Poland marked the 107th anniversary of its independence with speeches from President Karol Nawrocki and right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) leader Jarosław Kaczyński, both using the occasion to address the state of the nation. Their remarks underscored the importance of protecting democracy, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding national sovereignty, while reflecting on Poland’s historical struggles and the political challenges it faces today.
In his speech, President Nawrocki spoke of the “great responsibility” that rests on Poles today.
We know that in the 20th century, Poland was independent and sovereign for only 31 years, and for 69 years, it was either partitioned or a Soviet colony after 1945. What will we do now for Polish freedom and sovereignty in the 21st century? Will this be the century in which we remain free and independent for all one hundred years?
According to the President, November 11th is a “great holiday built by generations and the fathers of independence–different people who wanted the same thing.” He emphasized that the generation between the two world wars “never gave up on freedom and independence.”
Reflecting on Poland’s thousand-year history, he asked:
Where is our national identity today? Where are the Christian values that laid the foundations of the Polish state? Why do we have to face the pressure of foreign ideologies today, which are trying to push these values out of schools and education?
Nawrocki argued that such “foreign ideologies” and Western models do not represent Polish values. He declared that, as President, he would not allow Poland to once again become “a parrot among nations,” mindlessly repeating everything that comes from the West. While acknowledging Poland’s membership in the European Union, he stressed that the country’s own interests–and those of its citizens–must always come first.
The head of state also touched on the importance of economic development and public responsibility. He emphasized that citizens “do not want political theater,” but rather access to healthcare, affordable energy, and a stable economy. Wasting public funds and prioritizing spectacle over substance, he warned, could endanger the country’s freedom and sovereignty.
Meanwhile, in Warsaw, around 100,000 people joined the annual Independence March, a massive patriotic demonstration organized by the right-wing political forces.
Earlier in the day, PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński laid flowers at the statue of Marshal Józef Piłsudski in Warsaw. In his speech, he also reflected on the current political situation in Poland, stressing that the anniversary should also be a moment to reflect on independence, democracy, and the rule of law.
Kaczyński warned of a “serious crisis” threatening these values, arguing that democracy and the rule of law are in deep danger amid “grandiose plans to reshape Europe in favor of the great powers.”
It is a great task to rebuild Polish democracy and the rule of law since today the executive power, or rather one person, decides what is law and what is not.
In his criticism, Kaczyński referred to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government, accusing it of weakening democratic institutions, targeting opposition politicians, and spreading foreign ideologies.
