Andrzej Duda Calls for Strengthening Armed Forces on Poland's Independence Day
On the occasion of Poland's 105th Independence Day, President Andrzej Duda called for a significant bolstering of the country's armed forces. During the solemn ceremonies marking the restoration of Poland's independence, Duda emphasized the need to enhance military capabilities, ensuring that the Polish army could defend the nation, even if faced with aggression from the Russian military.
Official celebrations in Warsaw commenced at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, attended by President Andrzej Duda. Speaking at Pilsudski Square, Duda remarked, "For us Poles, this day, November 11th, is a day of joy, pride, and glory." Earlier in the day, runners took to the streets of the capital for the Independence Run.
As part of the ceremony, President Duda, along with Speaker of the Sejm Elzbieta Witek, Speaker of the Senate Tomasz Grodzki, Marshal of the Sejm Marek Sawicki, and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
President Andrzej Duda, in his address, stressed the necessity "to strengthen the military security of our country, restore significant potential to our army, modernize it, make it capable of defending Poland in the event of external aggression, and even fight against the Russian army if it were to invade the country."
He underlined, "Above all, it must be such that it guarantees that the Russian army does not occupy Poland. The prospect of defeat in Poland, and thus the shame and disgrace of the imperial idea's failure, are the only things that can stop Russian imperialism." Therefore, he insisted that "armament programs that we have started must be consistently completed and implemented in full, both in terms of procurement and the buildup of the personnel potential of our army. This is a historical and existential issue and the foundation of security."
Independence Day is marked on November 11th, commemorating the day 105 years ago when the Regency Council handed over military power and supreme command to Jozef Pilsudski, leader of the Polish forces. On the same day, Germany signed an armistice, ending World War I. Before this day, Poland was absent from the map of Europe for 123 years.
The celebration on November 11th was established by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland in 1937 but was abolished in 1945, remaining unobserved throughout the entire period of the Polish People's Republic. It was reinstated in 1989 by law. Since then, November 11th, the National Independence Day, has been a public holiday.