2023 in Poland

List of events

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*   *

|  | 2023

Poland |

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|
|
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Decades:|

* 2000s
* 2010s
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*   *

See also:|

* Other events of 2023
* Timeline of Polish history

Events in the year 2023 in Poland.

## Incumbents

[edit]

Further information: Politics of Poland

Incumbents  Position  | Person  | Party  | Notes

|
|
|

President | Andrzej Duda | Independent (Supported by Law and Justice) |
Prime Minister | Mateusz Morawiecki | Law and Justice | Until 13 December 2023
Donald Tusk | Civic Platform | From 13 December 2023
Marshal of the Sejm | Elżbieta Witek | Law and Justice | Until 12 November 2023
Szymon Hołownia | Poland 2050 | From 13 November 2023
Marshal of the Senate | Tomasz Grodzki | Civic Platform | Until 12 November 2023
Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska | Civic Platform | From 13 November 2023

## Elections

[edit]

Bold indicates government parties.

2023 Polish parliamentary election Party  | Leader  | Sejm  | Senate

|
|
|

English  | Polish  | Seats  | Popular vote  | Percentage  | Seats
Law and Justice | Prawo i Sprawiedliwość | Jarosław Kaczyński |

194 / 460

| 7,640,854  | 35.39%  |

34 / 100

Civic Coalition | Koalicja Obywatelska | Donald Tusk |

157 / 460

| 6,629,402 | 30.70% |

41 / 100

Third Way | Trzecia Droga | Szymon Hołownia

* * *

Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz |

65 / 460

| 3,110,670 | 14.41% |

11 / 100

The Left | Lewica | Włodzimierz Czarzasty

* * *

Robert Biedroń |

26 / 460

| 1,859,018 | 8.61% |

9 / 100

Confederation | Konfederacja Wolność i Niepodległość | Sławomir Mentzen

* * *

Krzysztof Bosak |

18 / 460

| 1,547,364  | 7.17%  |

0 / 100

Independents  | Niezależni | N/A  |

5 / 100

Other  |

0 / 460

| 805,987 (Total) | 3.72% (Total) |

0 / 100

Total and turnout  | 460  | 21,402,998  | 74.38%  | 100

## Events

[edit]

* 3 January – CVC Capital Partners signes a preliminary agreement for the sale of PKP Energetyka to state owned power company PGE.[1]
* 9 February – Poland announces the closure of a major border crossing with Belarus "until further notice" amid heightened tensions between the two countries. There are currently only two checkpoints open between the two nations.[2]
* 25 February – Refiner PKN Orlen announces that Russia has suspended oil exports to Poland via the northern branch of the Druzhba pipeline.[3]
* 3 April – state owned power company PGE takes over PKP Energetyka.[4]
* 5 April – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes an official visit to Poland. During his meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Zelenskyy receives the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest order.[5]
* 26 May – Poland's Parliament voted for a law that will establish a commission to investigate alleged Russian influence during the period from 2007 to 2022. The law was accepted by president Andrzej Duda. The law was widely criticised for being non-democratic and an attempt to eliminate opposition politicians and followers.[6][7][8][9][10]
* 30 May – far-right politician Grzegorz Braun disrupted a lecture on the Holocaust by the historian Jan Grabowski at the German Historical Institute in Warsaw by storming in and destroying the microphone and speakers. Braun has been quoted accusing Jews of being "the enemies of Poland" and alleging their desire to undertake a "hostile takeover" of Polish territory and to place ethnic Poles in reservations.[11][12]
* 4 June – 2023 Polish protests, former Prime Minister Donald Tusk, together with several other members of the Civic Platform party, organized a series of anti-government protests in Warsaw, Poland's capital city:[13][14] The protests in Warsaw were notably attended by former President and Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa.
* 15 June – Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice party, says that the government might hold a referendum on EU migration policy.[15][16][17][18] The referendum would be similar to the 2016 Hungarian migrant quota referendum.
* 10 August – Poland sends 10 thousand troops to guard its border with Belarus.[19]
* 11 August – Nearly 14,000 residents of the city of Lublin, are ordered to evacuate, after an unexploded bomb was found yesterday at the site of a pre-World War II factory.[20]
* 27 August – Police arrest two male Polish citizens suspected of hacking into the national railway communication system, disrupting rail traffic in Poland and issuing false signals.[21]
* 15 September – The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs fires its legal chief and cancels all contracts to outsource visa applications after seven are charged in a visas-for-cash scandal.[22]
* 19 September – Polish cash-for-visa scandal, Civic Platform MP Michał Szczerba reveals alleged documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicating that the Polish embassy in Minsk issued 784,173 visas to individuals from 65 countries with the assistance of a Moscow-based company. It is further claimed by Szczerba that among those issued visas are people who were pushed back from the border during the Belarus–European Union border crisis.[23]
* 20 September –
* Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announces that Poland will stop supplying Ukraine with weapons, amid tensions between the two countries over the former's import ban on Ukrainian agricultural products.[24]
* Vasyl Zvarych, Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland, is summoned by the Polish Foreign Ministry to convey its strong protest over the statement of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations General Assembly. Zelenskyy's statement that some European countries' actions indirectly help Russia, drew condemnation from Poland.[25]

