Euranet
A man of contradictions
Politics
21.12.2009
by Cintia Taylor
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Most of the Communist regimes in Europe came to an end in 1989. And
all throughout 2009 the continent was celebrating the 20th anniversary
of the fall of the Iron Curtain. The biggest event was held in Berlin home to probably the most iconic symbols of Communism in Europe: the
Berlin Wall.
But 9 November 1989 could not have happened without the movement
over that summer in Poland, which is said to have started it all.
The illegal trade union Solidarity, led by electrician Lech Walesa, was
responsible for the first semi-free elections in Poland in almost 45
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years. Its fight prompted a wave of revolutions throughout Eastern
Europe, which culminated in the collapse of the Iron Curtain and later the Soviet Union.
Earlier in the year, Euranet met Mr Walesa in his office, situated in
the historic centre of Gdansk - where his Solidarity movement also
started.
When the team of reporters entered the room they were instructed
there wouldn't be any introductions, that as soon as Mr Walesa sits
down we should pop the first question. It all went by the book: Mr
Walesa only joined us once our microphones were on and sitting
comfortably in his chair, he waited for the reporters to do their job.
Lech Walesa doesn't
regret a thing
Network Europe's Cintia Taylor talks to
the former Solidarity leader...
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The former charismatic leader is no stranger to controversy. After
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winning the first semi-free elections in Poland, he lost a second
term as president and saw himself involved in a web of accusations
that he was a spy for the Communist regime. Mr Walesa denies it all, but shows no regret at the Poles'
change of heart. In his view, it's a consequence of a democratic process: "I could have been president for
decades if I had wanted, but I did not want that. I wanted to get things done."
His presidential methods didn't bring him much support from voters or Solidarity members, who accused him
of being a dictator. Mr Walesa says he never considered such methods while he was in power: "I do not
believe in it. It is good for a second, but not in the long run. I had to make dictatorial decisions when I
organised the strikes. We would have never won the battle for democracy if I had not led it."
Dealing with the past
Unlike Germany, Poland has never made its secret police files public. Speculation about Mr Walesa's role as a
spy has never been proven to be true, but it partly stems from the fact that he opted for a compromise with
the regime back in 1989 - the renowned Round Table agreement.
One of the points agreed upon was that Communists wouldn't be prosecuted if the opposition clinched a
victory. And when Mr Walesa took office as the first non-Communist president of Poland, the Communists
remained in powerful political positions. Mr Walesa says there was nothing he could have done about it,
because he didn't have the means to lead a Communist-free government: "We simply were not in the state
to do it. Making a minister from a secretary or a general from a private are tedious processes. It was a big
worry, but there was no way to do it. The Germans had a second state and they had problems! They had
leaders from another country to take charge and replace everything. And we didn't."
Unlike most world leaders, Mr Walesa doesn't mind answering controversial questions. In fact, he almost
requests for them to be asked. He admits to being a person who likes a good challenge: "Everything about
me is a contradiction. I'm full of conflicts..".
The only questions he feels bitter about are the ones that may portray him as a vain man who only wanted
to become president: "I never wanted such a position. Obviously I took up the post, but so that I could do
something.[...]The only thing to do was to become president because no one else was in a position to do so.
And everyone thinks I wanted to become president. The bitter truth is that I wanted to stop [General
Wojciech] Jaruzelski, because he never would have got us in NATO or EU."
The future
Currently, Mr Walesa spends his time giving lectures and seminars and representing Poland at official
ceremonies.
In 2000, he ran for president again and got the lowest share of the vote in his whole career: Only 1% of Poles
voted for him. But again, he has no hard feelings.
He doesn't reveal whether he intends to put himself forward as a candidate once more and doesn't disclose
what his plans for a better Poland would be: "The nation did not take my proposals. I proposed a
presidential system, a different type of privatisation, decrees... So, I would have run Poland differently.
But, the nation chose another option. So, telling you now what I would change is pointless - I proposed a
completely different system."
And when he looks back, would he have changed anything? "No", he says immediately. And, as for his critics,
he says: "The losers point fingers, but why didn't they do something? They could have done something. Who
stopped them?"
We were running late. Mr Walesa's assistant pointed to his watch saying the interview must end. Time for
some pictures. But for that, Mr Walesa put on his blazer with his presidential pin on it and stroke the
statesman pose. We left with no further ado. Just like we had entered: Without thankful greetings or any
sort of more informal approach.
As we left a group of secondary school students waited to be seen by the former president. Their teacher
was giving them instructions on how to behave. They soon would be meeting the possible spy, the former
electrician and president, and the man who, despite it all, gave Poland its democratic credentials.
For more information on the events that led to the fall of Communism in Europe, check out our dossier
here
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