- Mr President, Mr Speaker of the Sejm, Madam Speaker of the Senate, Mr President of the Capital City of Warsaw, I am very moved. This is an exceptional moment not only on the scale of one man’s biography. We have seen in recent days an extraordinary stirring of Polish hearts. Not only the phenomenon of 15 October, those millions of Poles who waited until late into the night for the opportunity to cast their vote for Poland but also everything that happened afterwards.

- During these two months, the same voters, the same Polish men and women waited so patiently and with so much hope and enthusiasm for this historic verdict, their verdict, as decided by their votes, precisely on 15 October.

- Mr President, circumstances have given us the honour of taking the oath here, in the Presidential Palace on 13 December, as the new Polish Government. Exactly 41 years ago, and I will remember this to the end of my life, I made my way to the Gdańsk Shipyard with a very small group of young people; there was already ZOMO and the army on site and there was martial law. We had this naive, one would think, intention of defending the shipyard against General Jaruzelski and his army, his militia. It seemed hopeless and, in a sense, it was hopeless at that time.

- But I have known since then, and I will know for the rest of my life, that when it comes to the Homeland, to the freedom of every one of us, to human rights, Polish men and women never yield and never give up, even if it seems to someone that the cause is hopeless. And in a sense, this spirit, this civic faith, showed its strength on 15 October.

- Once again, on behalf of us all, I would like to thank the Polish people, regardless of who they voted for, for showing us all — Europe and the world — that the words of our anthem are our reality, that Poland is not yet lost.

- Mr President, I would like to say that I was extremely pleased to hear news of your readiness to cooperate fully. Everyone who wants to follow the oath we took here today will be our ally, without exception, regardless of where they come from or what office they hold. There is no cause more important to us than the welfare of the Homeland and the well-being of our citizens.

- These are not just the words of Rota. They are our civic statement of faith, Mr President. This will be the motto that will guide every minister. It is a motto that is a great commitment for all of us.

- I am from Gdańsk, I live in Sopot, I live in Warsaw and I am an MP from Warsaw — practically every adult Polish man and woman went to vote in all these places. 80%, 85% turnout. Everyone said it was a miracle. That such things do not happen. Yet, after all, our Homeland is a place of political and civic miracles, and we have participated in and witnessed these ourselves. Some of us have been part of this miracle of Polish freedom and independence from the early days of these beautiful changes.

- As I gaze at our White Eagle, the white and red flags and the European flags behind you, Mr President, I think to myself that these are symbols which are also the essence of our vocation and we must hold them in our hearts and minds every day; we cannot, even for a moment, forget what the Polish people have called on us to do. Because we — and here I am addressing the Council of Ministers appointed today — we took our oath today in the presence of Mr President and all the honourable participants of this ceremony. But you know well that you took an oath before Polish men and women, before the entire nation, and it is they who will hold you accountable for all your actions, for all your deeds, over the coming years.

- Mr President, I was also moved when you recalled the words of Rota, of this oath that we took today before you. Yes, ensuring the good of the Homeland and the well-being of citizens is an obvious thing. But I would also like to say that a trademark of this team, of this new government, will be staying true to the Constitution.

- In recent days, we have all felt as though the word “Constitution” has come back into fashion. Our common task is to ensure that it is not the word that is fashionable but rather the Constitution itself and that this fashion will continue until the last days of our governments. And this, I can promise you, Mr President.

- I have an irresistible impression that this record-breaking turnout on 15 October was also motivated by concern, fear, hope and dreams related to compliance with the law and upholding the Constitution. Here, Mr President, I can swear once again before you and all Poles that my government will remain faithful to the Constitution. We shall observe all the laws of the Republic of Poland and our greatest commandment shall be the good of the Homeland and the well-being of our citizens. Thank you once again.