The Sejm is the organ that united the Republic of Poland. It influenced the formation of political and civic awareness, contributed to the development of law, historiography, and culture," said Marek Kuchciński, Speaker of the Sejm, at the opening of the exhibition "550 Years of the Parliamentarism of the Republic of Poland".

The Speaker of the Sejm emphasized that the Royal Castle is the most important place for the whole Poland, the seat of kings, as well as the place of Sejm sessions and the symbol of enactment of the 3rd of May Constitution.

Within these walls momentous decisions, important for the Republic of Poland and its citizens, important for the Polish statehood, were made," said Marek Kuchciński.

The history of parliamentarism in the Republic of Poland, our parliamentarism, dates back to the Middle Ages. We date it back to 1468, when for the first time a bicameral parliament was held in Piotrków. And although the date itself sometimes provokes discussions among historians, we all agree that the parliamentarism of the Republic of Poland has centuries-old traditions. From the 15th century at the latest until modern times, the Sejm has become a permanent element of the political system of our Polish statehood," recalled the Marshal.

As he pointed out, over the centuries, under the influence of various currents of worldview and cultural patterns, the system of our state and the organizational structure of the Sejm changed, "but always when the Republic of Poland existed the Sejm, parliamentarianism lasted.

Sejm is a body that united the Republic of Poland. It influenced the formation of political and civil awareness, contributed to the development of law, historiography, culture that was read and quoted in the whole civilized world of those times - said Marek Kuchciński.

Polish political thought found a wide expression in writing. The content was complemented by book illustrations, leaflets, posters, maps, paintings, and in later times, closer to us - by photographs and films. That is why such an important element of our native culture is the heritage, the national legacy associated with the system of government and serving this system and its citizens - emphasized the Marshal.

He also reminded that many priceless documents and works of art were irretrievably destroyed during the Second World War.

Those that have survived are the material heritage of our parliamentarism, the parliamentarism of the Republic of Poland. That is why, from this place, I would like to express my deep appreciation to those who, over the years, have nurtured the surviving monuments of the history of the Sejm," he said.

For us, as parliamentarians, today is an exceptional day (...) we feel that we are the guardians of the material and spiritual legacy of our predecessors, the continuators of the best traditions of Polish parliamentarism added the Speaker of the Sejm.

Photo: M. Olejnik, K. Białoskórski