For more than 30 years, Polish scouts have been passing on the Peace Light of Bethlehem so that it can be present at Christmas Eve tables. The Light is a symbol of warmth, love, peace and hope. Every year, it is passed to the President of the Republic of Poland, the Prime Minister and the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament. During the ceremony, Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasised the essence of this year's Bethlehem Peace Light event, which was held under the slogan “Let us make peace”.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has nominated new heads of special services. Col. Dorota Kawecka took over as head of the Military Intelligence Service. Gen. Jarosław Stróżyk became the new head of the Military Counterintelligence Service. The Internal Security Agency will be headed by Col. Rafał Syrysko, and the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau by Agnieszka Kwiatkowska-Gurdak. Col. Paweł Szota became the head of the Intelligence Agency.

Donald Tusk was selected as Prime Minister by the Sejm and received his appointment, together with his cabinet, from Andrzej Duda, President of the Republic of Poland. In his exposé, PM Tusk emphasised the commitments arising from the coalition agreement and the “100 proposals” he announced. The new PM also presented the composition of his Council of Ministers.

At the Presidential Palace, the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet received their acts of appointment and took office. On 12 December 2023, at the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk delivered an exposé in which he outlined the implementation of tasks set out in the coalition agreement and the announced “100 proposals”.

We support firefighters and volunteer firefighters because we realise how important it is. They risk their life and limb every day for our safety. As such, we strive to provide them with modern equipment to make their work easier and safer. To that end, we are constantly increasing funding for fire station development. This year alone, more than 670 state-of-the-art fire engines have been delivered to Volunteer Fire Brigades (VFBs). We have also introduced several measures to support firefighters and their families. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visited the State Fire Service (SFS) facility in Ruda Śląska. Thanks to government funding, the city will soon gain a new fire station.

The government must serve Polish entrepreneurs. Especially in the crises we have faced in recent years — the pandemic and the international economic crisis caused by Russian aggression in Ukraine. We took immediate action to mitigate their impact. To that end, we introduced the shield programmes to protect employees and employers alike. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki recently visited the production plant of PanPiek, a company that has received government support for energy-intensive industries.

Over the last eight years, Poland has gained many new nurseries and kindergartens. The Toddler+ programme has effectively tripled the number of spots available for children. This gives parents a choice, allowing them to return to work if they wish. We also support Polish families through other pro-family programmes, including the Family Care Capital, 500+ (800+ since January), Good Start and Mother+. During his visit to a kindergarten with a nursery section in Wysocko Małe, which opened last year, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki spoke about the enormous support the government is providing to many Polish homes. The village is located in a municipality that previously had no such facility.

We care about Polish employees and employers alike. We have established special economic zones that encourage investment in Poland. Thanks to such measures, unemployment is at a record low and the quality of life is steadily rising. Residents of small towns no longer have to leave their families behind in search of work. Recently, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visited Melvit, a leading producer of flakes and cereal products on the Polish market, based near Ostrołęka. The company sources cereals from its own fields and local farmers.

During talks with farmers, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that aid would be provided due to losses caused by issues related to receiving quick-ripening vegetables. Farmers ensure Poland’s food security and contribute to its development with their hard work. The state must provide farmers with economic and legal security. Where the interests of Polish farmers are at stake, we will always intervene in their defence.