President Krzysztof Kwiatkowski mentioned Józef Higersberger - the first President and the founder of the Supreme Office of State Audit, Gen. Jakub Krzemieński, the last President before the German and Soviet occupation, Walerian Pańko, a member of the Solidarity Movement[1] and the first President after Poland regained full sovereignty in 1989 as well as Lech Kaczyński - the author of NIK's legal framework at that time, President of the Republic of Poland who died tragically in the Smoleńsk air crash. NIK President also commemorated Władysław Stasiak who lost his life in the same circumstances. In the coming future NIK will hold the first edition of the Władysław Stasiak award. It will be handed over to a person who acts above politics and makes the reality more citizen-friendly.
Representatives of families of the late presidents and employees of NIK along with NIK’s top management watched a short film about the history of the Polish SAI and heard the memories concerning Józef Higersberger, Waldemar Pańko and Lech Kaczyński.
At the end of the celebration, flowers were laid in the places commemorating the late Presidents of NIK.
Beata Kempa, a Member of Parliament present at the commemorative meeting - since 2012 working in the Parliamentary Committee on State Auditing - underscored that NIK employees deserve the highest recognition for their professionalism and involvement in state affairs. ”I have great respect for NIK’s efforts both in Poland and in international relations. Besides, you are the only institution I know which preserves the memory of its former presidents with such care and diligence. This deserves my highest respect.”
[1] Solidarity - Independent Self-governing Trade Union founded in August 1980 in Poland [based on Wikipedia].
