photo of U.S. Navy photograph by Petty Officer 2nd Class Novalee ManzellaPublic domain
President Andrzej Duda decided to receive the Silver Cross of Merit by Jolanta Margaret Lange (primo voto Gontarczyk). He informed about his decision via social media.
Jolanta Małgorzata Lange (primo voto Gontarczyk) was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit by president Alexander Kwasniewski in March 1997. She was awarded the award for outstanding merit in social activity.
Under the current rules, the president has the right to collect the awarded award if "the decorated performs an act that renders it unworthy of the award or award". This was the case.
Lange lost her award.
The award was received as a consequence of a petition written by Piotr Woyciechowski. He pointed out "the actions committed by the aforementioned individual who made it unworthy of the state discrimination of the Polish Republic".
Woyciechowski pointed out that between 1977 and 1990 Lange "was actively cooperating with the apparatus of repression of the communist state", as well as as as a secret associate of the Łódź safety Service under the pseudonym "Miss" and as an agent of Department I SB in West Germany.
