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In a poignant commemoration of the 43rd anniversary of the Jastrzębie Agreement and the 35th anniversary of the pivotal mining strikes of 1988, President Andrzej Duda expressed gratitude to the workers whose struggle paved the way for a free Poland. These events marked a turning point in the nation’s journey from communist rule to freedom, driven by the August ’80 demands and the teachings of Saint John Paul II.
The August ’80 demands, along with the subsequent signing of the Jastrzębie Agreement, catalyzed the downfall of the communist regime. These demands, initially articulated by striking workers, evolved into the foundation for civic freedoms and the birth of a sovereign Republic.
Saint John Paul II’s Influence
President Duda highlighted the profound influence of Saint John Paul II’s teachings on the Polish society’s spiritual reawakening. His words resonated with the political awakening seen in the Solidarity movement, setting the stage for Poland’s transformation into a modern, free nation.
The president underlined the solidarity between the miners of Jastrzębie-Zdrój, shipbuilders in Gdańsk and Szczecin, and steelworkers in Dąbrowa Górnicza. Together, they charted a path to freedom that Poland has followed for 43 years.