http://cosmopublic.eu/report/historic-ceremonies-liberation-of-auschwitz-turns-69-lech-walesa-70
Historic Ceremonies: Liberation of Auschwitz turns 69, Lech Walesa 70
Poland, 30 Sep - 13 Oct 2013
Israeli politicians will attend anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz ++ Party system in motion – new political
alliances arise ++ 70th birthday of national icon Lech Walesa. by Lukas Plewnia
Israeli politicians will attend anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
The end of January 2014 will mark the 69th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz – on the 27th of January 1945, the Red
Army reached the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau and freed the surviving prisoners. In the largest Nazi concentration
camp, the Soviet soldiers were confronted with a scene of horror; they saved almost 6,000 prisoners from inhumane conditions.
The anniversaries of the liberation of the German concentration camps on Polish soil regularly receive a lot of attention. The
69th anniversary, however, is planned to be a very special event – high-ranking politicians from Israel are expected to attend
the ceremony. More than half the members of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, as well as some Israeli ministers want to
commemorate the anniversary on the former concentration camp’s compound.
On this occasion, a meeting of the Israeli Parliament will be held – but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, is not
expected. Surviving prisoners of various concentration camps will also participate in the commemorations.
The ceremony will mark a turning point – fewer and fewer survivors who remember the German reign of terror are still alive.
Therefore, representatives of youth organisations will participate in the next anniversary; they are supposed to preserve the
memory of the victims for the future.
Party system in motion – new political alliances arise
The great dynamism of the Polish political landscape has been known for a long time – this is not unusual for a young
democracy. Now, the political structure is changing once again. Jaroslaw Gowin, until recently Minister of Justice and member
of the ruling conservative Civic Platform (PO), came into conflict with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and other PO members about
the political direction of the party. Gowin had abandoned it when his clerical-conservative approach did not succeed. In early
October, Gowin announced that he and his political compatriots will work together with the conservative party Poland Comes
First (PJN).
The cooperation between Gowin and PJN is based on a programmatic declaration, which Gowin and PJN-Chairman Pawel
Kowal, amongst others, singed. The result is not a new party as such, but a social movement that will constitute itself as a party
shortly before elections. Programmatically, the movement wants to focus on improving the situation of companies, and reducing
bureaucracy. In addition, Polish families are supposed to be supported further.
Meanwhile, the long-awaited congress of the center-left parties and movements, which are closely associated with the leftist
liberal Palikot Movement (RP), was held. The Palikot Movement and several other organisations, such as the citizens’
movement Europa Plus, parts of the Labor Party (PPP), and the Social Democrats have joined forces. In addition, other groups
and political actors have signaled cooperation.
The new party is named Your Movement (TR) and mainly represents feminist, pro-European, civil rights and economically
liberal positions. The presidium will consist of eight women and eight men; Leader of the new party is Janusz Palikot.
70th birthday of Lech Walesa
At the end of September, the former Solidarity leader Lech Walesa celebrated his 70th birthday and awarded the Lech Walesa
Award. For this occasion, a banquet for over 500 guests had been prepared.
The prize was awarded to Russian oligarch and ex Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, in absentia, for his critical attitude
towards the Russian government. Khodorkovsky is currently under house arrest. The Polish Postal Service has issued a
special stamp in honor of Walesa.
Originally, Lech Walesa worked as an electrician at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk; in 1970, he participated in the first major
strike at the shipyard, targeted against the communist authorities. For this, he was imprisoned and interrogated for four days.
However, Walesa remained in contact with the workers – even after his expulsion from the shipyard.
Therefore, after the outbreak of the next big strike in 1980, he was already at the top of the movement. He negotiated directly
with the communist authorities and signed several agreements to improve the situation of workers - including the legalisation of
the Solidarity trade union (Solidarnosc).
Despite internal criticism of his autocratic style of leadership, he was chosen as Solidarity’s leader in 1981, shortly after the
communist government had arrested him. However, Walesa refused to cooperate with the government and was finally released
in 1982. In 1983, the devout Catholic met with Pope John Paul II and received the Nobel Peace Prize in absentia.
In 1989, he led the oppositional delegation during the negotiations at the "round table". Here, the semi-free elections of June
1989 were negotiated. In 1990, he ran as presidential candidate and made it to the country's highest office in a second round.
However, five years later, he lost the office after several political scandals and tangible economic problems in Poland, and
ended his political career.
Source: Michal Osmenda | CC BY-SA 2.0
Photos of Auschwitz victims