Remembering Ignacy Daszyński: A Pioneer of Polish Democracy.

 In recognition of the outstanding achievements of Ignacy Daszyński and in connection with the 160th anniversary of his birth and the 90th anniversary of his death, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland has declared 2026 to be the Year of Ignacy Daszyński.

We honour the legacy of Ignacy Daszyński (1866–1936), a visionary statesman whose tireless dedication helped shape modern Poland. As a socialist leader and advocate for workers’ rights, Daszyński fought for social justice, political reform, and the empowerment of ordinary citizens.He played a pivotal role in the fight for Poland’s independence and briefly led the first government of the newly reborn Second Polish Republic in 1918. His commitment to democracy, equality, and national sovereignty remains an inspiration for generations striving for a fairer, more inclusive society. 

Ignacy Daszyński was a socialist, for many years the leader of the Polish Social Democratic Party of Galicia, active in the territory of Poland annexed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After the outbreak of World War I, he supported the formation of the Polish Legions and Polish Military Organization.
 
On 7 November 1918, he was appointed the head of the Provisional People's Government of the Republic of Poland in Lublin. The reforms it proposed were quite radical, so Józef Piłsudski wanted him to form a new coalition cabinet; however, Daszyński was unacceptable to the politicians from the right and had to resign, his place was taken by Jędrzej Moraczewski. During the Polish Soviet War, he served as a Deputy PM in the State Defence.

On 8 January, the Institute of National Remembrance presented an exhibition dedicated to Ignacy Daszyński in the Polish Parliament. Its opening inaugurated the Year of Ignacy Daszyński, established by the Sejm in recognition of the achievements of this outstanding activist of the Polish socialist movement and one of the fathers of Polish independence. The event was attended by the Deputy President of the IPN, Mateusz Szpytma, Ph.D., members of parliament, senators and the the Marshal of the Sejm Włodzimierz Czarzasty.

The exhibition, prepared by the Kielce Branch of the Institute of National Remembrance, recalls the role of Daszyński in the history of Polish parliamentarianism, the struggle for freedom and independence, and his significance for the socialist movement. 

"Poles have only one major policy, and that is Polish independence – this is a quote from Ignacy Daszyński, importantly, from 1898. In Daszyński's politics, words were important, but attitudes and actions held even greater significance. This is what we want to show in the exhibition about the Marshal of Polish Democracy,” said Mateusz Szpytma.