Death and funeral of Lech Kaczyński and Maria Kaczyńska
Lech Kaczyński, the fourth President of the Republic of Poland, died on 10 April 2010. He died in a plane crash outside of Smolensk, Russia. The plane was a Tu-154 belonging to the Polish Air Force. The crash killed all 96 on board. His wife, Maria Kaczyńska, was also among those killed.[1][2][3]
The speaker of parliament, Bronisław Komorowski, soon became Acting President by law.[4]
After the death of Kaczyński was announced, Komorowski declared a week of mourning. It went from 11 to 18 April. A state funeral for Lech and Maria was held on the last day.[5] Several countries observed a day of national mourning on the day of the funeral. Afterwards, the couple were buried together in a crypt in the Wawel Cathedral in Kraków.[6][7]
President of the United States Barack Obama cancelled his plans. He made a public statement. He spoke of his sadness and blamed the volcanic ash that was disrupting air travel over Europe at the time.[8]
References
- ↑ World Leaders React to Polish President's Death. 10 April 2010. http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/usa/World-Leaders-React-to-Polish-Presidents-Death-90493354.html. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ World leaders pay tribute to Polish leader. 10 April 2010. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/04/10/lech.kaczynski.tributes/index.html. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ Yudhoyono expresses condolences over Polish President's death. 10 April 2010. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/04/10/yudhoyono-expresses-condolences-over-polish-president039s-death.html. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ "Chinese president offers condolences to Poland over plane crash". Xinhua News Agency. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ Kaczynski to rest among Poland's kings, heroes. CBC News. 18 April 2010. http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/04/18/kaczynski-funeral.html. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
- ↑ Poles turn out for state funeral. Al Jazeera. 18 April 2010. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/04/201041818155329127.html. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
- ↑ Poland holds state funeral for President Lech Kaczynski. BBC News. 18 April 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8627857.stm. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
- ↑ "Volcanic ash: Obama cancels trip to Kaczynski funeral". The Hindu. 18 April 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2010.