18.04.2010 LIVE : FUNERAL OF LECH KACZYNSKI 18 APRIL 2010

As grief stricken Poland is preparing to bury President Lech Kaczynski, who perished in a plane crash last Saturday, the country is faced with internal divisions as to whether Poland's late President deserves to be buried in Wawel Cathedral in Krakow next to Polish Royalty and other important historical figures. Kaczynski's funeral is set for Sunday, April 18. But, will his burial place change?

BBC reports hundreds of people in Poland are protesting on the streets and thousands more and joining an Internet campaign to speak against the plan to bury President Kaczynski in Wawel. It is alleged the decision to bury Kaczysnki at such a highly deemed place was made as emotions ran high in the wake of an unprecedented incident in which many members of the country's political elite have perished all at once. Many say Kaczynski was a divisive political figure with a tough stance on homosexuals and communists. It is believed that had he lived, Kaczynski would most likely not get re-elected at the end of his term in fall of 2010.

Historically, Wawel has been a place of great significance for the Poles. Wawel was used as a place for Royal coronations and funerals. Some of Poland's most prominent rulers, like King Casimir III the Great, have been buried in the cathedral.

The last leader of Poland who was laid to rest in Wawel was Josef Pilsudski, the "First Marshall" of Poland credited for Poland's regaining its independence in 1918 after over a century of partitions.

Interestingly, former President of Poland Ryszard Kaczorowski died in the same plane crash with Lech Kaczynski. There are no reports to suggest that Kaczorowski will be buried at the Wawel as well. Kaczorowski ruled Poland for 1.5 years in the early 90s.


Poland President's Death: Lech Kaczynski's Funeral Set For Apr.17
Polish President Lech Kaczynski Killed In Plane Crash - Smolensk
Lech Kaczynski died on Saturday in a plane crash near the Russian city of Smolesk. The crash, the cause of which is still being investigated, claimed the live of 96 other passengers, including President's wife Maria Kaczynski and numerous high-ranked state officials. The Polish delegation was on its way to Smolensk to attend commemoration ceremonies of the killings of Polish officers in Katyn.

World leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev are expected to attend Kaczynski's funeral on Sunday.

The election of the new President of Poland will take place sometime in June of this year. Bronisław Komorowski is currently serving as the acting President of Poland.