We were right at the entrance of the Victoria Theatre in Barcelona to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the program PolandWhen someone told me something like this: "With the exception of the United Kingdom, in all the rest of Europe there is no political satire program that has lasted as long as the PolandThe phrase struck me, not because of the undeniable merits of those who have been producing the program for two decades, but because it described the unique character of a Catalan temperament that is capable of laughing at itself, an unmistakable sign of democratic health. It echoed those other words of the master Pau Casals, when in his distant speech at the United Nations he spoke emotionally about Catalonia, and among other things explained that our country had the first Parliament in the world, "even before England's." We were certainly at a celebration, but look at that, that impromptu statement at the beginning of the reflection I want to share through this article.

When thePolandThe political satire television program turned one year old, and I wrote four lines in the commemorative book. I liked the idea of ​​making a point of mockery. They call us "Poles." It will be calledPolandNow twenty years have passed, and thePolandHe threw a party to celebrate, which was broadcast on TV, with a miraculous audience.

In Piti Español, one of the best screenwriters we have in the country, has a theory he used to explain in his university classes. He said that if the day after a program's broadcast people commented on three good moments, it had been a success. The thesis fits with the gala of Polònia that TV3 broadcast on Thursday night to commemorate its twenty years. Beyond record-breaking audience figures that confirm the emotional bond between the program and viewers, the gala had masterful moments. For example, Queco Novell's conversation with four of his political alter egos: Maragall, Illa, Puigdemont and Rajoy. The combination of reality and fiction, actor and characters, was a filigree that connected with the symbolic game of theatricality and satire. It represented the mirror game between television and politics very well, and it was a way to acknowledge Novell's work, who has become the man of a thousand faces.The video of the bad moments of Polònia accompanied by the delicate mischief of Els Amics de les Arts was masterful and hilarious. Nothing better than laughing at one's own slips and flaws. It shied away from constant self-praise, admitted blunders as inevitable in humor, and reminded us of the evolution of political correctness. The blackface, body-shaming, the ridiculing transvestism of women, racial stereotypes, and other absurdities that the song's lyrics reinforced were the best way to engage in self-criticism. A parody in itself, using the language of in memoriam to perform a hilarious harakiri. The caricature of the voluntary viewer as Pedro Sánchez demonstrated the dimension that, in these twenty years, Polònia has acquired.The enormous hairy testicles that the audience passed around the stalls are an inevitable allegory of the political context of the last two decades. The script made the most of the choral spectacle, nostalgia, collective memory, and the program's symbolic universe with chocolate croissants, gangnam styles, and Franco-Mercury vacuuming. The director was quick to connect the spectacle with the audience's amusement in the seats, even capturing the lick that the real Artur Mas gave to Duran i Lleida's clone. The script focused more on the action than on words, without affectation or demagoguery.It is difficult for a gala with a theatrical spirit to work on television, but a very balanced hybrid of the two languages was achieved, combining the epic of musicals and the effectiveness of sketches. A total show where people danced, sang, projected, and interacted with the audience, and which involved a large number of professionals who went beyond the stage. Enric Cambray's direction establishes him as a skilled tamer of complex shows. And all this to be performed only once. May the injection of talent, energy, and affection demonstrated in this gala serve to fuel Polònia for another twenty years.

At the Teatre Victòria this Monday, the magic wasn't provided by Mago Pop, but PolandThe hall was packed for the gala celebrating the twentieth anniversary of this program, the backbone of TV3's schedule. In Catalonia, on Thursdays, paella is served in bars, and on television, the Poland...if football doesn't ruin it. There's a palpable tension in the team, because the show about to begin will be recorded and become the episode that viewers have seen this week. The technical challenge is enormous, and furthermore, while this political satire program has usually demonstrated quick reflexes when current events have demanded it, today they've had to shake up the entire lineup due to two particularly painful absences: Pep Plaza had to leave a few hours ago to attend to a serious family matter, and Judit Martín has a debilitating case of the flu.

