Ignacy Daszyński: Polish statesman and defender of democracy

Ignacy Daszyński, a prominent Polish politician and defender of parliamentary democracy, was born 160 years ago on October 26, 1866. The Polish Sejm has designated him as a patron for the year 2026, honoring his roles as the prime minister of the first Polish government in 1918 and a leader in the fight against Bolshevism and Russian imperialism.

Daszyński is notably remembered for his stand against Józef Piłsudski in 1929. As Marshal of the Sejm, he refused to open parliamentary sessions when faced with the presence of approximately 100 armed officers, famously stating, “Under bayonets, revolvers, and sabers, I will not open.”

A dedicated advocate for workers' rights, education, and social insurance, Daszyński was a key figure in the Polish Social Democratic Party of Galicia and Silesia. While recent commemorations have focused on his role as a defender of democracy, some observers note that his identity as a socialist has been downplayed in official parliamentary resolutions.