President Andrzej Duda has wielded his veto power to block a proposed law that aimed to grant official recognition to Silesian, a dialect spoken in the historical region of Silesia in southwest Poland, as a distinct regional language.
Duda’s rationale for the veto was twofold. First, he argued that Silesian is a dialect of Polish rather than a separate language, echoing sentiments expressed by linguistic experts. Additionally, he raised concerns about national security, suggesting that formal recognition of Silesian could lead to similar demands from other regional groups and potentially undermine national identity, particularly amidst ongoing social and geopolitical tensions.
The decision to veto the law, which had garnered approval from the parliamentary majority in April, drew criticism from figures within the ruling coalition who had supported its passage. Notably, the president’s veto contradicts efforts to promote linguistic diversity and minority rights, as evidenced by the official recognition of Kashubian, another regional language spoken in northern Poland.
In the most recent national census, approximately 460,000 individuals in Poland identified Silesian as their primary language, significantly outnumbering speakers of Kashubian. Official recognition of regional languages enables their instruction in schools and utilization in local administration, provided that at least 20% of the population in relevant municipalities declare proficiency in the language.
Despite the setback, proponents of recognizing Silesian remain undeterred. Monika Rosa, an MP and advocate for Silesian recognition, dismissed Duda’s justification as “nationalist hysteria” and pledged to reintroduce the bill during the next parliamentary session under a new president.
Criticism of the president’s decision extended beyond the ruling coalition, with Szymon Hołownia, the speaker of parliament and leader of a coalition party, emphasizing the importance of diversity as a strength rather than a threat to Poland.
However, opposition MP Janusz Kowalski commended Duda for defending the unity of Poland, echoing the president’s assertion that Silesian is inherently part of the Polish language and identity.
The veto underscores the contentious debate surrounding linguistic identity and minority rights in Poland, highlighting tensions between centralization and regional autonomy within the country’s political landscape.