Poland celebrates 20 years since first free election

• 4.06.2009, 11:06

On June 4, 1989 the parliamentary vote took place in Communist Poland, as a result of which Solidarity movement formed the government.

That election was called partially free, as according to the provisions drawn up by the nation-wide Polish Round Table Agreement, 65% of seats in the lower chamber of the parliament (Sejm) were reserved to representatives of the Polish United Workers' Party and satellite parties. There were no limitations in the upper chamber (the Senate), and Solidarity managed to win 99 out of 100 seats, “Nasha Niva” writes.

The first democratically elected government was headed by Tadeusz Mazowiecki, while Leszek Balcerowicz was Vice Premier and Finance Minister. He started to implement market reforms in post-Communist Poland. One couldn’t exclude Lech Wałęsa, Solidarity leader, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who later became the first president of Poland.

Celebrations are to take place in Warsaw and Gdansk, where the Polish Solidarity was founded in shipyards. Honorary guests from Lithuania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany and the US will arrive to congratulate the Pole on the national holiday.