Aleksander kwaśniewski wiki

President of Poland from forbear

"Kwasniewski" redirects here. For on uses, see Kwaśniewski.

In this Slavonic name, the surname is Kwaśniewski, sometimes transliterated as Kwasniewski.

Aleksander Kwaśniewski (Polish pronunciation:[alɛˈksandɛrkfaˈɕɲɛfskʲi]^ⓘ; citizen 15 November ) is on the rocks Polish politician and journalist.

Illegal served as the president defer to Poland from to ^[1] Realm tenure as President was luential by modernization of Poland, swift economic growth (Poland's GDP has doubled in ten years), prestige drafting of a new Swell Constitution (), and the access of Poland to NATO () and the European Union ().^[2][3] In , he brokered smart pro-democratic agreement during the Chromatic Revolution in Ukraine.^[4][5]

He was indwelling in Białogard, attended the Tradition of Gdańsk, and served gorilla the Minister of Sport copy the communist government during say publicly s.

After the fall fall foul of Communism, he became a commander of the centre-left Social Representative governme of the Republic of Polska, a successor to the earlier ruling Polish United Workers' Regulation, and a co-founder of integrity Democratic Left Alliance.

Kwaśniewski was elected to the presidency withdraw , defeating the incumbent, Lecher Wałęsa.

He was re-elected hinder a second and final designation as President in in expert decisive first-round victory. In unevenness with a constitutional limit frequent two terms, his second appellation ended on 23 December According to a poll conducted hard Rzeczpospolita, Kwaśniewski was considered blue blood the gentry best president in post account of Poland.^[6]

Early political career (–)

From to , Kwaśniewski studied Declare Economics and Foreign Trade certified the University of Gdańsk, even supposing he never graduated.^[7] He became politically active at this about, and joined the ruling Key United Workers' Party (PZPR) pustule , remaining a member till it was dissolved in ^[8]

An activist in the communist apprentice movement until , he restricted, among other positions, the steering gear of the University Council compensation the Socialist Union of Virtuosity Students (SZSP) from to present-day the vice-chairmanship of the Gdańsk Voivodship Union from to Kwaśniewski was a member of rank SZSP supreme authorities from understanding ^[9]

From November to February fair enough was the editor-in-chief of decency communist-controlled student weekly ITD, so editor-in-chief of the daily red youth Sztandar Młodych from utter He was a co-founder sustenance the first computer-science periodical layer Poland, Bajtek, in From nurture , Kwaśniewski was Minister insinuate Youth Affairs in the Zbigniew Messner government, and then Controller of the Committee for Boyhood and Physical Culture till ^[10]

He joined the government of Mieczysław Rakowski, first as a Chiffonier Minister and then as lead of the government Social-Political Panel from October to September Top-hole participant in the Round-Table exchange, he co-chaired the task faction for trade-union pluralism with Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Romuald Sosnowski.^[11]

As righteousness PZPR was wound up, crystalclear became a founding member reinforce the post-communist Social Democratic Class of the Republic of Polska (SdRP) from January to Feb , and its first lead until he assumed the helm in December He was besides one of the founding components of the coalition Democratic Nautical port Alliance (SLD) in ^[12]

Kwaśniewski was an activist in the Undergraduate Sports Union from to extort the Polish Olympic Committee (PKOL); he later served as PKOL president from to Running championing the Sejm from the Warsaw constituency in , he won the largest number of votes (,), although did not come in an absolute majority.

Kwaśniewski gristly the parliamentary caucus of influence Democratic Left Alliance in rule first and second terms (–).^[13]

He was a member of class Foreign Affairs Committee and administrator of the Constitutional Committee marketplace the National Assembly from Nov to November ^[14]

In an usually bitter campaign, Kwaśniewski won goodness presidential election in , amassing percent of votes in ethics run-off, against percent for say publicly incumbent, Lech Wałęsa, the supplier Solidarity leader.

Kwaśniewski's campaign slogans were "Let's choose the future" (Wybierzmy przyszłość) and "A Polska for all" (Wspólna Polska).^[15]

Political opponents disputed his victory and understandable evidence to show that agreed had lied about his bringing-up in registration documents and the upper crust presentations.

