Today marks the 228th anniversary of the adoption of the first Polish constitution. On May 3, 1791, the Great Sejm, meeting at the Royal Castle, accepted the draft of the new governmental act presented the previous night – in the absence of its opponents. 

The May 3rd Constitution introduced a hereditary monarchy in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, equalized the rights of burghers and nobility, brought peasants under the legal protection of the state, and regulated the country's entire system.

Central celebrations for the 228th anniversary of this event will begin at 9:30 AM with a solemn Holy Mass at St. John's Archcathedral in Warsaw's Old Town – the same cathedral where the deputies prayed in 1791 after the adoption of the new fundamental law.

At 11:00 AM, President Andrzej Duda will present state decorations at the Royal Castle. At exactly noon, the main ceremonies will commence at Castle Square, and at 2:00 PM, a military parade organized by the Ministry of National Defence will march off from Wisłostrada to commemorate Poland's 15 years in the EU and 20 years in NATO.

At 8:00 AM, the leader of the Polish People's Party (PSL), Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, will lay flowers before the monument of Wincenty Witos in Three Crosses Square. At 11:10 AM, Civic Platform (PO) chairman Grzegorz Schetyna will hold his press briefing. Earlier, leaders of the European Coalition will lay flowers at the grave of Hugo Kołłątaj, one of the creators of the May 3rd Constitution. At 12:45 PM, a press conference by Lewica Razem will take place, where they will present Donald Tusk's new political vehicle.

At 2:00 PM, the President of the European Council will deliver his long-announced lecture at the University of Warsaw. In his speech, Donald Tusk is expected to address not only today's anniversary but also Poland's 15 years in the European Union, Poland's position in a united Europe, and the political situation in the country.

Also today, Jarosław Gowin will present his own proposal regarding the inclusion of Poland's EU membership in the Constitution, as he stated on Polsat News: - I am not rejecting such a proposal [to include Poland's EU membership in the constitution] outright, but I think Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz's proposal is not bold enough. I would like to remind you that the relationship between Poland and the EU is not regulated at all in the Polish constitution. The constitution was adopted in 1997, when we were not yet a member of the union. The day after tomorrow, during the May 3rd celebrations in Krakow, I will present a proposal that goes much further than what Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz proposed today.

Photo: Jan Matejko, Constitution of May 3, 1791, 1891

- We want to amend and improve this [currently binding] Constitution. We want to enshrine EU membership. This is our responsibility to future generations. We are part of the European family, and we want to be, just as 20 European countries have references to the European community enshrined. These are countries that have been members for a long time, like France, but also countries that joined the EU with us. This Constitution needs to be changed to adapt to the events that have occurred since its adoption in 1997 - stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at a briefing in Warsaw. The delegation, with the PSL leader at its head, laid flowers at Trzech Krzyży Square in front of the monument to Wincenty Witos on the occasion of the May 3rd holiday.

- This proposal of ours has been sent to all MPs. I see that some have already shown interest, and even a willingness to engage in a debate on this matter. I am referring to Deputy Prime Minister Gowin. I am very grateful that he is following the voice of the PSL, and that he will present his proposal today. It's good that there is a discussion. Ours is concrete, ready, and has been submitted. I hope that everyone in the ruling camp will share Deputy Prime Minister Gowin's opinion that it is worthwhile to enshrine EU membership in the Polish Constitution, because it has not been universal so far - he emphasized.

- At that exact time, we'll be at the parade. Every time I've heard, and I've been in politics for quite a few years, despite my age, about Donald Tusk saying something significant, important, almost groundbreaking, nothing of the sort has materialized. I am convinced that today will be exactly the same. Tusk is indeed good at doing this one thing brilliantly, namely stirring up emotions. However, I am sure that nothing significant or groundbreaking will be said by Tusk at the University of Warsaw - stated Błażej Spychalski in an interview with Wojciech Dąbrowski on Polsat News' "Graffiti".

