On November 11, Warsaw’s Independence Day service saw supporters of Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński and Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz heckled, and the ministry’s spokesperson issued a sharp rebuttal.
Minister Kierwiński’s Social‑Media Response
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński posted on social media that the aggressive reactions of PiS supporters simply confirm he is doing his job well. “Thank you for this support, and I promise more…”, he wrote.
Karolina Gałecka, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior and Administration, replied sharply: “Does patriotism mean stomping when the highest medals are awarded to officers who protect our homeland? Seriously? Is this a modern form of patriotism, creating divisions even on this important day for Poland?”
Heckling During the 11 November Ceremonies
During Warsaw’s Independence Day ceremony, when the names of Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz and Marcin Kierwiński were read, whistles, stomping, and screams erupted from the crowd.
The audience again expressed their approval when the chief of the National Defence Force entered the stage. He refused to remain silent, remarking, “The shout and whistle do not grant freedom. It is work, prayer in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Częstochowa after Gietrzwałd, where the first spark ignited.”
Overview of Independence Day Events
On Tuesday, November 11, celebrations marking the 107th anniversary of Poland’s regained independence included parades, processions, and concerts across the country.
Key ceremonies took place in Warsaw, where state officials, led by the president, offered wreaths at monuments to national founders such as Wenceslaus Witos, Ignacy Józef Paderewski, Ignacy Daszyński, Roman Dmowski, Wojciech Korfanty, and Józef Piłsudski.
The president’s delegation and the chief of National Defence then attended a Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy. This was followed by state honours presentations at the Presidential Palace and a solemn ceremony before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the afternoon.