Poles are proud of their national colours: president

Poland’s president has said he is pleased that Polish people treat their national colours “with respect and pride,” as reflected in events to mark Flag Day on May 2. 

Andrzej Duda.

PAP/Paweł Supernak

Andrzej Duda made the statement in a TV interview on Monday, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Prezydent @AndrzejDuda w @tvp_info: Od 19 lat jesteśmy członkami Unii Europejskiej. Widać tego efekty. Wszyscy jesteśmy państwami suwerennymi, ale w historycznych momentach interes wspólnoty zwycięża. pic.twitter.com/dpgAb5re72

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) May 1, 2023

The president told state broadcaster TVP Info that “every Polish politician should wear a badge with the white-and-red flag,” because “they have a duty to implement the national interest.”

Speaking on the eve of Poland’s Flag Day, Duda stressed the great importance of national colours for national identity, the IAR news agency reported. 

He said: “It pleases me that Polish people respect the national colours, that national colours matter to them, that Polish people are proud of their national colours. It’s beautiful.” 

Cieszy mnie, że Polacy szanują barwy narodowe, że są one dla nich ważne, że są z nich dumni – powiedział prezydent Andrzej Duda. Dodał, że znaczek z biało-czerwoną flagą powinien być znakiem rozpoznawczy każdego polskiego polityka, a nie tylko prezydenta.https://t.co/gF82KDu1NM pic.twitter.com/BlftsB6rSR

— TVP Parlament (@TVPParlament) May 1, 2023

Spoglądamy dziś z dumą na nasze narodowe barwy i symbole, przypominając sobie ich znaczenie i wagę. Biało-czerwona jednoczy nas i przypomina, że jesteśmy Polakami.

Niech żyje Polska! 🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/lNJ3wmIilF

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) May 2, 2023

Day of Poles Abroad

May 2 is also the Day of Poles Abroad, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Asked about the role of Polish expats in the life of the nation, the president said he would like them “to return to Poland,” but added that “everyone is entitled to make their own decisions in life as to where they want to live.” 

Duda stated: “What matters is that they have a choice.”

He also said: “I would like Poland to always be a country that allows Polish people to choose if they want to live in the homeland or somewhere abroad. I will always be encouraging people to live in the homeland.”

Dziś Dzień Flagi RP oraz Dzień Polonii i Polaków za Granicą! Jak będą wyglądać uroczystości? Weźmie w nich udział Para prezydencka. SPRAWDŹhttps://t.co/Cz4NhpIlHV

— wPolityce.pl (@wPolityce_pl) May 2, 2023

The president noted that during the communist era, some people left Poland in pursuit of freedom. 

He said: “Today you are a free person in Poland. Everyone can choose a place to live. I personally feel best here. This is my homeland, this is my place.” 

Established in 2002, the Day of Poles Abroad is a celebration of some 20 million people who cultivate their Polish roots despite living away from their home country, the IAR news agency reported.

The occasion is designed to strengthen a sense of unity among all Poles and help expats maintain their national identity, according to officials. 

The biggest number of expats and people of Polish descent, 10 million, live in the United States.

There are also sizable Polish communities in Brazil, Canada, Britain, France and Germany, and Poles live in many other countries, including Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine, the IAR news agency reported.   

2 maja to Dzień Polonii i Polaków za Granicą, w tym samym dniu przypada także Dzień Flagi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej. Następnego dnia obchodzimy rocznicę uchwalenia Konstytucji 3 Maja 1791 r. https://t.co/l2oLnJ1auS

— Kurier Wileński (@KurierWilenski) May 2, 2023

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, niezalezna.pl