Warsaw Voice - A PiS Take

4 January 2006

Lech Kaczyński Dec. 23 formally assumed the office of president of Poland. This marked an end to the process of the right wing's takeover of power, a process which started with the election victory of Law and Justice (PiS) and the formation of the Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz government.

The swearing-in ceremony before the National Assembly-the two chambers of the Polish parliament, Sejm and Senate, meeting for a joint session-was the first item on the program of ceremonies in which the new president assumed office. Attending were representatives of the diplomatic corps and the clergy as well as two former presidents, Lech Wałęsa and Aleksander Kwaśniewski.

"In assuming the office of the President of Poland of the will of the Nation, I solemnly swear to remain faithful to the provisions of the Constitution and to protect the dignity of the Nation, and the State's independence and security. The good of our homeland and prosperity of the citizens will always be my most important imperative," reads the oath taken by Kaczyński. In contrast to his predecessor, who was an atheist, Kaczyński added: "So help me God."

In his 20-minute address, the president said that Poland needed to settle accounts with its past but also needed unity and peace. According to him, the state has to be cleansed and reconstructed. He said the repair of the state was a task involving the need to "remove detrimental social pathologies from Poland's life, first and foremost crime and particularly corruption."

Kaczyński promised he would not be guided by loyalty to anything except Poland. He said a deep change was needed in the manner in which power was exercised in Poland, and expressed his conviction that the country needed a new Constitution. "A secure Poland, developing well, solving social problems, deeply set in tradition but also modern and successful, is a goal which all Polish people can stand behind," the president said. He stressed that his task in foreign policy and defense would be to make every effort to ensure security and favorable political and economic conditions for "the great reconstruction which we should undertake in Poland."

According to Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, the president's message marks the beginning of the Fourth Republic of Poland. "We have always reiterated that the president guarantees the construction of the Fourth Republic. The Fourth Republic will not come into being without the president's involvement, without his supervision of the government and our actions," the prime minister stated.

Donald Tusk, the leader of the opposition Civic Platform (PO) and Kaczyński's rival in the second round of presidential elections, wished him a good presidency. Tusk said he would like the new president to be a guarantor of civil rights and freedoms and of Poland's strong position in Europe and the world. He also wished Kaczyński success in efforts to restore confidence in democracy in Poland-the citizens' confidence in their authorities and authorities' confidence in the citizens. "I would like the Polish people to be proud of their country during Lech Kaczyński's presidency; I would like us to be a proud nation in Europe. A good president and a good presidency mean good times for all of us, including me, Lech Kaczyński's recent rival," Tusk said.

Andrzej Lepper, the leader of Samoobrona, described the president's message as "matter-of-fact, serious and promising an active presidency." Meanwhile, according to Wojciech Olejniczak, the leader of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), "the president devoted more attention to the government and less to the great issues he will definitely be dealing with over the next five years."

After the swearing-in ceremony, the president and his closest relatives took part in a holy mass for Poland celebrated at Warsaw's St. John's Cathedral. Poland's Primate Cardinal Józef Glemp, who greeted the president at the cathedral, offered the homily.

Later on, at the Royal Castle, Kaczyński accepted his insignia as a Knight of the Order of the White Eagle and the Grand Cross of the Polonia Restituta Order. Under the law on orders and distinctions, the president of Poland, by virtue of his election to this post, becomes a Knight of the Order of the White Eagle and the Great Master of the Order as well as presiding over the Order Chapter. He also becomes a Knight of the Polonia Restituta Order Class I and presides over the Chapter of this Order as its Grand Master.

Kaczyński declared his policy on orders would differ from that pursued by Aleksander Kwaśniewski. He emphasized that the orders over whose chapters he would preside, are associated with what is the most important to Poles-"an independent and sovereign Polish state."

The Order of the White Eagle is the highest Polish distinction, established in 1705, restored in 1921, abolished in the times of the Polish People's Republic and restored again in 1992. The order is conferred in recognition of outstanding civilian and military services in times of war and peace. The Polonia Restituta Order, established in 1921, is conferred in recognition of outstanding services to the state and nation, especially outstanding achievements in public activity to the benefit of the country, special services in strengthening the country's sovereignty and defense, for the development of the national economy, public service, for outstanding scientific, literary and artistic work and outstanding services for the development of cooperation between the Republic of Poland and other nations.

When accepting the insignia, Kaczyński emphasized that the day he assumed the office was not the most important day in his life. He pointed to the victory of the Solidarity opposition in the June 4, 1989 elections and the formation of the first non-communist government in September 1989 as the most important developments.

The last item on the program of the presidential inauguration was the ceremony in which Kaczyński assumed the post of Head of the Armed Forces on Piłsudskiego Square in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (see photo). Kaczyński kneeled and kissed the Pennant of the Head of the Armed Forces. Soldiers fired five gun salvos, each symbolizing one year of the president's term. The president listened to a report from Gen. Czesław Piątak, the chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, and inspected subunits. In his address on the square, Kaczyński said he wanted the Polish army to become stronger and more modern. He also expressed the conviction that future generations of Poles will live in peace. He emphasized that the Polish army had a fine and proud tradition of 1,000 years.