary. The move has raised the stakes in a standoff between Poland and the European Commission, which has asked the EU’s highest court to address the matter.
As reported by Rzeczpospolita yesterday, the EU’s Court of Justice could potentially issue a fine of up to PLN 2 million if Poland „does not freeze” the activities of the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court.
President Andrzej Duda will be in Pomerania this week as part of a series of celebrations commemorating the 100th anniversary of Poland’s “Wedding to the Sea.”
In the original ceremony conducted on February 10, 1920, General Józef Haller took one of two platinum rings given to him by citizens of the Free City of Danzig and cast the ring into the sea. The event was meant to symbolize the reunification of Poland with the Baltic Sea after 123 years of partitions, an event later immortalized in Wojciech Kossak’s 1931 painting “Polish Wedding to the Sea.”
President Duda will be visiting Puck, Władysławowo, and Wejherowo on Monday, where he will take part in several anniversary celebrations, including a historical re-enactment of the wedding at 14:00. Radio Gdańsk will be broadcasting live from Puck tomorrow starting at 8:00, and local residents can take advantage of historic train rides, concerts, and balls.
For residents of Gdańsk, there will be festival and historic re-enactment of the arrival of General Haller and the Polish delegation of 1920 to Gdańsk, with a ceremonial handing over of the platinum wedding rings. The event will begin at 14:15 and will be attended by Mieczysław Struk, Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship and Gdańsk mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz.
A number of lucky residents from Trójmiasto will also get to enjoy a free concert tonight at Filharmonia Bałtycka. The concert, which will also be performed on Tuesday at the Kashubian Philharmonic Hall in Wejherowo, will feature the premiere of “Balticetta,” an original composition by Leszek Możdzer of Gdańsk, as well as works like “Baltic Legend” by Feliks Nowowiejski and the three-part symphonic poem “La Mer” by Claude Debussy.
For a full listing of events, visit https://zaslubiny.pomorskie.eu/kalendarium-wydarzen
Poland’s Kamil Stoch on Saturday finished third in a World Cup ski jumping competition in the German town of Willingen.
Stoch, a triple Olympic champion, took the podium for the 70th time, finishing behind Germany’s Stephan Leyhe in first and Norway’s Marius Lindvik in second.
Dawid Kubacki, who last month became only the third Polish ski jumper to claim the overall Four Hills Tournament title, came in a distant 15th after being in ninth place halfway through the tournament, with fellow Pole Jakub Wolny finishing 23rd.
Another individual competition in Willingen was planned for late Sunday afternoon but had to be rescheduled due to the weather.
The Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management or (IMGW) has issued a second-degree warning for strong winds across the Pomeranian region from today until Tuesday.
Despite the recent spring-like weather, a low-pressure system is expected to bear down on northern Europe in the next 48 hours, with expected wind speeds of 35-45 km/h (20-30 mph), accompanied by gusts up to 95 km/h (60 mph) from the southwest.
In addition to high winds, there is a strong potential for heavy rain and even sleet in the northern voivodeships of Poland. Residents are cautioned to be on alert for felled branches and trees along with potential damage to roofs and power grids, along with possible power outages.
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy and overcast with a strong breeze and occasional gusts of wind picking up throughout the day. Temperatures will peak around 8 degrees Celsius, or 46 degrees Fahrenheit, with the chance for rain increasing in the afternoon. Rain is expected overnight and into the morning with a strong wind advisory in effect until Tuesday morning.
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