Significations et usages de Walesa

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Lech Wałęsa (IPA: [ˈlɛx vaˈwɛ̃sa] (help·info); born 29 September 1943) is a Polish politician and a former trade union and human rights activist. He co-founded Solidarity (Solidarność), the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland from 1990 to 1995.^[1]

Life and career

Wałęsa was born in Popowo, Poland, on 29 September 1943. He came from a poor family and his father was a carpenter. He attended primary and vocational school in Popowo, before entering Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk (Stocznia Gdańska im. Lenina, now Stocznia Gdańska) as an electrical technician in 1970. In 1969 he married Danuta Gołoś, and the couple now have eight children^[1]. His son Jarosław Wałęsa was a member of Poland's Sejm (lower house of the Polish parliament) and is currently a member of European Parliament. Lech Wałęsa professes Roman Catholic beliefs, and has said that his faith always helped him during Solidarity's difficult moments.

Solidarity

He was a member of the strike committee in Gdańsk Shipyard in 1970 (Polish 1970 protests). In 1976, Wałęsa lost his job in the Gdańsk Shipyard. In June 1978, he joined the Free Trade Unions of the Coast (Wolne Związki Zawodowe Wybrzeża), organized by Bogdan Borusewicz, Andrzej Gwiazda, Krzysztof Wyszkowski, Lech Kaczyński, Anna Walentynowicz, Antoni Sokołowski, and others. On 14 August 1980, after the beginning of an occupational strike in the Lenin Shipyard of Gdańsk, Wałęsa became the leader of this strike.

The strike was spontaneously followed by similar strikes, first in Gdańsk, and then across Poland. In September that year, the Communist government signed an agreement with the Strike Coordination Committee to allow legal organization, but not actual free trade unions. The Strike Coordination Committee legalized itself into National Coordination Committee of Solidarność (Solidarity) Free Trade Union, and Wałęsa was chosen as a chairman of this Committee.

Wałęsa kept this position until 13 December 1981, when he was arrested. General Wojciech Jaruzelski declared a state of martial law on 13 December. Wałęsa was incarcerated for 11 months in eastern Poland in several villages (Chylice, Otwock and Arłamów near the Soviet border) until 14 November 1982.

In 1983, he applied to come back to Gdańsk Shipyard as a simple electrician. The same year, he was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was unable to receive the prize himself, fearing that the government would not let him back in. His wife, Danuta Wałęsa, received the prize in his place.

From 1987 to 1990, Wałęsa organized and led the Temporary Executive Committee of Solidarity Trade Union. In 1988, Wałęsa organized an occupational strike in Gdańsk Shipyard, demanding only the re-legalisation of Solidarity. After 80 days, the government agreed to enter into talks in September, Wałęsa being an informal leader of the non-governmental side. During the talks, the government signed an agreement to re-establish the Solidarity Trade Union and to organize elections to the Polish parliament. In 1989, Wałęsa organized and led the Citizenship Committee of the Chairman of Solidarity Trade Union.

While technically just a Chairman of Solidarity at the time, Wałęsa played a key role in Polish politics. At the end of 1989, he persuaded leaders from formerly Communist ally parties to form a non-communist coalition government, which was the first non-Communist government in the Soviet Bloc's sphere of influence. After that agreement the parliament chose Tadeusz Mazowiecki for prime minister of Poland. Poland, while still a Communist country in theory, started to change its economy to a market-based system.

He is the only private foreign citizen to address a joint session of the United States Congress, which he did on 15 November 1989.^[2] He was also the first recipient of the Liberty Medal on 4 July 1989 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In his acceptance speech, he said, "Liberty is not only a right, but also our common responsibility and duty."^[3]

Documents coming to light as of June 2008 allege that Wałęsa had been a collaborator of the Communist secret police (Polish: tajny współpracownik) under the pseudonym "Bolek", well prior to the formation of Solidarity.^[4][5] Walesa himself denied any collaboration.^[6][7] On 11 August 2000, the Appellate Court of Warsaw, V Wydział Lustracyjny, declared that Wałęsa's Lustration statement was true, absolving him of this accusation.

