On 4 June we celebrate the Day of Freedom and civilian Rights, which is 1 of the most crucial points in the modern past of Poland. It is simply a symbol of the revival of a sovereign state and the triumph of civilian society. The feast was established by the Sejm by a resolution of 24 May 2013 to commemorate the landmark elections to the Sejm and the reborn Senate, the first circular of which took place on 4 June 1989, and the second 2 weeks later.
This vote, which resulted from many weeks of negotiations at the circular Table, opened the door for Poles to decide their own fate, although the elections themselves were contractual and only the legislature was elected free. Despite the restrictions imposed by the communist regime, the determination and mobilisation of supporters of the democratic opposition led to the spectacular success of candidates supported by the civilian Committee "Solidarity". The opposition then won all possible parliamentary seats for the partyless party, or 35 percent seats in the Sejm, and won as many as 99 out of 100 senatorial seats.
It was a symbolic triumph of successive generations of Poles who never accepted slavery. This was a triumph of “Solidarity”, against which the power sent tanks in December 1981, wanting to forcefully break the national spirit of freedom – stressed the MPs in the resolution establishing the holiday.
An unprecedented electoral act proved to be a political earthquake and triggered a geopolitical domino effect throughout the east bloc. Polish transformations started a process known as the Fall of Peoples, inspiring another nations to fight for independency and leading straight to dismantling the communist strategy in Central and east Europe, including the symbolic fall of the Berlin Wall. On 4 June 1989, the power was replaced by an electoral card. The consequence of this vote started the process of Europe's liberation from communism, says the 2013 document.
Today, June's vacation is not limited to historical reflection on the events of 1989, but brings with it an highly timely, universal message. It recalls the fundamental importance of freedom of expression, pluralism, human rights and the values on which modern democracy was founded. The peaceable nature of the Polish political transformation, based on dialog and compromise, remains a unique model on a global scale.
June 4 is widely discussed by researchers, historians, technological institutions. The analyses concern among others the social memory of Poles and the importance of elections for democratic processes.
On May 21, this year, the National Cultural Centre published a report: “Do we want Freedom Day? Memory study 4 June 1989." Its authors examine the emotions that the systemic transformation induces and what a real consequence in society finds narratives about 4 June 1989, identified at the phase of discussion analysis in public space. They indicate that for Poles it is simply a day of peculiar historical importance and occupies an crucial place in collective memory, but the communicative around this date remains ambiguous and delicate to political divisions. They point out that the anniversary of June 4 is associated with civic values specified as freedom, democracy, solidarity, prudence and responsibility.
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