Post Soviet Poland

Question 1

Round Table Talks

Answer 1

• Did not intend to make Solidarity its equal.
• Signed 6 April 1989
• The agreement proposed:
○ Legalization of Solidarity
○ Restored the senate as upper house with veto power of the Sejm.
○ Granted partially free election for the Sejm.
○ Replaced state council with executive office of President.
○ Called for an independent judiciary.

Question 2

Post Communist Elections

Answer 2

• Election in the Senate were free and open.
• The communist government was assured 60% of the seat.
• Solidarity won:
○ 99/100 Senate seats
○ 160/161 Sejm seats
• The parliament voted for the President.
○ Jaruzelski ran unopposed and was elected.
§ Solidarity allowed this:
□ They believed he would ensure the round table agreements.
□ It wouldn’t alarm Moscow.
○ Solidarity was not willing to concede leadership of the new government to the communists.
• After a failure to form coalition under general Kiszczak, a Solidarity leader was put in power as president.

Question 3

Mazowiecki, Jarulzelski, Walesa role

Answer 3

• Jaruzelski chose Mazowiecki as Prime Minister.
○ Walesa supported this.
• Walesa convinced Jaruzelski:
○ No communist witch hunts.
○ Communists would retain control of key administration’s.
• Mazowiecki and Walesa began to fall out over economic reform pace.
○ Led to the formation of two factions
§ Walesa advocated speed
§ Mazowiecki advocated caution
• President Jaruzelski announced his retirement.
○ Led to constitutional presidential elections.
○ Walesa won with 40% defeating Mazowiecki.
§ Became first elected President of Poland.
§ Some Issues:
□ Tarnished his image
□ Increased the split in Solidarity.

Question 4

President Walesa

Answer 4

○ Offered post of PM to Olszewski who refused.
§ Walesa wanted too much oversight on key appointments.
○ Turned to Jan Bielecki who agreed.
○ Walesa’s expansion of power alarmed many people.
§ Continued economic reform was politically gridlocked.

Question 5

1991 Elections

Answer 5

§ Led to an unstable coalition.
§ Prime Ministers came in and out frequently.
□ Until Hanna Suchoka came in power.
® Democratic Union party Candidate.
§ Solidarity began to lose influence.
§ Suchoka continued the economic programmed of privatization.
□ Agreed with Solidarity to phase it in more slowly.
□ Halted the production decline.
□ Halted the Unemployment increase.
§ Solidarity’s influence continued to lose influence.
□ Walesa was defeated by a former communist minister.