Presidency and afterwards

On 9 December 1990, Wałęsa won the presidential election to become president of Poland for the next five years. During his presidency, he initiated a "war at the top" policy, which implied revising the government annually. His style of presidency was strongly criticized by most of the political parties, and he lost most of the initial public support by the end of 1995. After downfall of the Jan Olszewski cabinet on June 1992, and following the unveiling of a list of secret collaborators by Minister of Internal Affairs Antoni Macierewicz, Lech Wałęsa was allegedly linked with illegal prosecution and disintegration of Polish conservative and independent rightist parties (so called Instruction UOP nr 0015/92).

Wałęsa lost the 1995 presidential election, collecting 48.72% of the votes in the run-off election against Aleksander Kwaśniewski. This was by less than 3.5%, a margin which many people^{[citation needed]} considered would have been comfortably overturned if the revelation had come earlier that his opponent had falsely claimed to have a university degree - and used Wałęsa's lack of higher education as a political weapon.^{[citation needed]} Calls for a new election were dismissed.

In the early 1990s, Wałęsa had proposed a "NATO-bis" as a subregional security framework. The concept, though supported by Polish right-wing as well as populist movements, and by politicians such as Leszek Moczulski, gained little support abroad, as Poland's neighbors, some of whom (like Lithuania) had only recently regained independence, tended to perceive the concept as imperialistic.^[8]

After that, he relaxed his political stance, but he was still active, trying to establish his own political party. In 1997 Wałęsa supported and helped to organize a new party called Solidarity Electoral Action (Akcja Wyborcza Solidarność) which won the 1997 parliamentary elections. However, his support was of minor significance and Wałęsa held a very low position in this party. The real leader of the party and its main organizer was a new Solidarity Trade Union leader, Marian Krzaklewski.

Wałęsa again stood for the presidential election in 2000, but he received only 1% of votes. Many Polish people were dissatisfied with the fact that once again he wanted to regain his political power. After that, Wałęsa declared his political retirement. From that time on, he has been lecturing on the history and politics of Central Europe at various foreign universities. Although not politically engaged anymore, Wałęsa is still publicly addressed as "President".^{[citation needed]}

On 10 May 2004, the Gdańsk international airport was officially renamed Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport to commemorate the famous Gdańsk citizen. His signature was incorporated into the airport's logo. A month later, Wałęsa went to the U.S. representing Poland at the state funeral of Ronald Reagan. On 25 April 2007 Wałęsa represented the Polish government at the funeral of Boris Yeltsin, former President of the Russian Federation.

In 2001 Wałęsa was awarded the Pacem in Terris Award. It was named after a 1963 encyclical letter by Pope John XXIII that calls upon all people of good will to secure peace among all nations. "Pacem in Terris" is Latin for 'Peace on Earth.'

In 2002, Wałęsa represented Europe in carrying the Olympic flag at the opening ceremonies of the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, joining Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Africa), John Glenn (The Americas), Kazuyoshi Funaki (Asia), Cathy Freeman (Oceania), Jean-Michel Cousteau (Environment), Jean-Claude Killy (Sport), and Steven Spielberg (Culture).

During Poland's 2005 presidential elections, Wałęsa supported Donald Tusk. Simultaneously, he expressed support for Poland's newly-formed Democratic Party - demokraci.pl in the parliamentary elections of the same year.

In 2006, Wałęsa quit Solidarity. In an Associated Press report, he cited differences with the party's support of the Law and Justice party, and the rise to power of Lech and Jarosław Kaczyński.

On 11 October 2006 Wałęsa was the keynote speaker at the launch of the "International Human Solidarity Day" proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005 at the United Nations Trusteeship Council. The Day, to be observed on 20 December, aims to raise awareness of the importance of solidarity for advancing the international development agenda, especially for poverty eradication. In the Millennium Declaration, Heads of State and Government identified solidarity as one of the “fundamental values… essential to international relations”. Mr. Wałęsa received a long applause from the audience after delivering an emotional speech on the impact of the day in human relationships and how his own movement "Solidarność" succeeded in getting support from people from various countries.

In January 2007, Wałęsa spoke at the event "Towards a Global Forum on New Democracies"^[9] in Taiwan in support of democracy and peace along with other prominent world leaders and President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan.

On 30 May 2007, Wałęsa received the title Defender of the Faith, Defensor Fidei, from the Italian Cultural Association.

