Polish president to meet thousands of Polish Americans in Chicago

The Polish president is to meet Polish-Americans at Millennium Park in central Chicago on Saturday.

“This will certainly be the most important meeting the Polish president will take part in outside of Poland this year,” said Polish consul Piotr Janicki.

Some 8,000 people are expected to attend the meeting with Duda, including Polish-Americans from other US cities.

According to Polish Radio's IAR news agency, Polish Americans hope to talk to Duda about the double taxation of pensions.

Poles who worked in the US but want to retire in Poland are expected to pay a Polish tax on their US pensions.

They also want a stronger Polish lobby against the visa requirement for travel to the US.

During his visit to Chicago, the Polish president is also expected to meet Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

He is also to visit the Polish Museum in Chicago, which probably holds the largest collection of personal effects of Polish pianist and statesman Ignacy Paderewski.

Duda is also expected to pay a visit to a military base at Kankakee, where National Guard soldiers who served alongside Polish troops in Afghanistan and Iraq are stationed.

Duda is to leave Chicago for Warsaw on Sunday. He arrived in New York earlier this week ahead of a United Nations Security Council debate.

Poland joined the council for a two-year stint as a temporary member in January. Throughout May, Poland holds the month-long rotating presidency of the council. (vb/pk)

Source: IAR