Photo: East News

Polish parliamentarians from all political parties gathered outside the presidential palace, Monday, to commemorate the tragic air crash at Smolensk exactly one month ago.

The MPs lit candles and laid wreaths in remembrance of those who perished in the catastrophe, which killed President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, as well as 94 other Polish dignitaries who were going to the 70th anniversary ceremony of the Katyn massacre.

The ceremony took place at the initiative of the Law and Justice (PiS) parliamentary club, which appealed to other political groupings on Sunday. The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) also proposed laying wreaths outside different parliamentary clubs: the party’s presidential candidate, Jerzy Szmajdzinski, was among the passengers who died in the crash.

Among the politicians taking part were acting head of the PiS, Marek Kuchcinski, the director of the Polish People’s Party (PSL), Staniskaw Brzozka, with SLD being represented by Bogdan Lis.

The Civic Platform (PO) sent a statement to the press that its deputies had not only laid flowers by the presidential palace in Warsaw, but in other cities across the country, stating that “the best place to pay homage to those who died at Smolensk is at the place of their eternal rest.”

Jacek Sasin, a close aide of Lech Kaczynski’s and a minister of the Presidential Chancellery, was also present at the commemoration ceremony, which was also attended by many Varsovians wishing to pay their respects. (jb)

Source: PAP