The historic Presidential Gala marking the inauguration of President Karol Nawrocki brought together not only leading Polish patriots but also distinguished guests from across the Atlantic. Matthew and Mercedes Schlapp, leaders of the American conservative movement and organisers of the CPAC conference, delivered an emotional speech emphasising the unbreakable bond between Poland and the United States in their shared fight for common values.
Matthew Schlapp, Chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU), began his address by recalling the early days of collaboration with Polish patriotic circles.
Schlapp repeatedly highlighted the parallels between the struggles of conservatives in America and Poland. He spoke of the battle against what he called “leftist fascism” and was visibly moved by the sight of Poles proudly displaying their national colours.
“It makes me want to cry, I’m moved, because I remember, it was the same for us in the States,” he said, adding that a “new kinship” had formed between the two nations.
In his speech, the CPAC leader pointed out that organisations like CPAC and “responsible news channels like TV Republika had to fight against those evil” forces that use diplomacy to spread false ideologies.
“You have a president of the people!”
His wife, Mercedes Schlapp, a well-known political commentator, delivered a short but highly energetic speech in a similar tone. She noted that the word best capturing the spirit of the event was “conservatism.” Drawing a direct comparison between the leaders of both countries, she delivered one of the evening’s most striking lines:
“President Trump is the president of the people in America, and now here in Poland, you have a president of the people, elected by the people, President Nawrocki.”
Mrs. Schlapp congratulated Poles on their choice and urged them to support independent media.
“TV Republika is (…) the people’s television station. Watch it! Dear friends, support it, because they deliver the truth,”
she appealed.
She emphasised that such media are “on the side of faith, freedom, and the nation.” She closed her speech with a fiery call to defend shared values: “Fight, fight, fight. And win!”
A Call to Courage in the Spirit of John Paul II
To close the evening, Matthew Schlapp took the stage once more to share the inspiration he draws from one of the greatest Poles in history. He reminded the audience that his involvement in Polish affairs is inseparably tied to the legacy of Saint John Paul II.
Referring to the heritage of the Polish Pope, he ended his address with the immortal words that have become a motto for millions around the world: “Be not afraid.”
“This is the moment to summon your courage. Do not be afraid, do not fear, stay the course, and save our civilisation around the world,” Schlapp concluded, thanking the Polish people for their vitally important role in the global conservative movement.