The decision to move Poland’s historic Round Table from the Presidential Palace to the Museum of Polish History has ignited a heated exchange between MPs and President Karol Nawrocki on December 18.
The Row Over the Round Table
Polish social media reacted to the decision to move the Round Table from the Presidential Palace to the Museum of Polish History. The KO‑party Member of Parliament Hanna Gronkiewicz‑Waltz posted that she had not expected to respect former dictator Jaruzelski more than President Nawrocki. The post sparked a flurry of comments from politicians including Adrian Zandberg, who questioned whether Nawrocki was being paid or the image being painted, to Roman Giertych, who made a derisive remark.
Storm after Hanna Gronkiewicz‑Waltz’s Post
Critics, including former lawyer Jakub Wende, alleged that Gronkiewicz‑Waltz had gone too far in her assessment of President Nawrocki. PiS MP Krystyna Pawłowicz demanded a defense of respecting Jaruzelski, citing his support of crimes against Polish citizens, and asked whether President Nawrocki had dismissed those crimes. MP Bartłomiej Wróblewski further questioned why a criminal leader appeared favored over the political rival.
Why Was the Round Table Moved?
Karol Nawrocki explained that the Round Table remains a vital part of historical discourse, but that it should not be glorified at the Presidential Palace. He said that today’s focus must be on the country’s economic success and technological development; it is unnecessary to listen to voices of the former communist dictatorship while also preventing future generations from being tainted by its hypocrisy.
President Nawrocki’s Rationale
According to Nawrocki, commemorating the Round Table at the Presidential Palace could risk idealizing a politically charged institution. He posited that a free, sovereign, independent, and ambitious Poland should look beyond nostalgia for the Round Table and focus instead on the nation’s future prospects.