The Polònia is twenty years old. And it has merit: as things stand, it is very difficult for a TV3 program to reach twenty years. The proof of its power is the massive attendance of politicians at the anniversary gala that was held this Monday and will be broadcast on Thursday. Two decades that confirm Polònia as a television classic, because it combines media, cultural and symbolic factors that make it unique and, at the same time, turn it into a benchmark.On the one hand, there is longevity. It has survived seven presidents of the Generalitat. All seven have had the temptation to get rid of it, but the cost of making it disappear would have been much greater than the wear and tear of appearing parodied on it. Another key element, the audience, has guaranteed its relevance and, therefore, its survival. It is a program loved by viewers, who, in these twenty years, have seen television go from traditional consumption to the viralization of sketches through social networks. The medium has transformed more than the program.The Polònia has been a turning point as a television format. There were sketch comedy programs before and there have been since. But Polònia has managed to create a language and codes that have given it a very recognizable personality. Any circumstance of political current affairs that enters the realm of the grotesque is automatically identified with the humor of the program. "That looks like a sketch from "Polònia", we say when reality surpasses fiction. This is a symptom of its ability to leave a social mark. Furthermore, its scriptwriters have created a universe of phrases, musical themes and characters that show that the program has contributed to strengthening the imaginary of pop culture in Catalonia.The format has also transcended its own protagonists. Not even Toni Soler has been essential for the program's continuity. Polònia has strengthened thestar-system of actors with multiple actors and actresses who have seen their professional careers boosted thanks to the program. And, on the other hand, the political satire space has devoured another star-system, the media one, to pass it through its shredder. From Basté to Ustrell, from Cuní to Cruanyes, from Terribas to Rahola, from Tomàs Molina to Raquel Sans, Polònia has known how to play with autochthonous references and draw a symbolic universe.

He Poland TV3's show turns 20, and there are reasons to celebrate collectively, because humor is like a canary in a coal mine: if a country's public television broadcasts a political satire program where everyone is exposed, from the president and the powers that be on down, then we're in a democracy that leans heavily on image. You won't find an equivalent on Spanish television. Let's see who dares to take on King Felipe or the Ibex 35. Humor alone can't save democracy, but a country is also its sense of humor: what can be said and what's taboo.

If there is one thing that has characterized Polònia in its twenty years of history, it has been its speed in incorporating phenomena from real life into its gags. This week, the satirical program's screenwriters have once again shown this by turning Gabriel Rufián into Bad Bunny and recreating part of the celebrated show that the Puerto Rican performed at the Super Bowl on Sunday. Specifically, the program has adapted the song Debí tirar más fotos with lyrics that refer to the proposal by the spokesperson for Esquerra in Congress to unite the different left-wing parties to face the rise of the far-right.

Poland is accelerating its rearmament in response to the recent wave of sabotage targeting the country's critical infrastructure, which Warsaw blames on Moscow, and the increase in Russian drone incursions into its territory.

The geopolitical landscape in Europe shifted dramatically in 2022 with the start of Russia's war against Ukraine, forcing European countries to rethink their defense strategies and seek innovative solutions beyond investing billions of euros in conventional weaponry, tanks, and anti-drone systems. Now, some European countries bordering Russia and Belarus, a Kremlin ally, are exploring the restoration of wetlands—peat bogs, marshes, and swamps—to create natural barriers capable of halting Russian tanks in the event of a ground invasion.

Poland has directly accused Russia of the explosion that damaged a railway line this past weekend, which the country's authorities consider an act of sabotage. The spokesman for the Polish Minister of Security Services, Jacek Dobrzynski, asserted that "everything indicates" that Russian intelligence services are behind the incident. "We can now confidently classify it as a terrorist attack, which was initiated by special services from the East," he stated, referring to Moscow. Furthermore, Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported that authorities have identified the main suspects: two Ukrainians who had entered Poland from Belarus and are believed to work for Russian intelligence services. Tusk provided these initial details on Tuesday in the Polish Parliament, where he also explained that one of the suspects had previously been convicted of sabotage in a court in Lviv, Ukraine. The Prime Minister added that both men have returned to Belarus. The attack took place on Saturday night when a wire-activated explosive device detonated, damaging the tracks on the Warsaw-Lublin line. Tusk explained that it was confirmed the perpetrators used military-grade C-4 explosive to trigger the detonation. The explosive exploded under a freight train, which sustained minor damage to its chassis but severely damaged the tracks, posing greater risks to subsequent trains on the route, according to the prime minister. The next train to stop had been informed of the problem and was traveling slowly enough to stop in time. "They were trying to cause a catastrophe," Tusk stated. Furthermore, on Sunday morning, a hole was discovered that had deflected the rails at another point on the line, and several damages affecting the electrical power supply system were also discovered along a 60-meter stretch, where tools allegedly used by the perpetrators of the sabotage were also found. Tusk yesterday described the explosion as an "unprecedented act of sabotage" and an attack "on the security of the Polish state and its citizens." The route covered by the tracks where the explosion occurred was used to transport weapons to Kyiv, the leader explained after visiting the site of the incident, near the town of Mika, about 100 kilometers from Warsaw. This Tuesday morning, the Polish government held an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Committee, with the participation of military commanders, heads of services, and a representative of the president to discuss the alleged attack. Tusk explained that in response to the incident, Poland will raise the alert level to three out of four for certain parts of the railway infrastructure throughout the country, while the overall threat level will remain unchanged at level two. He added that they are looking into how to use the military to protect key infrastructure such as the railways.

