LECH WALESA -- SOLIDARITY LEADER

LECH WALESA -- 2009

Lech Walesa was the president of Poland from 1990 till 1995. He led his country Poland to democracy.

He is a son of a carpenter.  Walesa was working as an electrician in the Gdansk shipyard. 1980 he founded the trade union Solidarity. Since it was the first free trade union in Eastern Europe Walesa was dismissed because of his activities. It was at a time when there was food shortage and price rises which led to strikes and this attracted a lot of attention. The strikes spread and with public support for Solidarity a lot concession were achieved from the government, especially the right to workers to organise freely.

1981 Solidarity gained too much ground and it was outlawed by General Wojciench Jaruzelski. Walesa was imprisoned for almost a year. 1983 Walesa received the Nobel Peace Price for achieving more workers' rights.

In 1988 and 1989 Walesa worked tiredly and had major talks with the government which resulted that Solidarity was legalised and other trade unions. This also was the start for the beginning of a socialist democracy.

Walesa was elected president in 1990 with a landslide victory. He moved Poland towards a free market economy.

When he was defeated by Aleksander Kwasniewski in 1995 Walesa went back to his old job as an electrician in the Gdansk shipyard.

Right through between the lines you can see and read about a man with principles. A politician with high principles not to be seen or found so easily again. Yet, today, how many people will look back and realize what he had done for his and their country.

·         Poland

Poland is a beautiful country for a great holiday and one you will never forget. In 1980 Poland broke free from communism and it was the first country to do so. The new government reformed, privatised ….
Blog to be found at http://wheretogo-bymariahardy.blogspot.com/

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