The Polish president on Thursday (Dec.21) denounced state media reforms announced by Prime Minister Donald Tusk as "anarchy", as tensions mounted between the head of state and Tusk's new pro-European Union administration. In an interview with private broadcaster Radio Zet, Duda also backed former Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński and his deputy Maciej Wąsik from PiS, who have recently been sentenced to prison. The president also praised the chief of Poland's central bank Adam Glapiński. "I believe that this fight against inflation and the protection of the Polish economy, both during Covid and after, is being carried out effectively and in a prudent and correct way," Duda stressed.

The European Union's top court said on Thursday (Dec.21) that Poland's Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs of the Supreme Court was not an independent tribunal under EU law.

In an evening vote on Wednesday (Dec.20), the Polish parliament adopted a resolution meant to fix the country's contested judiciary council (KRS). The resolution underscores that three previous resolutions regarding the appointment of the council justices - passed in 2018, 2021, and 2022 respectively - were adopted in violation of the Polish constitution. The document also calls on the KRS justices appointed under unconstitutional procedures to immediately step down from office.

U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated Donald Tusk on his election to the office of Prime Minister of Poland - PM's chancellery said on the X social media platform on Wednesday (Dec.20), attaching a photo of a letter to Tusk from Biden.

The management of Polish public television, radio and news agency PAP have been dismissed, the culture ministry said on Wednesday (Dec.20), as one public news channel that critics said had become politicised under the previous government went off air. Later that day, new managers were appointed to lead the public media outlets.

European Commission Deputy chief Vera Jourova said on Wednesday (Dec.20) she was happy that the new Polish government wants to fix the rule of law situation, but it is too early to assess whether its actions will be sufficient or meet EU's milestones.

Former Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński and his deputy from the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party were sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday (Dec.20) for abuse of power in previous posts, PAP news agency reported. President Duda met Kamiński and Wąsik on Wednesday evening and said his 2015 pardon had been executed in accordance with the law and remained effective.

Poland's new parliament on Tuesday (Dec.19) adopted a resolution calling for the restoration of public media impartiality, as the incoming government vowed to reform outlets that critics say became politicised under the previous administration.

Poland's new government has dismissed the country's representative to the World Bank, the prime minister said on Tuesday (Dec.19), drawing a rebuke from the central bank that had appointed him to the role.

The new Polish government has adopted a new draft budget for 2024. According to Finance Minister Andrzej Domański, the state budget for the upcoming year has been based on an assumed GDP increase by 3% and inflation at 6.6%. The budget deficit is to reach 184 billion zlotys. Prime Minister Donald Tusk reassured that both the 800+ social benefits and the 13th and 14th pensions would continue to be paid out. "There is money for it in the budget," the prime minister said.

Poland's core inflation in November 2023 dropped to 7.3% year on year, compared to 8.0% y/y in October - the National Bank of Poland said in a statement released on Monday (Dec.18).

Polish truckers on Monday (Dec.18) resumed their blockade of one of the main crossings at the Ukrainian border, a protest leader said, a week after it was temporarily lifted.

Ten families struggling with financial hardship from the town of Drawsko Pomorskie will receive Christmas packages filled with basic need products from the U.S. troops stationed at the local military base. The American soldiers came up with the idea, while the employees of the local social security center helped them to follow through.

CIA chief Bill Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and the head of Israel's Mossad spy agency met in Warsaw on Monday (Dec.18) to discuss a potential new deal to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Poland's minister-coordinator of special services Tomasz Siemoniak said on the X platform he met with Burns on Monday and that the two underscored their "common will to maintain the closest possible cooperation between our countries' secret services".

A Polish mayor may not ban truckers from holding a protest in his commune, a court ruled on Friday (Dec.15), which means a blockade at the Jahodyn-Dorohusk border crossing with Ukraine may restart, PAP news agency reported.

Poland's new government needs "some time" to improve the independence of the judiciary so the European Union can disburse more funds, the bloc's top justice official said as Warsaw vows to restore the rule of law and seeks billions in handouts.

Poland's Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz decided on Friday (Dec.15) to liquidate the parliamentary subcommittee for reinvestigation of the Smolensk air disaster of April 10, 2010. The defence ministry said in a statement released on Friday that all members of the subcommittee had been stripped of all authorization and powers necessary to act on behalf of said body.

Poland's new Prime Minister Donald Tusk got an early Christmas gift on Friday (Dec.15) as the European Union promised to transfer a first batch of funds hitherto frozen over democratic backsliding, though larger payments were set to take time.

Poland's new government will not be able to take action aimed at liquidating public radio and television companies until a court has ruled on whether such measures break the constitution, state-run news agency PAP reported on Thursday (Dec.14).

The Ministry of Affairs announced on Thursday (Dec.14) that "Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the European Union Andrzej Sadoś was recalled to Poland and exempt from the obligation to perform work". Sadoś has been replaced in his duties by Piotr Serafin, who was Head of Cabinet of the President of the European Council Donald Tusk in 2014-2019. "Voices have been raised that the prime minister cannot nominate an ambassador. Piotr Serafin is not an ambassador, he is a minister plenipotentiary," said Paweł Wroński, a new spokesman for the MFA.

Hanukkah candles in Poland's parliament were lit again on Thursday, after a far-right lawmaker used a fire extinguisher to put them out earlier in the week in an incident that caused outrage.

The fact that a Polish court verdict forced a woman to travel abroad to get an abortion due to a foetal anomaly violated her right to private and family life, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday (Dec.14).

New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was greeted with hugs by fellow leaders as he made a return to Brussels on Wednesday (December 13) for an EU Council summit -- gatherings he used to chair as its president.

The European Commission will find a way for Poland to access some 111 billion euros in frozen EU funds as the new Polish government moves toward alleviating the bloc's concerns about the rule of law, European Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn said on Wednesday (Dec.13).

Polish side Legia Warsaw will have no fans at their next five European away games, UEFA said on Wednesday, following crowd disturbances ahead of their Europa Conference League match at Aston Villa last month.

Poland's new Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday (Dec.13) in Brussels that Poland was on the final stretch to solve the issue of unfreezing EU funds to Poland. Tusk assured that "all the institutions know that we observe a renaissance of the rule of law in Poland". He also stressed that "apathy on Ukraine is unacceptable," adding that he would try to convince "some member states".

Poland's new justice minister on his first day in office signed a motion for the country to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), reversing the stance of the previous government that clashed with EU authorities.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has congratulated Donald Tusk on forming the new Polish government. "I look forward to working with Prime Minister Tusk to build on the longstanding, strategic U.S.-Poland partnership," he wrote on the X social media platform. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that President Joe Biden "looks forward to continuing our work together as close allies".

New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government was sworn in by President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday (Dec.13), the final step in a transfer of power that marks a huge change after eight years of nationalist rule.

Newly appointed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government won a vote of confidence in parliament on Tuesday (Dec.12). In the vote, 248 MPs were in favor of supporting the new cabinet, while 201 were against. President Andrzej Duda is due to appoint the Tusk's government on Wednesday morning.