Gabriel Narutowicz (President of the Republic of Poland from 9-6 December 1922)

In the years 1920-1922, he was the minister of public works in few consecutive governments: the government of Władysław Grabski (also known as ‘Grabski Government’), the government of Wincenty Witos and two cabinets of Antoni Ponikowski. 

On 28 June 1922, he became the minister of foreign affairs in the government of Julian Ignacy Nowak. In the elections held in 1922 he did not succeed in getting a parliamentary seat so he accepted the offer made by the Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie", abbreviated as PSL Wyzwolenie) to run for president of the Republic of Poland.

Two first rounds of elections did not produce a settlement. In the third round, the voters decided between two candidates - Count Maurycy Zamoyski and Gabriel Narutowicz. The votes of the Left, ethnic minorities and the Polish People’s Party “Piast”, (abbreviated as PSL Piast) determined the result of the election. Narutowicz received 289 votes compared with 227 votes in favor of Count Zamoyski. Consequently, on 11 December 1922 Narutowicz was sworn in as the President of the Republic of Poland. It became the subject of critic and protests of the Right who accused the new president of atheism, membership to Masonry and supporting the policy of Jozef Pilsudski.

Narutowicz held the office of the President of the Republic of Poland for 5 days. On 16 December 1922 at 12:00, he was assassinated on the stairs of Zachęta National Art Gallery by Eligiusz Niewiadomski.

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Polish Presidents | History of Poland:

Origin of Poland. The early feudal monarchy in Poland (10th -12th century)  | The unification and restoration of the country in the 14th century. | The Jagiellonian age | The 17th century – 100 years of war | Poland in the age of collapse. | Loss of independence | I World War | Poland revived 1918 - 1939 | II World War | 1945-1989