WARSAW, Poland—Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Polish Parliament, Bronislaw Komorowski, addressed the nation on Saturday afternoon about the tragedy that took the lives of Poland’s president and dozens of other top officials.
According to the Polish constitution, if the president dies, the speaker assumes the post. Below is the full transcript of his speech:
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! Dear fellow citizens! Poland is in mourning. We have experienced an extremely painful loss. An airplane crash has taken the lives of the President of Poland Lech Kaczynski and his wife.
Additionally, the deputy speakers of the House of Representatives and the Senate, various ministers, members of the House of Representatives and senators from all political parties, generals, and bishops have also lost their lives.
They died performing their public duty for the benefit of the common good, for Poland. They died en route to a commemorative event in Katyn, where 70 years ago, thousands of Polish officers lost their lives in the name of a principle—that love toward one’s fatherland sometimes demands the highest sacrifice.
Today, in the face of this national drama, we stand together. Today there is no division between left and right. Difference of opinion and creed mean nothing now.
Today we bind together in the face of a momentous drama, in the face of the death of many. Together, we feel the pain that the families of the deceased feel, and we feel great concern for the fate of the nation that they leave behind.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! Dear fellow citizens!
Article 131 of the Constitution charges the speaker of the House of Representatives with the responsibility to ensure administrative continuity with respect to the institution of the president, who is the head of state in Poland. In light of the responsibilities that I have been entrusted with, I wish to announce a weeklong period of national mourning.
Let us unite in grief both in the public sphere and in private. Let us experience it both as a community and as individuals. Let us do it as humans, from the depths of our compassionate hearts.
My duty is to decide, within two weeks, on a date for the presidential election, which must take place no later than 60 days after [the] announcement. My intention is to do this after having consulted with representatives of all political parties.
I direct my sincere thoughts and prayers to those who perished in a terrible catastrophe near Smolensk and would like to express words of personal sympathy to the families of the victims, in particular to the family of President Lech Kaczynski, to his mother, daughter, and brother.
Let us be united during this difficult time for our nation.
According to the Polish constitution, if the president dies, the speaker assumes the post. Below is the full transcript of his speech:
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! Dear fellow citizens! Poland is in mourning. We have experienced an extremely painful loss. An airplane crash has taken the lives of the President of Poland Lech Kaczynski and his wife.
Additionally, the deputy speakers of the House of Representatives and the Senate, various ministers, members of the House of Representatives and senators from all political parties, generals, and bishops have also lost their lives.
They died performing their public duty for the benefit of the common good, for Poland. They died en route to a commemorative event in Katyn, where 70 years ago, thousands of Polish officers lost their lives in the name of a principle—that love toward one’s fatherland sometimes demands the highest sacrifice.
Today, in the face of this national drama, we stand together. Today there is no division between left and right. Difference of opinion and creed mean nothing now.
Today we bind together in the face of a momentous drama, in the face of the death of many. Together, we feel the pain that the families of the deceased feel, and we feel great concern for the fate of the nation that they leave behind.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! Dear fellow citizens!
Article 131 of the Constitution charges the speaker of the House of Representatives with the responsibility to ensure administrative continuity with respect to the institution of the president, who is the head of state in Poland. In light of the responsibilities that I have been entrusted with, I wish to announce a weeklong period of national mourning.
Let us unite in grief both in the public sphere and in private. Let us experience it both as a community and as individuals. Let us do it as humans, from the depths of our compassionate hearts.
My duty is to decide, within two weeks, on a date for the presidential election, which must take place no later than 60 days after [the] announcement. My intention is to do this after having consulted with representatives of all political parties.
I direct my sincere thoughts and prayers to those who perished in a terrible catastrophe near Smolensk and would like to express words of personal sympathy to the families of the victims, in particular to the family of President Lech Kaczynski, to his mother, daughter, and brother.
Let us be united during this difficult time for our nation.