Jarosław Gowin, following the May 3rd ceremonies in Krakow, intends to propose a cross-party consensus on introducing a "European" chapter to the Constitution, 300POLITYKA has learned. Gowin aims to draw upon the work of the Constitutional Committee, which he chaired at the end of the first term of the Civic Platform and PSL governments. This committee included figures such as Karol Karski and Arkadiusz Mularczyk from the right-wing, as well as former Prime Ministers from the SLD: Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, the late Józef Oleksy, and former Marshal Marek Borowski.

- *The Republic of Poland is a member of the European Union, which respects the sovereignty and national identity of its member states. Poland's membership in the European Union serves the goals of the Constitution and does not violate the principles mentioned in its preamble and Chapter I, the constitutional freedoms, rights, and obligations of man and citizen, nor the constitutional principles of public finances.* - This is the wording that Porozumienie (Agreement) will propose for the Constitution. The leader of Jarosław Gowin's party will officially announce this in Krakow. 300POLITYKA is the first to publish the full proposal of the party, which is part of the United Right coalition.

Gowin intends to refer to the compromise reached in 2011 regarding the constitutional "establishment of stable institutional foundations for Poland's EU membership." On May 1st, the leader of PSL, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, proposed a less extensive version of the constitutionalization of membership, which Gowin described as an "unadventurous" proposal.

We have consulted the transcripts of the Constitutional Committee from June 2011, during which Gowin, as its then-chairman, explained the compromise reached in the subcommittee's work regarding a "constitutional chapter":

* - I would like to say a few words about the assumptions that guided us. Despite the differences between the two projects, a common assumption of the drafters was the conviction about the need to establish stable institutional foundations for the Republic of Poland's membership in the EU. This membership should take into account the changed architecture of the EU, particularly through the Treaty of Lisbon, including the new role of national parliaments. Secondly, it should correspond to the constitutional identity of the Polish state. The text of the draft, as presented in the subcommittee's report, is the result of a compromise aimed at obtaining the majority of votes necessary to amend the basic law. This compromise is based on the most solid foundations possible. I want to reiterate once again that the representatives of all political formations involved in the subcommittee's work unanimously voted 'for' this report text. The agreement reached by the subcommittee stems from the reflection that the new legal institutions introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon should be described in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland using language that expresses the same institutional assumptions that shape the current relations between public authorities in Poland regarding policy towards the EU. Therefore, the proposed changes are not intended to modify the current scope of powers of the Sejm, the Senate, the President of the Republic of Poland, but merely to reinterpret these powers in the context of new treaty institutions. In the opinion of the subcommittee, the significance of decisions made by EU bodies requires that the involvement of the Polish legislature and executive in these processes maximally corresponds to their existing institutional role. It must be remembered that currently, decisions within the EU can determine the shape of law in force in Poland and can significantly shape the treaty framework of Poland's participation in the integration project.*

„We will be in the auditorium of the University of Warsaw. It is always a symbolic date, and it is important that the President of the European Council, a former Prime Minister of the Polish government and a former leader of Civic Platform, wants to say something important, to convey something to Poles, to say it on such a historic day. I think this is important. I do not frame this within the logic of an election campaign, because he is the President of the European Council and does not want to and cannot do so, but every vote of support for us, for the Polish cause, is important. We feel his support” - said the leader of Civic Platform, Grzegorz Schetyna, at a briefing.

„I never felt and do not feel like the leader of the opposition. I am the head of the largest opposition party and I am preparing it and the European Coalition for the European Parliament elections. We accept any support and are grateful for all of it. Donald Tusk’s work for the European community and Poland's position in Europe is important. We feel these positive emotions and his support. He will probably return to Poland in December 2019 and we will then consider what to do next” - said the Civic Platform (PO) leader Grzegorz Schetyna at a briefing.

“We Poles are a nation that has not only created its own history and built its own mentality, identity, and culture, but which has also, throughout its history, influenced the destinies of Europe and the world and, in a sense, shaped the world we see today,” said President Andrzej Duda during the celebrations of the 228th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of May 3rd.

“Certainly, the first, fundamental [moment in our history] was baptism. The decision of Prince Mieszko I, which introduced us to Christian Europe, which made us a truly European nation and state, which caused us to become Europeans, regardless of the system or political situation prevailing here, we have always been and have been part of great, Christian Europe ever since that time, shaped on this extraordinary, strong, powerful foundation,” he added.

