Stories from Warsaw · Poland

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.

The Marie Curie research reactor is located within the National Nuclear Research Centre near Warsaw, Poland. Director Jakub Kupetski stated the reactor is only activated for specific research intervals. The facility features a large hall with an open cooling basin containing long rods submerged in water. The reactor is named after Polish Nobel laureate Maria Skłodowska-Curie. The facility provides capacity in the gigawatt range. The operator promises local jobs and infrastructure development, including the reopening of a decommissioned railway line.

Poland is pushing for increased protection of children who are victims of armed conflicts. This initiative is part of ongoing work regarding a new United Nations convention focused on crimes against children. UN member states have until April 30 to submit their positions on creating this prevention and punishment convention. International law expert Professor Patrycja Grzebyk from the Pilecki Institute is providing analysis on the legal framework. International law expert Professor Patrycja Grzebyk stated that increasing protections for child victims is a primary Polish objective. The proposal includes regulations for victim reparations and the protection of witnesses. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is advocating for new regulations regarding the protection and compensation of witnesses and other participants in conflicts.

Polskie Radio 24 hosted a discussion on the reliance of Polish media on foreign news agencies like Reuters and AP, suggesting a lack of original reporting on global events from a Polish perspective. The program questioned whether Polish audiences are sufficiently interested in diverse international topics beyond major political crises. It was noted that while there's a growing interest in topics like Djibouti elections or Latin American health issues, the demands of daily life often leave little time for in-depth engagement with such content. The discussion also touched on the reciprocal interest, or lack thereof, from other countries in Polish affairs. Polish media outlets are discussing their reliance on foreign news agencies like Reuters and AFP, questioning whether this approach adequately represents Poland's perspective.

A fundraising campaign has successfully collected funds to be donated to the Cancer Fighters foundation. This total significantly exceeds the 15 million USD recently reported for a comic book sale. The campaign was driven by an 11-year-old named Maja Mecan, whose collection became the largest live fundraiser in history. The achievement is expected to be recorded in the Guinness World Records. YouTuber Marek Kopyść is conducting live broadcasts to raise funds for oncology hospitals and foundation beneficiaries. Kopyść stated that consultations with oncology professionals are currently underway to ensure effective use of funds. The TOK FM broadcast discussed the foundation's needs and the scale of illness, as well as treatment options for leukemia. A foundation in Poland has successfully raised millions to support cancer fighters.