Lech Wałęsa and president Karol Nawrocki participated on 31 August 2026 in a separate celebration of the 46th anniversary of the August Agreements in Gdańsk. The city and the European Solidarity Centre prepared their own programme, and the NSZZ “Solidarity” organised celebrations with the head of state. The division exposed the dispute over the memory of 1 of the most crucial Polish victories.
Two celebrations in the cradle of Solidarity
Urban celebrations began in the morning in Solidarity Square. At 8 p.m. Lech Wałęsa and the president of Gdańsk Aleksandra Dulkiewicz laid flowers at the 1970 Memorial of the Lost Shipyards. Leszek Balcerowicz besides attended the ceremony. The programme prepared by the city and the European Solidarity Centre was to last throughout the day.
A separate order of celebration was adopted by the NSZZ “Solidarity”. As she stated Office of the president of PolandKarol Nawrocki took part in the authoritative gathering of the Management Board of the Gdańsk Region of the union in the historical OSH of Gdańsk Shipyard. The president gave the Order of the White Eagle to Krzysztof Wyszkowski. The program besides included the laying of flowers under Gate No. 2 and Holy Mass in the Basilica of St. Brigida.
This is simply a strong image of political and environmental cracks. The anniversary of a community-based act was celebrated in 2 parallel orders, without a common central celebration. For Poles this means another weakness of memory, which should combine over current disputes.
The Wander of Victory, Nawrocks of Courage
Wałęsa spoke during the morning celebrations that the participants of August 1980 were unprepared for the victory. He besides recalled that the russian Union was a common mention point for the planet at the time. These words hit the heart of events of 46 years ago: the labour protest grew beyond immediate demands and hit the foundation of the strategy imposed on Poland.
During the union ceremony, Nawrocka described Solidarity as a movement of regained civilian courage, essential for Poland besides today. This accent is crucial due to the fact that the legacy of August cannot be brought to the museum decoration or taken over by 1 side of political dispute. Karol Nawrocki's presidency is presented from the beginning as a dispute over the subjectivity of the state, and Gdańsk became another place where this dispute sounded.
National memory is not private property
This year's chapter of the celebration did not appear in vacuum. Lech Wałęsa's relation with the current president is strained, and Former Solidarity Leader publically denied Nawrock's recognition. 1 can argue powerfully about the persons, biographies and evaluation of the 3rd Republic. However, the common national triumph of the logic of 2 uncut camps must not be given.
The agreement of Gdańsk was signed on 31 August 1980 between the Interfounded Strike Committee and the government committee. The Communist authorities agreed, among another things, to independent trade unions, the right to strike, the regulation of censorship and the construction of a monument to the victims of December 1970. It was a triumph of the Polish organization, religion and social discipline over a strategy based on force and lying.
The stakes of today's dispute are higher than the cast of 1 grandstand. A nation with no common memory is easier to divide and easier to convince that freedom was given to him from the outside. August 1980 proves the opposite. Poles were able to claim their own rights, and their triumph present requires honest commemoration over individual accounts.
Source: Office of the president of Poland, Gdańsk.pl, Acts.pl
Source: News
