President thanks Poles for making 2018 ‘a year of national pride’

Andrzej Duda said in his message on Monday evening that the outgoing year was “a celebration of Polish freedom and national pride” as the country marked the centennial of recovering its sovereignty after World War I.

Duda said that the upcoming election year provided an opportunity for a wide-ranging debate on the future course of the country.

Poland’s political parties are gearing up for an electoral marathon, with European and parliamentary ballots scheduled for 2019 and a presidential election for 2020.

Duda also said in his New Year's Eve message that Poland would celebrate several important milestones in 2019, including the 20th anniversary of it joining NATO and 15 years since it joined the European Union.

The president wished Poles “peace, mutual respect and understanding” in the new year.

In a New Year's Eve address a year ago, Duda said that 2017 "has been a year of major changes” in the country and urged compatriots to make 2018 “a year of our national pride.”

Poland regained independence on November 11, 1918, the day World War I ended, after 123 years of partition by Russia, Austria and Prussia.

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Source: TVP, IAR