The village is turning into a city – there are 34 such places in Poland. In all these places, the arrival of the New Year will be a much bigger change than the change in the calendar. – We will have the opportunity to use EU funds that will flow to small cities and towns – emphasizes Anna Kowalska-Fert, deputy mayor of the Przyrów commune.
At the stroke of midnight, Przyrów in the Silesian Voivodeship will become a city. – We will go from the village to the city with a dance step on the market square – says Anna Kowalska-Fert, deputy mayor of the Przyrów commune.
There are thirty-four villages in this procession. – I was born in a village, and the city will always mean something more – says one of the residents.
Not only Przyrów is facing change. – So far, we had – as I remember correctly – 979 cities, now we will have 1,013 – informs Wiesław Szczepański, Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration.
Read also: New cities from 2024. List
Piszczac in the Lublin Voivodeship, which has over two thousand inhabitants, will also organize a rural-urban New Year’s Eve. Przyrów was a town already in the 14th century, Bolesławiec is even older. – It was founded in 1266 – reminds Dorota Makówka, mayor of the Bolesławiec commune.
What do new cities have in common?
Most new cities have one historical event in common. – This year is a specific year, it is the 160th anniversary of the outbreak of the January Uprising – says Szczepański. – City rights were taken away as a consequence of the outbreak of the January Uprising – explains Makówka. – Last year was a preferential year for towns that lost their rights during the January Uprising – adds Kamil Kożuchowski, mayor of the Piszczac commune.
From the New Year, a new seal, new plates, new titles. – After almost 150 years, historical justice is being served – emphasizes the deputy mayor of the Przyrów commune.
Some residents do not welcome the change. – I am against it because the first thing is that taxes are going up. It won’t be that great, says one of them. – It doesn’t matter whether Bolesławiec is a village or a city. The amount of taxes is decided by councilors – explains the mayor of the Bolesławiec commune.
However, the authorities remind that the city also offers new prospects. – We will have the opportunity to use EU funds that will flow to small cities and towns – emphasizes Kowalska-Fert.
Main photo source: Fakty TVN