Stories from Warsaw · Poland

Orlen Thermica is implementing a waste heat recovery system at the Żerań pumping station. The project cost approximately 8 million PLN and aims to recover heat from sewage. CEO Andrzej Gajewski stated the recovered heat could meet the needs of approximately 20,000 apartments. Depending on weather conditions, the system is expected to recover between 2 and 12 degrees Celsius. The initiative is intended to reduce coal and gas purchase costs and lower carbon dioxide emissions.

Waldemar Budak has been announced as the new head of the BN. The announcement follows a statement from the President's spokesperson regarding the appointment. The position will not be filled by acting head General Andrzej Kowalski, the former head of military intelligence service. Kowalski was previously noted for an incident involving General Norbert, a military attaché in the United States.

The Centrum parliamentary club in Poland intends to submit a candidacy for the position of Vice-Marshal of the Senate. The group was formed over two months ago by former members of the Polska 2050 party. The potential candidate is expected to be one of three senators who transitioned from Polska 2050 to Centrum. This development was reported unofficially to RMF FM journalists.

The Polish Presidential Palace is accelerating efforts to declassify an annex to the WSI report. Members of the ruling coalition have criticized the move as an attempt to improve the president's public image. Coalition MP Mariusz Wietczak alleged that President Karol Nawrocki is attempting to divert attention from a series of decisions, including recent legislative vetoes. Spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz confirmed the move following recent information regarding the document. While the report remains unpublished, the process aims to address the status of the annex. Observers suggest the move may not immediately alter public life as the content is still being processed. The Presidential Palace in Warsaw has requested detailed information from the government regarding recent statements made to the Financial Times.

Jarosław Kaczyński, president of the Law and Justice (PiS) party, stated that Poland requires a constitutional restructuring to foster economic development and national strength. Polish political figures are discussing the necessity of revising the national constitution, which has been in effect since February 17, 2009. Marek Savitsky of the PSL stated that the current constitution is broken and that both sides are effectively ignoring it. MEP Zbigniew Zaleśka of Law and Justice noted that while starting debates is a positive step, the reform process will be long and likely take several years. President Karol Nawrocki convened the Council of Elders today to discuss a new constitution. During a tour marking the 235th anniversary of the constitution's adoption on May 3, the President stated that power in Poland cannot remain divided between two institutions.

Approximately 860,000 Poles are currently working despite having reached retirement age. This figure represents more than twice the number of working retirees recorded nine years ago. Paweł Jaroszek, Vice President of the Social Insurance Institution, stated that each additional year of employment results in a higher pension. Jaroszek also advised individuals to maintain additional personal savings due to increasing life expectancy. The average working time for self-employed individuals in Poland exceeds 45 hours per week. This figure includes various professionals such as plumbers, electricians, and programmers on B2B contracts, as well as small business owners like tire repair shop operators. While the general Polish working average is approximately 41 hours, the self-employed segment works significantly longer than the national average and other European countries.

A continuous 9-day live charity broadcast has raised 250 million Polish zloty. Participants included celebrities, athletes, and influencers such as Robert Lewandowski, Adam Małysz, and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The broadcast reached over 1.5 million live viewers. Warsaw-based YouTuber Patryk Garkowski, identifying as a member of the 'Easy Gang', has collected over 250 million PLN for a foundation supporting children with cancer. The fundraising success has prompted political commentary regarding the comparison between this drive and other charitable efforts. MP Konrad Berkowicz addressed the success of the collection during a morning broadcast. The scale of the donation is described as an success.

There are concerns in Poland regarding new educational reforms, particularly the integration of universal design and strategies for effective learning. Critics argue these tools are designed to socially engineer behavior and elicit identical reactions, representing a "great abuse" and a threat to the Polish education system. Parents are warned that these tools may eventually be imposed within families, with families potentially being penalized for non-compliance. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski expressed concern regarding statements by Donald Trump about the potential withdrawal of US troops from Spain and Italy. Sikorski spoke on TVN24 regarding these geopolitical developments. The minister also noted that Poland remains an supplier of components.

Protesters gathered in Warsaw to mark the 200th day since the passage of a law banning the chaining of dogs. The demonstration aimed to remind the public and authorities of the legislation. Participants advocated for the humane treatment of animals in accordance with the new legal standards. Members of the Pracownicza Inicjatywa are protesting in front of the Sejm in Warsaw to demand changes to labor laws. Organizers claim current laws restrict the ability to strike for workers' rights within private companies. The protest aims to secure greater freedom to strike for employees. The initiative's organizer, Mają Kudła, stated that participants are protesting because workers have been deceived regarding their rights.

American companies are planned to construct a new nuclear power plant near Warsaw, Poland. According to the state company PEJ, consumer electricity prices will be fixed competitively. The current energy mix in the region is primarily based on coal. A French company is slated to provide the steam turbines for the project. Critics noted that no Polish companies are currently capable of performing the required work. The project follows a US-Israeli attack on Iran in late February which impacted investment in steam turbines. The site must secure a permit from the National Atomic Energy Agency to prove the radiation technology is secure. An operator named Marek expressed optimism that the plant will open in 2036. The plan involves becoming an operator of the SPAT plant. The project involves a collaboration agreement with several technical universities in Poland to facilitate operations.