Poland, long considered a Central European country, is increasingly looking towards the Baltic Sea. Warsaw has made a geopolitical shift in recent years in the face of the growing threat from Russia. and the divisions within the Visegrad Group – the alliance made up of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary – over the war in Ukraine. "The Baltic is key to Poland's security, so it must return to a sea of red and white," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in early October, evoking the colors of the Polish flag.

The Polish Armed Forces' operational command closed part of its airspace on Sunday and activated air defenses—including the deployment of fighter jets—as a "preventive" measure following the latest Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian territory, in order to "ensure the security of the airspace."

Barcelona City Council has just published a survey on the restaurant sector, which highlights the dramatic situation of Catalan. Only 52.4% of bar and restaurant workers in Barcelona speak Catalan, the lowest percentage in the last decade. And the number of staff who do not understand Catalan reached 24%, three percentage points more than last year. The publication of these alarming results coincided with one of the musical sketches of the Poland, which started its twenty-first season the night before. In a cafe, one of the characters ordered a coffee with milk and, after the waiter's apparent diligence in taking the order, the version of theHallelujah by Leonard Cohen. The customer, amazed by the good disposition, sang gratefully: "I ordered a coffee with milk and you didn't tell me what would you wish for?" and all the clientele sang at once: "A place in Barna that is not for expats!" Taking advantage of that mirage, another ordered bread with tomato and ham because "I'm sick of Eggs Benedict." Another ordered two strawberry scoops for dessert. And after the heartfelt, heartfelt "Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah..."Here's the coffee with 'yel'. And the bread with tomato and a brush." offering tomato puree with a small cup to spread the paste on the sandwich. Instead of strawberry ice cream, he had a bottle of Kombutxa. "And I was so excited! They understand Catalan in Catalonia!" the customers simultaneously lament. The waiter, who seems to be the owner of the business, responds sarcastically: "What a mess! What a mess! Catalan in Catalonia!The sketch goes beyond drama and has a final twist that also references the ease with which we often switch to Spanish in many of these establishments. Poland to reflect the country's political and social reality and its rifts. Perhaps the first chapter was not very incisive considering the current situation. And the football sketches seem like doses of the Crackòvia to avoid political tensions.

Volodymyr Zelensky is frustrated by Donald Trump's inaction and will demand that he take a more decisive stance against Russia next week. The Ukrainian president is scheduled to meet with the White House leader at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, he explained in a conversation with journalists in Kiev. "If the war continues and there are no steps towards peace, we expect sanctions," he said.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced this Friday the launch of a new initiative, called Eastern Sentinel, to strengthen the defense of its eastern flank, after Wednesday's incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace"Eastern Sentinel will add flexibility and strength to our posture and make it clear that, as a defensive alliance, we are always ready to defend ourselves," Rutte said at a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, accompanied by Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynwi.

European countries bordering Russia want to protect themselves after the violation of their airspace. Poland announced Thursday that it will restrict air traffic in the eastern part of the country along its border with Belarus and Ukraine, a day after shooting down several Russian drones that had entered its airspaceThe restrictions, which came into effect Wednesday night, will remain in place until December 9, the Polish Air Traffic Control Agency announced in a statement. At the request of the operational command of the armed forces, Poland has banned drone flights and introduced restrictions in this border area that primarily affect small, non-commercial air traffic. However, they will not affect passenger traffic.

The Violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones This Wednesday has set off alarm bells not only in Poland, but throughout the entire NATO alliance. For the first time, NATO air defenses have had to shoot down Russian drones over the territory of a member state. This is the most serious incident so far, but the countries closest to Russia and Ukraine have long been warning of the dangers they face.

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Poland announced early this morning that it had shot down several Russian drones that entered its territory and thus violated Polish airspace. NATO member Warsaw considered the incursion "an act of aggression" that posed "a real threat to the security" of its citizens. Prime Minister Donald Tusk even warned that the prospect of a major open conflict with Russia is "closer than at any time since World War II."

Ultranationalist Karol Nawrocki was sworn in this Wednesday as Poland's new president for the next five years, after defeating Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a candidate close to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in the June elections. With Nawrocki's inauguration, Poland faces years of political deadlock, with a difficult coexistence between an ultraconservative and nationalist president and a liberal-centrist and pro-European prime minister.