The Act on Prohibition of Propagation of Communism or Other Totalitarian Regime by the Names of Buildings, Objects and Public Utility Devices enters into force today. It provides that the names of, inter alia, streets, bridges and squares, which are assigned by local government units, may not commemorate persons, organizations, events or dates symbolizing communism or another totalitarian system or propagate such system in any other way. According to the Act, names referring to persons, organizations, events or dates symbolizing the repressive, authoritarian and non-sovereign system of power in Poland in the years 1944-1989 are deemed to be propagating communism. The Act obliges local governments to change existing names that commemorate or propagate communism or another totalitarian system within 12 months from the entry into force of the new regulations. The decision to declare invalid a resolution naming a structure, object or device of public utility contrary to the new regulations will be made by the provincial governor after mandatory consultation with the Institute of National Remembrance. Under the new regulations, a name change made under the Act will not affect the validity of documents containing the existing name.

Chancellery of the Sejm