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Officials pay tribute to former Polish president Gabriel Narutowicz

16.12.2022 11:30
Officials have paid tribute to former Polish president Gabriel Narutowicz, who was assassinated a century ago, shortly after taking office as the first head of state of his newly independent nation.
Gabriel Narutowicz
Gabriel NarutowiczNarodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe

Poland's current president, Andrzej Duda, honoured Narutowicz by placing flowers on his tomb at Warsaw's St. John's Basilica. 

Duda said: "Today we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the murder of the first president of a reborn Poland. This is a reminder to all of us that we should always seek agreement and consensus. Poland is and should be the most important thing for each and every one of of us."

The Polish foreign ministry said in a tweet: "Today marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Gabriel Narutowicz, the first President of the Republic of Poland."

It added that Narutowicz, "who also served as one of the foreign ministers of the reborn Poland, died at the hands of an assassin just days after assuming the highest state office."

Earlier this month, an open-air exhibition focusing on Narutowicz's life and career opened in front of Warsaw’s Museum of Independence.

The exhibition traces Narutowicz’s research career, starting with his studies in mathematics at the Zurich Polytechnic, followed by his professorship of hydroelectric engineering and his projects for hydroelectric power stations in Switzerland, Spain, France and Italy.

Also on display are photographs and photocopies of documents about Narutowicz’s political career, which came to a tragic end 100 years ago.

He was assassinated by a political opponent during a visit to the Zachęta Art Gallery in Warsaw on December 16, 1922, after just five days in office.

The Polish foreign ministry said in a statement: "One hundred years ago, the first President of the Republic of Poland Gabriel Narutowicz was killed by an assassin. This event put an end to the president’s plans and was the reason why he went down in history mostly as a victim of a politically-motivated murder."

The statement added that Narutowicz "remains a symbol of selfless service to a reborn homeland for which he gave up an outstanding professional career abroad."

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

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP