Today is Constitution Day in Poland. It marks the Constitution of the Third of May 1791 which is universally hailed as one of the proudest achievements in Polish history.

It was the second in the world, after that of the United States’, to formulate principles of government in a written form. It was an attempt to introduce a parliamentary monarchy and was intended to be a starting point for the creation of a modern state and a modern society. The Constitution removed such flaws of the former political system as the unanimity rule of the Parliament, known as the liberum veto. It extended the rights of the burghers and declared a legal protection of the peasants.

During a ceremony at the Royal Castle, President Lech Kaczynski has promoted seven Polish Army officers to the rank of general. A group of soldiers and officers serving in Polish missions abroad has received military distinctions. In an address, the president stressed the significance of Poland’s participation in foreign missions. He spoke of solidarity in the war on terrorism and of Poland’s role on the international scene.

Numerous special events are held to mark Constitution Day, including sightseeing tours of the Parliament building, open-air concerts and pageants.  Varsovians have a rare opportunity to see the original manuscript of the 1791 Constitution on display in the historic Lazienki Park. It is kept in the State Archives in Warsaw.

According to the latest public opinion survey, sixty one percent of Poles think that the anniversary of the Constitution of the Third of May is a  very important day.  Sixty percent of the respondents pointed to Independence Day, observed as a state holiday on 11 November.