“There are also later events. Among the positive moments, the coronation of Bolesław the Brave must certainly be pointed out, and then, 450 years ago, the Polish-Lithuanian Union. The first such union in Europe, which in a sense became a prototype for the European Union,” the president said.

“For 30 years, we have lived in a free, truly sovereign, and independent homeland. This independent and truly sovereign homeland has lasted longer than the Second Polish Republic, which lasted only 20 years. We have a great, historical opportunity to build a truly strong state that will be significant in Europe and the world” - said President Andrzej Duda during the celebrations of the 228th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of May 3rd.

„We have a constitution. We need to discuss its amendments, because it's worth discussing; about whether it's worth introducing provisions on the European Union into our constitution, whether we should guarantee our presence in this great alliance in the constitution. Personally, I am convinced that yes. Should we guarantee our presence in NATO? Personally, I am convinced that yes. But first and foremost, we should strive to ensure that the constitutional provisions that exist are well fulfilled, that what is written in it is true and is palpable for the ordinary citizen” - said President Andrzej Duda during the celebrations of the 228th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of May 3rd.

- It is worth considering today - May 3rd - what other nations have already done before us. What have the strongest nations done - France, Germany, what has Hungary, always mindful of its honor, with Viktor Orbán, done. I am referring to the constitutional regulation of Poland's relationship with the European Union, in order to sort out these matters, to stabilize Poland's presence in the structures of a united Europe, and at the same time to define the boundaries of sovereignty. Such boundaries that no one is allowed to violate. We need unity, we need equality, but we also need to be more Polish. The more Polish we are, the more European we are - said Jarosław Gowin in Krakow.

In Warsaw, a parade titled "Strong in Alliances" has been organized to mark the 20th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO and the 15th anniversary of Poland's entry into the EU. Following the example of pre-war celebrations, the parade is taking place on May 3rd. 

- I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for the presence of the NATO defense ministers. Your presence, the presence of the ministers, as well as the presence of NATO soldiers, is a sign of respect and a sense of community. I would like to emphasize that the Polish Army has been, is, and will continue to be active when it comes to participating in missions - said Mariusz Błaszczak during the "Strong in Alliances" parade.

- I do not hide it, we have great ambitions. We want Poland to be a stable, well-developed country, but above all, we want Poland to be a country where it is safe and where the citizen feels safe. We also want our citizens abroad to feel cared for by Poland and to know that if anything happens, Poland will not let them down. This is the quintessence of a strong state - said President Andrzej Duda during the "Strong in Alliances" parade.

Ewa Kopacz, a prominent politician, has shared a photograph on her Twitter account featuring several key figures from the Polish political scene. The image includes Donald Tusk, Grzegorz Schetyna, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Tomasz Siemoniak.

The tweet, linked here, depicts the politicians together, sparking speculation and discussion about potential political alignments and future collaborations within the opposition.

- Allow me, dear ladies and gentlemen, to also, if only for a moment, for a short moment, mention a lecturer of this university, a man whom I admired for years, and had the honor of knowing, Professor Karol Modzelewski. I ask for a moment of silence - Donald Tusk said at the University of Warsaw.


The event's attendees honored Karol Modzelewski with a minute of silence.

- We must make everyone who uses this epithet [Targowica] aware of its essence. Targowica is a synonym for betrayal and lies. It was then, after the adoption of the Constitution of May 3rd, under the slogans of pride and independence, that in reality chaos was restored in Poland, the enslavement of peasants, subservience to Russia, and consequently war, turmoil, and the collapse of the Polish state - Donald Tusk stated at the University of Warsaw.

- The essence of the Targowica betrayal was the overthrow of the Constitution. The Constitution is not a sacred text or a dogma. After all, any constitution can be changed and amended. If something is sacred, it is the sacred duty to uphold it by all citizens, and especially by the authorities - PDT added. As he emphasized, "violence against the Constitution undermines the most fundamental foundation of the community."