* 15 October –
* 2023 Polish parliamentary election and 2023 Polish referendum: Poles elect members of the upper house of the parliament (the Senate) and the lower house (the Sejm). Votes are also cast in a referendum on migration, removal of the border wall between Belarus and Poland, and the retirement age.[26]
* Exit polls suggest that Poland's opposition parties, led by the Civic Coalition under former prime minister Donald Tusk, are poised to secure a parliamentary majority, potentially ending the eight-year governance of the Law and Justice (PiS) party. The exit poll voter turnout reaches a record of 73%.[27]
* 2023 Polish referendum Results: 96.79% voted against the admission of thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa, 96.49% voted against selling off of state assets to foreign entities, 96.04% voted against the removal of the barrier on the border between Poland and Belarus, 94.61% voted against increasing the retirement age, however the main opposition parties boycott the referendum results in a turnout of only 40.91% which was less than the minimum validity threshold of 50%. Which meant the results were not legally binding.
* 13 November – Poland 2050 leader Szymon Hołownia is elected as Marshal of the Sejm.[28]
* 29 November – National Security Bureau chief Jacek Siewiera announces that Poland will send "a team of military advisors" to the Finland–Russia border in response to an official request for allied support. Russia warns against the move, viewing the concentration of troops on the border as a threat.[29]
* 12 December – far-right politician Grzegorz Braun during the first session of the 10th term of Sejm, put out a Hanukkah menorah by spraying it with a fire extinguisher, saying that "The people participating in the Satanic cult should be ashamed".[30][31][32]

* 13 December – Donald Tusk becomes Prime Minister of Poland in the aftermath of the October parliamentary election.[33]
* 19 December – The start of the 2023 Polish public media crisis. The new Liberal government dismissed the directors of TVP, Polish Radio and Polish Press Agency. The move was met with criticism and accusations of illegality by the dismissed management and the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, causing a parliamentary intervention in the TVP headquarters.
* 29 December – Russia launches the largest wave of drones and missiles on Ukrainian cities since the start of the war in a widespread overnight assault on cities across the country, killing at least 39 people and injuring at least 160 others. One of the Russian cruise missiles enters NATO airspace as it travels over Polish territory, prompting the Polish government to summon the Russian charge d'affaires for an explanation.[34]

## Deaths

[edit]

