Polish President Andrzej Duda has appointed members of the National Committee for the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Poland's Independence, which includes President Andrzej Duda, Speakers of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński and Senate Stanisław Karczewski, and Prime Minister Beata Szydło.  

According to the Act on the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Poland's Independence, which falls in 2018, political parties and other groups should also participate in the preparation of the national celebration of the 100th anniversary of independence.

The committee will also include representatives of churches and other religious associations, cultural and scientific circles, local government, trade unions, veterans' organizations and other social organizations or persons of particular merit for Poland. These persons will be appointed and dismissed by the President.

The purpose of the Committee is to carry out in 2017-21 tasks aimed at commemorating and celebrating events and persons related to the regaining and consolidation of independence by Poland. One of the main tasks of the Committee will be the annual adoption of a plan for the celebration of state ceremonies for a given year.

The Committee will also promote in Poland and abroad "the idea of commemorating the regaining and consolidation of independence by" Poland, initiate cooperation between state authorities, local government, churches and other religious associations, political parties, trade unions, veterans' organizations and other social organizations.

It will also express - at the request of the president - an opinion on granting presidential patronage over ceremonies related to the anniversary.

- In matters most important for the Republic of Poland, its existence, independence, sovereignty, the fight against the enemy of the Republic of Poland, they have always been able to stand together, rejecting all divisions," stressed Andrzej Duda. - Therefore, I am glad that we are here together in this hall today. Today, also after these 100 years, people with different views, often very different opinions on the present Republic of Poland, on what it should be like. But we are here together, because we are all sure of one thing - that it should be independent and sovereign, that it should be free - said the President.

Ministry of Culture