President Duda officially appoints new senior speakers of two parliamentary chambers

At an official ceremony held on Thursday (Nov. 9) at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, President Andrzej Duda appointed the new senior speakers of the Sejm and the Senate - Marek Sawicki of PSL and Michał Seweryński of PiS, respectively.

The ceremony was attended, among others, by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, current deputy speaker of the Sejm Piotr Zgorzelski, and PSL chairman Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

"I'm very glad that so experienced parliamentarians, politicians, but first and foremost men possessing strongly demanded personal traits have accepted this very important mission," president Duda said during the ceremony.

He added that the Polish people expect the inauguration of both chambers of the new parliament would be held in "an orderly and dignified fashion".

"I have absolutely no doubts that this is what our compatriots expect, that everything will be held in line with the standards set in both chambers which are also the foundations of our democracy, based on constitutional and statutory norms," the president stressed.

He reminded that both speakers "have outstanding parliamentary experience". "I have no doubt that since you also command huge respect in both chamber you will carry out this task superbly."

The president added he was glad to see the new parliament begin its work. "It's always a kind of a new chapter in the history of the republic, but I hope it will be a new chapter of good times for Poland."

He stressed that the unusual situation on the political scene would require peaceful cooperation between the legislative and executive branches.

Duda added he hoped that in the coming years "we will be able to handle these important issues on the international arena, especially those related to Poland's security".

Finally, the president thanked the new senior speaker once again. "I'm delighted I could hand you these nominations. It's an honor and pleasure for me," he said.