On 27 February 2008 in Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston, Wałęsa had a stent placed in his heart to open a partially blocked artery and had a pacemaker implanted.^[10]

Wałęsa appeared at a rally in Rome to make a speech and endorse the pan-European eurosceptic party Libertas in the run up to the 2009 European elections, describing the party and its founder Declan Ganley as "a force for good in the world"^[11][12]. Wałęsa admitted to being paid to give the speech but claimed to support the Civic Platform, whilst expressing a hope that Libertas members were elected to the European Parliament^[13].

On 23 October 2009 he spoke at a conference in Gdansk of the Presidents of all European Senates commerating the 20th anniversary of the first free parliamentary elections in a former Communist country, the elections to the Senate of Poland in 1989.

Other activities

Wałęsa continues to appear in the media, being often asked to comment on current events. Of late, he also declared he is interested in information technology, and likes to use new developments in that field. He claimed to have put together a few computers on his own to find out how they work, and declared he takes a smartphone, a palmtop and a laptop with him when travelling ^[14]. Beside online media, Wałęsa plays himself in Andrzej Wajda's 1981 fictional film about Solidarity, Man of Iron and footage of him appears in Michael Jackson's music video "Man In The Mirror". In the late 1990s he was offered $1,000,000 to shave off his trademark moustache in a Gillette commercial, but he refused. A couple of years later though, to a big public surprise, Wałęsa did shave off his moustache for a brief period 'just for fun'.

In popular culture

• In Volker Schlöndorff's film Strike, a character based on Wałęsa is played by the Polish actor Andrzej Chyra. He is never explicitly referred to as Wałęsa, simply as "Leszek" (a diminutive form of Lech).
• Wałęsa plays himself in Andrzej Wajda's Golden Palm-winning film Man of Iron.
• Two satirical Polish songs, "Nie wierzcie elektrykom" ("Don't Trust Electricians") by Big Cyc and "Wałęsa, gdzie moje 100 000 000" ("Wałęsa, Where's My 100,000,000 [złotych]?") by Kazik Staszewski were big hits in Poland in the 1990s.
• He inspired U2's song "New Year's Day" on the album War. Coincidentally (perhaps), Polish authorities lifted martial law on 1 January 1983, when this single came out.^[15]
• Patrick Dailly's "Solidarity", starring Kristen Brown as Lech Walesa, was premiered by San Francisco Cabaret Opera in Berkeley and Oakland in September and October 2009.
• Lech Walesa is featured in the Gdansk Diary segment of the DVD included in David Gilmour's Live In Gdansk album. It shows Gilmour and Walesa meeting prior to the August 26, 2006 concert which marked the 26th anniversary of the Gdansk Shipyard Solidarity revolution. Newsmedia scenes from the Solidarity affair, including some with Walesa, were incorporated into the concert's background scenery during the performance of Take A Breath.

Alleged cooperation with communist security service

Since the fall of communism in 1989 several former colleagues and political opponents of Walesa (including Anna Walentynowicz^[16], Andrzej Gwiazda^[16] and current president of Poland Lech Kaczynski^[17]) accused him of being a secret informer of the Polish communist secret police - Służba Bezpieczeństwa in the early 1970s under the codename "Bolek". This claim, along with testimonies and corresponding documents were featured in documentary films Nocna zmiana and Plusy dodatnie, plusy ujemne. Three books covering the issue were published: Sprawa Lecha Wałęsy (2008), Lech Wałęsa. Idea i historia (2009) and SB a Lech Wałęsa. Przyczynek do biografii^[18] (2008).

The last of the three, written by historians from the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), Sławomir Cenckiewicz and Piotr Gontarczyk, received substantial coverage in the media and provoked a hot nationwide debate. It includes documents as well as witness testimonies and focuses on the history of the documents which disappeared from Wałęsa's archived UB files in the early 90's, when Wałęsa twice had access to them during his presidency. According to the authors, after Wałęsa returned the file, some documents were missing. Wałęsa confirmed seeing the documents but denied having taken them. The book is seen as highly controversial.

