On Tuesday, January 27, Karol Nawrocki attended the 81st anniversary of the liberation of the German Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. During his speech, the president of Poland paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. The head of state besides attended the main ceremony. Nawrocki, however, was not officially welcomed, more specifically: the conference player did not read his name – according to the findings of Channel Zero.
Karol Nawrocki for the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Minister at the President's Chancellery spoke
The media has begun to watch. Wojciech Kolarski, Minister at the Chancellery of the president of Poland, hosted the Radio Wnet. The president's associate commented sharply on the full incident, criticizing the organizers.
– The president was on his way to the erstwhile camp to pay tribute to the Holocaust victims. And the totally incomprehensible, amazing and scandalous is that he was not welcomed – he gave the radio on the air.
Kolarski stressed that he had not experienced akin situations so far. As he pointed out, he had previously encountered the other situations in which organizers of authoritative events marked the President's presence. Let us remind that he previously worked with Andrzej Duda (in 2015-2019 as Undersecretary of State, and from 2019 to 2025 as Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the president of Poland).
– In all ceremony the president attended, the organizer always emphasized it due to the fact that it was a large honor. For the first time I met a situation where the president is not mentioned," said the presidential minister.
The Auschwitz Museum issued a statement. "It's hard to say 'scandal'"
Representatives of the Auschwitz Museum issued an authoritative message on social media. The content of the public communication sheds fresh light on the matter.
"Editor Robert Mazurek in his comment in Channel Zero said 'scandal' and 'exclusion' president of Poland from the 81st anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz. However, the facts are different" – it is the beginning.
The following part of the communication shows how all guests were welcomed.
"Welcome guests during the main part of the celebrations were not protocol. Individual groups of participants, including representatives of state and local authorities, were welcomed. The name does not mention anyone, either the Survivors, present at the celebrations of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage or representing their ambassadors states," we read. It was besides noted that "this form was respected and understood besides during the erstwhile anniversary of liberation".
The Auschwitz Museum employees declared that Karol Nawrocki "was presented in the part of the celebration in which he played the main role: at the time of receiving and transferring the symbolic light lit by the Survivor". It was emphasized that the folding was a "culminal point" of the full celebration.
The message besides indicated that representatives of the President's Chancellery participated in the rehearsal of the general ceremony, who "did not make any comments", while "the cooperation with the Museum at the organization was very good".
"It should be recalled that political speeches were no longer during the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. This decision was very well received, primarily by the Survivors. In November 2025, the global Auschwitz Council unanimously adopted a resolution in support of the concept of 'a model of the 80th anniversary of liberation - during the 27 January celebrations, the program did not foresee political speeches, but focused on the voices of the victims and survivors of Auschwitz'. This applies to all politicians, regardless of the country they come from," it sounded.
The Auschwitz Museum indicated that "the President's will was to make a message on the premises of the Museum. The President's office selected the area of Block 11 at the site of the erstwhile Auschwitz I camp as the site of the appearance. This event was widely reported by the media, and the Museum provided all method and logistical assistance to organize this item of the President's visit program".
It was besides pointed out that the president was besides invited to talk during a peculiar anniversary studio that accompanied the celebrations.
"So it's hard to talk about 'scandal' and 'exclusion'. And everyone who has not yet seen the 81st anniversary of liberation, we invitation you to watch the full moving event so that they can have their own opinions" - indicated representatives of the Auschwitz Museum, addressing the public.
The message concluded with a brief summary: "The attempts to make a scandal around anniversary celebrations, or attacks on memory of Auschwitz, have late unfortunately become a way to build coverage and popularity. In a planet where more boundaries are crossed, however, it is worth remaining decent".