* 4 January – Stefan Wojnecki, 93, photographer and academic.[35]
* 9 January –
* Stefan Brzózka, 91, chess player.[36]
* Wacław Sadkowski, 89, literary critic and translator, editor of Literatura na Świecie and president of Czytelnik Publishing House.[37]
* 11 January – Jan Ludwiczak, 85, coal miner and Solidarity activist.[38]
* 13 January – Zenon Pigoń, 82, trade unionist and politician, MP (1989–1991).[39]
* 17 January – Maria Dworzecka, 81, Polish-American physicist and Holocaust survivor.[40]
* 21 January –
* Marek Plura, 52, politician and psychotherapist, MEP (2014–2019).[41]
* Włodzimierz Sroka, 55, economist and manager.[42]
* 25 January – Franciszek Jamroż, 79, trade unionist and politician, mayor of Gdańsk (1991–1994).[43]
* 27 January – Aleksander Krawczuk, 100, historian, minister of culture (1986–1989) and MP (1991–1997).[44]
* 29 January – Piotr Waśko, 61, politician, MP (2007–2011).[45]
* 31 January – Anna Czerwińska, 73, mountaineer.[46]
* 24 October – Wanda Półtawska, 101, physician, author, Holocaust survivor and pro-life activist.[47]
* 13 December – Wojciech Łazarek, 86, footballer and manager.[48]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "CVC has signed a preliminary agreement for the sale of PKP Energetyka". Archived from the original on 2023-01-04. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
2. ^ "Poland to close Belarus border crossing until further notice, Minsk unhappy". Reuters. 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
3. ^ "Russia halts pipeline oil to Poland says refiner PKN Orlen". Reuters. 2023-02-25. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
4. ^ S.A, PGE Systemy. "Zamknięcie transakcji nabycia 100% udziałów w PKPE Holding przez PGE Polską Grupę Energetyczną". www.gkpge.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
5. ^ "Duda Awards Zelenskyy with Poland's Highest Order". www.eurointegration.com.ua. Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
6. ^ "Poland passes contentious bill to examine Russian influence – DW – 05/26/2023". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
7. ^ "Polish parliament passes Russian influence bill which opposition brands political witch hunt". Reuters. 26 May 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
8. ^ "Polish parliament passes bill to create commission investigating Russian influence". 27 May 2023. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
9. ^ "Polish opposition denounces new commission to probe Russian influence". 27 May 2023. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
10. ^ "Political uproar in Poland after Duda pledges to sign Kremlin commission law". 29 May 2023. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
11. ^ "Far-right MP forces abandonment of Holocaust scholar's lecture at German institute in Warsaw". Notes from Poland. Notes from Poland Foundation. 31 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
12. ^ Elia-Shalev, Asaf (1 June 2023). "Lecture on Holocaust in Poland canceled after far-right lawmaker storms podium". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
13. ^ Walker, Shaun (4 June 2023). "Poland: hundreds of thousands march against rightwing populist government". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
14. ^ "Marsz 4 czerwca w Warszawie. Tusk: Rządzą nami ponurzy faceci z kompleksami". Polsat News (in Polish). 4 June 2023. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
15. ^ "Poland's Kaczynski says EU migrant deal must be put to referendum". Reuters. 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
16. ^ "Head of Poland's ruling party calls for referendum on EU migration policies". Archived from the original on 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
17. ^ "Polish ruling party passes resolution condemning EU migrant relocation plan and announces referendum". 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
18. ^ "Poland Seeks Referendum on EU Migrant Relocation Plans". Bloomberg. 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
19. ^ "Szef MON: 10 tysięcy żołnierzy na granicy polsko-białoruskiej". Polska Agencja Prasowa SA (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
20. ^ S.A, Telewizja Polska. "14,000 people to be evacuated following unexploded bomb found in eastern Poland". tvpworld.com (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2023-08-12. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
21. ^ "Two men detained in connection with Polish railway hacking". Al Arabiya English. 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
22. ^ "Polish opposition calls for answers as cash for visas scandal grows". Reuters. 2023-09-15. Archived from the original on 2023-09-17. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