- I participated today at noon, together with the President of the Republic of Poland, in the May 3rd celebrations. And I had only one thought in my head. This thought was accompanied by both historical emotion and an awareness of what is happening in Poland today. It cannot be that the government celebrates Constitution Day once a year and disregards the constitution every other day - Donald Tusk said at the University of Warsaw.

- Today there's a popular slogan saying 'Poland is the heart of Europe.' I would strongly caution against such seemingly attractive, often anatomical comparisons. Okay, Sweden might still be pleased, because when I look at the map, it would be the head, but an ally of the authors of this slogan, Viktor Orbán, might feel a bit embarrassed - said Donald Tusk at the University of Warsaw.

- Competition in politics is understandable. I would like this message to resonate truly seriously, for you in particular to listen to it. Politics shouldn't be about one person defeating and annihilating another. Someone might win elections, defeat their opponent on May 26th, or in October or November this year, but we will continue to live in one country. Politics is not a match - stated Donald Tusk at the University of Warsaw.

- Whoever wins the elections cannot say, 'I won the elections, Poland is mine, not yours' - he added.

- Politics is competition, but it cannot be a fight to the death - stated Donald Tusk at the University of Warsaw. - If we don't find a way to limit aggression in Poland, it could end in a confrontation like in 'Game of Thrones' with the Night King - he added.

- 50,000 people in Poland [annually] die directly from smog. A city the size of Sieradz disappears every year - stated Donald Tusk at the University of Warsaw.

- We will not save our children and grandchildren if we do not understand that this challenge requires the cooperation of everyone without exception - he continued. - Without full and harmonious cooperation, we will not cope with this - he added.

- Be brave in asking questions. Don't let them convince you, and Constitutions are for this too, that we must think uniformly, that we must not interfere and must support – stated Donald Tusk at the University of Warsaw. - We must interfere and not support – added PDT.

- There is the issue of education, upbringing, and health. I am unable to even comprehend what has happened in Poland in the last few weeks. Although in a sense I should understand it, especially when one of the politicians from the ruling camp compared teachers to the Wehrmacht, it warmed my heart and I thought: the old days are returning. You are not alone, dear teachers - Donald Tusk said at the University of Warsaw.

– Today I realized that this is an incredibly strange form of patriotism, to import Russian coal from Donbas, to finance President Putin's imperial ambitions, which threaten our closest neighbor and friend – Ukraine, and to add 3.5 billion zlotys annually for this coal from the occupied part of Ukraine, and to poison Polish children with this Russian coal – said Donald Tusk in the courtyard of the University of Warsaw.

Beata Mazurek, a prominent figure in Polish politics, has stated that discussions regarding proposed amendments to the Constitution are certainly possible.

Her statement, made via a tweet on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), suggests an openness to dialogue on potential changes to the country's fundamental law.

The specific nature of the proposed constitutional changes was not detailed in the tweet, but Mazurek's affirmation indicates a willingness from her side or the political group she represents to engage in debate and negotiation on the matter.

The original tweet can be found at the provided link.

https://twitter.com/zandbergrazem/status/1124354363517014017?s=21

- We are already getting used to Donald Tusk breaking the rules. As the head of a European institution, he should not be engaging in current politics, and this meeting clearly had a political character. It was a rally of the European Coalition, therefore, a rally of politicians who are currently in position and participating in the election campaign - said Mariusz Błaszczak in a conversation with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program “Wydarzenia i Opinie” on Polsat News.

- Just as Biedroń wants to close Polish mines, so does Donald Tusk. I think the subtext here is that Donald Tusk would like to close Polish mines – said Mariusz Błaszczak in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.

- We can discuss this matter. Besides, the President held a referendum on this issue. We are open to discussions - said Mariusz Błaszczak in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on the program 'Wydarzenia i Opinie' on Polsat News.

- I would describe the entirety as an eristic ploy of role reversal. That is, he started accusing the ruling side of what the opposition does. He reversed the roles regarding the Targowica Confederation, it was a shocking provocation – said Jacek Saryusz-Wolski in an interview with Danuta Holecka on the program "Gość Wiadomości" on TVP Info.