Infuriated by the resurgence of the accusations in March 2009, Wałęsa announced that he would not take part in ceremonies commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of Communism, and if accusations continue, he would first return all his decorations, then leave Poland altogether.^[19]

Honours and awards

Apart from his Nobel Prize (1983) ^[20], Wałęsa received several other international prizes. He has been awarded 33 ^[21] honorary degrees from several United States and European Universities. Named "Man of the Year" by: Time Magazine, 1981; The Financial Times, 1980; The Observer, 1980 ^[21], 2009; Legion of Liberty (IPEA)^[22].

• Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1989
• Liberty Medal, 1989
• Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, 1991
• Grand Cross of Legion of Honour, 1991
• Grand Order of Merit, Italy, 1991
• Cavaliere di Gran Corce decorato di Gran Cordone, Italy 1991
• Honorary Citizen of London, 1991
• Grand Sash of Order of Leopold, 1991
• Order of H.H. Pius XII
• Order of Merit of Federal Republic of Germany
• Order al Merito of Republic of Chile
• National Order of the Southern Cross, Brazil
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana of Estonia
• Medal of Independence of the Republic of Turkey
• Military Order of St. James with Swords, Portugal
• Order of Henry of Portugal
• Order of Korea
• Order of the Netherlands Lion of the Netherlands
• Medal of Republic of Uruguay
• Medal UNESCO
• Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose, Finland, 1993
• Knight of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim, 1993
• Knight of the Danish Order of the Elephant, 1993
• Grand Cross of Order of Merit, Republic Hungary, 1994
• Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, 1995
• Grand Cross Knight of the Order of Polonia Restituta, 1992 (ex officio)
• Knight of Order of White Eagle, Poland, 1992 (ex officio)
• Freedom Medal of National Endowment for Democracy, Washington, 1999
• International Freedom Award, Memphis, 1999
• Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion, Czech Republic, 1999
• Pacem in Terris Award, 2001
• One of A Different View's 15 Champions of World Democracy, 2008
• Legion Of Liberty, 2009
• Northeastern Illinois University named one of the campus building - Lech Walesa Hall, 2009

Honorary doctorates

Lech Wałęsa holds 35 honorary doctorates from universities across the world including these:

• Alliance College, Pennsylvania - 1981
• Columbia University - 1981
• Catholic University, Louvain - 1981
• MacMurray College, Illinois - 1982
• University of Notre Dame - 1982
• Providence College - 1981
• St. Senis University, Paris - 1982
• Seton Hall University - 1982
• L'Université de Paris - 1983
• Harvard University - 1983
• Fordham University - 1984
• University of Dundee, Scotland - 1984
• McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada - 1989
• Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada - 1989
• Gdansk University - 1990
• Copernicus University, Torun, Poland - 1990
• Connecticut State University - 1996
• Universidad Anahuac del Sur, Mexico City - 1996
• Universidad del San Salvador, Buenos Aires - 1997
• Universidad de Mendoza, Mendoza - 1997
• Korea University (hon. prof.)
• Seul - 1997
• Meiji University, Tokyo - 1997
• Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri - 1998
• Lynn University, Miami - 1998
• Gannon University, Erie, Pennsylvania - 1999
• University of Hawaii, Manoa/Honolulu - 1999
• Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon
• Middlebury College, Vermont - 2000
• University of Oregon, Eugene - 2001
• Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic - 2001
• Saint Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa - 2001
• Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, NJ - 2001
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC - 2002.
• Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada - 2005

See also

• History of Poland
• Bezpartyjny Blok Wspierania Reform (BBWR)
• Cold War

Bibliography

• God must have parachuted him to Earth, by Stefan Chwin English, originally published in Tygodnik Powszechny, December 2008

References

External links

Films and videos

• Signing of the Gdansk Agreement
• Presidential Inauguration

Other external links

• New Statesman interview with Lech Walesa by Mark Seddon
• The Nobel Peace Prize 1983
• Wałęsa speech - mp3
• Lech Walesa – Nobel Lecture
• BBC interview with Lech Walesa on the 25th anniversary of the founding of Solidarity
• Interview on WTTW
• Lech Wałęsa Institute
• The Shaming of Lech Walesa: Why the defeater of communism finds himself defeated by ex-communists--and why he and the American public haven't noticed Agnieszka Tennant, Books & Culture magazine, 2002