23. ^ "Afera wizowa. Michał Szczerba ujawnia dokumenty z MSZ. "Firma musiała mieć autoryzację władz rosyjskich"". TVN24 (in Polish). 2023-09-18. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
24. ^ Yeung, Mitchell McCluskey,Mariya Knight,Jessie (2023-09-21). "Poland will stop providing weapons to Ukraine as dispute over grain imports deepens". CNN. Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2023-09-21.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
25. ^ "Poland summons Ukrainian envoy to protest Zelenskyy's remarks in UN General Assembly". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
26. ^ Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Polling Stations Open For Polish Elections: AFP". www.barrons.com. Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
27. ^ "Polish liberal opposition favoured in election exit poll". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
28. ^ "Polish pro-EU candidate elected speaker of parliament". Le Monde.fr. 2023-11-13. Archived from the original on 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
29. ^ "Kremlin warns of tensions if Poland sends troops to Finnish-Russian border". Reuters. 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
30. ^ Day, Matthew (2023-12-12). "Watch: Far-Right MP uses fire extinguisher to snuff out Hanukkah candles". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
31. ^ Bayer, Lili (12 December 2023). "Far-right Polish MP uses fire extinguisher to put out Hanukah candles after Donald Tusk speaks out against xenophobia – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
32. ^ Koper, Anna (2023-12-12). "Far-right Polish lawmaker uses fire extinguisher on Hanukkah candles in parliament". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
33. ^ Higgins, Andrew (2023-12-11). "Donald Tusk Chosen as Poland's Prime Minister After Rival Is Rejected". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
34. ^ "Poland Says Russian Missile Briefly Entered Its Airspace". Bloomberg.com. 2023-12-29. Archived from the original on 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
35. ^ Szymkowiak, Maciej (2023-01-05). "Nie żyje prof. dr hab. Stefan Wojnecki. Wybitny fotograf z Poznania zmarł w wieku 94 lat". Głos Wielkopolski (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-01-26.
36. ^ "Zmarł Stefan Brzózka - pierwszy polski arcymistrz w szachach korespondencyjnych". Życie Częstochowy i powiatu (in Polish). 2023-01-09. Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
37. ^ "Wacław Sadkowski, cała Polska, 12.01.2023 - kondolencje". nekrologi.wyborcza.pl. Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
38. ^ "ŚCWiS » Zmarł Jan Ludwiczak". scwis.pl. Archived from the original on 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
39. ^ Katowice, Instytut Pamięci Narodowej-. "Zmarł Zenon Pigoń, założyciel i redaktor naczelny podziemnego "Głosu Śląsko-Dąbrowskiego"". Instytut Pamięci Narodowej - Katowice (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2023-01-13. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
40. ^ "Maria Dworzecka — United States Holocaust Memorial Museum". www.ushmm.org. Archived from the original on 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
41. ^ "Zmarł senator Marek Plura. Polityk ze Śląska żył 52 lata - Wiadomości". wiadomosci.onet.pl. 21 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
42. ^ "Ostatnie pożegnanie - Akademia WSB". wsb.edu.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
43. ^ "Nie żyje Franciszek Jamroż, były prezydent Gdańska". trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). 2023-01-25. Archived from the original on 2023-01-26. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
44. ^ "Zmarł prof. Aleksander Krawczuk. Wybitny historyk starożytności | HISTORIA.org.pl - historia, kultura, muzea, matura, rekonstrukcje i recenzje historyczne". HISTORIA.org.pl (in Polish). 2023-01-27. Archived from the original on 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
45. ^ Intermedia / 2ClickPortal, Trol (29 January 2023). "Piotr Roman Waśko 1961 - 2023". Urząd Miejski w Wieleniu (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2023-01-31.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
46. ^ "[24tp.pl] Zmarła Anna Czerwińska, wybitna himalaistka". 24tp.pl. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
47. ^ "Wanda Półtawska, close friend of Pope John Paul II, dies at 101". polskieradio.pl. 2023-10-25. Archived from the original on 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
48. ^ "Zmarł Wojciech Łazarek. Były selekcjoner reprezentacji Polski miał 86 lat". polsatsport.pl (in Polish). 2023-12-13. Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2024-09-12.

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