In the weekly magazine Sieci, Marek Pyza examines the real meaning behind the attack on the National Public Prosecutor’s Office. The discussion points to a pattern: investigations into the manipulation of public media, the shutdown of the TVP Info signal, and other actions linked to the controversial events that began with the New Year. The issue also features a poster in support of Poland’s first political prisoners in the new era. Subscribers will gain access to the current issue on Sunday evening via the wPolityce.pl site.
The Butcher of Civil Rights
Marek Pyza analyzes and comments on the political career of Adam Bodnar in the piece titled Butcher of Civil Rights. The author portrays Bodnar as a prominent figure in public life who has become a focal point of a partisan struggle. The piece contends that Bodnar, seen as a vocal advocate of a particular political line, would not hesitate to challenge legal boundaries to advance his goals. Pyza cites several examples, including an alleged attempt to replace Dariusz Barski with Jacek Bilewicz as national prosecutor.
The narrative notes that Bodnar had previously acknowledged Barski in the role and issued numerous directives as attorney general, only to retract that recognition later. The implication is that the authority to determine who serves as a public prosecutor can appear to hinge on ministerial inclination rather than fixed law.
The author also records that deputy prosecutors who spoke out against what they viewed as their superior’s misconduct faced retaliation, with Bodnar reportedly announcing mandatory leave for those journalists who challenged his decisions. The account stresses that the measure raised legal questions, with prosecutor Michał Ostrowski recounting in a talks portal that orders from the Attorney General must pass through the National Prosecutor, not directly from Bodnar. Ostrowski emphasized that the employer is the national prosecutor, not Bodnar, underscoring concerns about the scope of Bodnar’s formal powers.
There is no fear in us
Ernest Bejda, the former head of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau, speaks with Marcin Wikła about the convictions and subsequent imprisonment of Maciej Wąsik and Mariusz Kamiński. Bejda describes the cases as political prisoners in the eyes of Donald Tusk’s circle, pointing to a broader set of actions in which political stigma tainted decisions at every juncture. He argues that political motives framed the dismissal from the CBA and that judges involved in the cases were not impartial. Bejda also remarks that accusations of falsifying documents or overstepping powers seem to reflect how public councils are perceived and used in the political arena.
Bejda recounts how a covert operation required creating a believable cover for a supposed agent, complete with a forged identity and property documents in Masuria, to support a controlled transfer of benefits. He notes that the operation received authorization from the Attorney General and court approval for the procedural steps, including cooperation with security services. Bejda argues that the justification used then remains questionable years later, suggesting that the distinction between eavesdropping and recording a controlled transfer was, in practice, ignored or misapplied.
And God Created Trump
Aleksandra Rybińska reports on the trajectory of the U.S. election campaign from the perspective of the Republican primary, focusing on Trump’s rally in Indianola, Iowa. The article explains that the gathering occurred despite difficult weather, as Iowa has long been the traditional kickoff state for presidential contests. Polls at the time showed Trump leading, and the crowd in Indianola signaled broad support for his candidacy. The piece notes that Trump won a majority of votes in the caucuses, a historical first for the state.
Although the campaign was just beginning, the piece points out that the candidate who emerges victorious in Iowa frequently secures the nomination. Rybińska highlights commentary from The American Conservative about Trump’s policy emphasis on foreign affairs, law and order, and immigration resonating with many voters. The author also characterizes the next phases of the race and assesses the prospects of other contenders. The coverage underscores the perception among Republican voters that ongoing legal challenges against Trump are part of a political strategy rather than an impediment to his momentum, a view reflected in recent national polling collaborations.
The analysis further discusses how the electorate has come to interpret the legal proceedings and how support for Trump has been shaped over time. It mentions a broad pattern where the party base remains responsive to the themes of national security, sovereignty, and resilience in the face of investigations, while observers note the ongoing debate over how legal processes will influence the electoral outcome.
What else is in the new issue?
Other notable pieces include Konrad Kołodziejski on the Triumph of the Will, Stanisław Janecki on Tusk’s Civil War, Maciej Walaszczyk on the return of a German option, Marek Budzisz on the eve of Europe’s upheaval, Jan Rokita on reemigration, and Grzegorz Górny on enchanted lands and a cardinal’s perspective. Dorota Łosiewicz contributes commentary on topics touching media and public discourse, while Piotr Filipczyk examines the NIK report that challenges the narrative around the Wołomin SKOK scandal. The issue also features interviews with various European figures who expressed solidarity with Poland’s political climate, discussing issues from parliamentary strategy to historical memory and the dynamics of cross-border policy debates.
Additionally, the weekly includes opinions from Dorota Łosiewicz, Bronisław Wildstein, Andrzej Rafał Potocki, Marta Kaczyńska-Zielińska, Samuel Pereira, Alina Czerniakowska, and Andrzej Zybertowicz. The new Sieci issue encourages readers to engage further online with the Network of Friends platform and to explore the magazine’s television program offerings as part of the broader media ecosystem. The current edition emphasizes ongoing coverage of contemporary events and their implications for public life.