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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

President Andrzej Duda's New Year's message

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Poland still faces many challenges. How we respond to them will determine whether this good time for Poland will continue, said President Andrzej Duda in his New Year's address. Referring to next year's presidential elections, he emphasized that “the security of our homeland must be the most important issue for the future president.” – Regardless of who we entrust with this office – he added.

– The last day of the ending year is the time when we wish each other. But this day is also a moment when we sum up what is behind us and make plans for the future. That is why, on this special day, I am proud, but also moved, to address you for the 10th time in my New Year's message – he said at the beginning. Andrzej Duda.

He added that he is extremely proud of how much Poland and we Poles have managed to achieve over these almost 10 years.

– Our homeland was developing dynamically at that time, we managed to implement many extremely important and necessary investments, we strengthened Polish army and defense of our borders, Poland's importance in the international arena has also increased significantly. As Poles, we have shown that we are a hard-working and enterprising nation that was perfectly able to take advantage of the opportunities that opened up to us. It was a good time for Poland, said the president.

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Duda: There have been many disturbing signals

He noted that Poland still faces many challenges. – How we respond to them will determine whether this good time for Poland will continue – he added.

According to the president, in the last year “many disturbing signals have appeared regarding the development of our country.” – Record budget hole, delays in strategic investments such as Central Communication Port or the construction of the first Polish nuclear power plant, health care problems and the threat of closing hospitals – he mentioned.

– As president, I have repeatedly emphasized that these are the issues on which the standard of living of Poles and the further development of our homeland depend. Summing up this year, it is worth asking whether these issues were and are the priority of the currently ruling coalition, he said.

He added that “unfortunately, the answer is negative.” – The focus was on deepening divisions and strengthening conflicts, leading to chaos in the justice system and legal insecurity for Poles, and thus weakening Polish democracy – said Andrzej Duda.

“The security of our homeland must be the most important thing”

The President reminded that the upcoming year 2025 is the year of presidential elections. – It is we Poles who have to decide who we will entrust with the highest office in the country. This is what democracy is all about, he said.

– I deeply believe in the wisdom of my compatriots. I believe that they will entrust the management of Polish affairs to a president who will guard our sovereignty and independence, be faithful to the constitution, support the development of our homeland and effectively strive for the implementation of the Polish raison d'état in the international arena, he said.

He added, “all the more so because we live in troubled times in which we have learned that peace and freedom are not given once and for all.” – You have to strive for them every day. That is why the security of our homeland must be the most important issue for the future president. Regardless of who we entrust with this office, he said.

– For me, the security of Poland and Poles has always been the highest priority and an issue that should be above all political divisions. This is how I acted and will continue to act until the last day of my presidency. Both in Poland and while representing our country on the international arena, he argued.

President: there is no safe Europe without US involvement

Andrzej Duda emphasized that “since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the war taking place behind our eastern border is absolutely crucial for our security.” – Our position is permanent and unchanging. This war cannot end in victory Russia. It must end with a just peace that will prevent another, perhaps even greater, conflict from breaking out in the future, Duda said.

As he said, our security “is based on two pillars: a strong and modern army and the strength of our alliances.” – In March in Washington, I presented a proposal to increase defense spending by all countries of the North Atlantic Alliance to 3 percent of their GDP. I am glad that today more countries are joining my initiative. Because only strong NATO led by the United States is the guarantor of the security of Poland and our entire region, he added.

– We in Poland know perfectly well that there is no safe Europe without the involvement of the United States. Both military and economic. Therefore, the first priority of the Polish presidency of the European Union, which begins on January 1, is to tighten cooperation between the EU and the United States, he emphasized.

As he said, throughout his presidency he “consistently sought to strengthen strategic Polish-American relations.” – Today I am proud that they are stronger than ever, but I am convinced that in the coming months they may gain an even deeper dimension – he added.

– In a few hours it will be a new year, 2025. I wish you every success. Let it be a good and safe time for Poland, let it be a time of joy and success for all of us – concluded the president.

Main photo source: KPRP



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