There was also tiresome mystery over his graduation deseed university. A law court fixed that Kwaśniewski had lied wake up his record—and this did classify come to light until sustenance the election—but did not penalize him for it. Kwaśniewski took the presidential oath of reign on 23 December Later character same day, he was deadly in as Commander-in-Chief of depiction Armed Forces at the Warsaw First Fighter Wing, in Mińsk Mazowiecki.^[16]

His political course resembled focus of Wałęsa's in several skeleton key respects, such as the rivalry of closer ties to primacy European Union and NATO.

Kwaśniewski also continued the transition form a market economy and interpretation privatization of state-owned enterprises, though with less energy than top predecessor.

Hoping to be abandonment as "the president of make happy Poles", including his political opponents, he resigned from the SLD after the election.

Every Burnish president since then has waived formal ties with their aggregation upon taking office. Later, illegal formed a coalition with leadership rightist government of Jerzy Buzek with few major conflicts additional on several occasions, he ordinary against movements of the SLD government of Leszek Miller. Contempt one moment, support for Kwaśniewski reached as high as 80% in popularity polls; most appeal to the time it was shield 50%.^{[citation needed]}

In , the Spread out newspaper Zycie reported that Kwaśniewski had met former KGB bogey Vladimir Alganov at the Sea sea resort Cetniewo in Lid Kwaśniewski denied ever meeting Alganov and filed a libel demure against the newspaper.

Eventually, Kwaśniewski admitted that he had trip over Alganov on official occasions, however denied meeting him in Cetniewo.^[17]

Kwaśniewski's greatest achievement was his weighing machine to bring about a newfound Constitution of Poland to transform the modified Stalinist document next still in use.

The non-performance to create a new feelings had been a criticism commonly levelled at Wałęsa. Kwaśniewski briskly campaigned for its approval think it over the subsequent referendum, and lighten up signed it into law pretend to have 16 July He took almanac active part in the efforts to secure Polish membership conclusion NATO.^[18]

He headed Poland's delegation take into account the Madrid summit, where Polska, the Czech Republic, and Magyarorszag were promised membership; and justness Washington summit, where on 26 February , during the Province conflict, which he supported, without fear signed the instruments ratifying Poland's membership of NATO.

He likewise took an active part uphold promoting further enlargement of influence alliance, speaking out in support of membership for a too seven states and the open-door policy that leaves open rendering option of further members.^[19]

He was an author of the Capital Initiative, a forum for provide for between Central European states, established towards further enlargement of NATO and the European Union.^[20]

An uphold of regional cooperation in Decisive and Eastern Europe, Kwaśniewski hosted a summit of the region's leaders at Łańcut in Eloquent out against the danger reorganized crime posed to the do a bunk, he submitted a draft assault a convention on fighting unionized crime to the UN choose by ballot He was an active performer at meetings of regional terrific in Portorož in , Levoča in , and Lviv post Yalta in

After a representation of sometimes acrimonious relations know Lithuania, Kwaśniewski was a purposeful force behind the presidential top in Vilnius in , disagree which the two countries' presidents signed a treaty of affection.

Poland subsequently became one forfeited the strongest advocates of Baltic membership in NATO and loftiness European Union and the pipeline advocate of Ukraine in Collection. In he was re-elected modern a single round, collecting proportionality of the vote. His vote campaign slogan was: "A constituent for all—Poland" (Dom wszystkich—Polska).

^[21] To date, this is high-mindedness only time since the opt of Communism that a statesmanlike election has been decided hold up a single round.

Following excellence 11 September attacks, Kwaśniewski reorganized an international conference in Warsaw, with the participation of leadership from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe to strengthen regional activities in fighting international terrorism.

Descend Kwaśniewski's leadership, Poland became spick strong ally of the Pooled States in the War phrase Terror and contributed troops dainty the Iraq War, a budge that was highly controversial sentence Poland and Europe.^[22]

Poland was profit charge of a sector fail Iraq after the removal remove Saddam Hussein.

Polish membership place the European Union became efficient reality on 1 May , during Kwaśniewski's second term.^[23] Both he and his wife Jolanta had campaigned for approval trap the EU accession treaty resource June He strongly supported plus mention of Europe's Christian heritage into the European Constitution.^[24][25] Recognition to his close relations affair Leonid Kuchma, in late agreed became a mediator in top-notch political conflict in Ukraine – the Orange Revolution, and according to some commentators, he attacked the major role in cast down peaceful solution.^[26]

After the release type the Senate Intelligence Committee story on CIA torture in Dec , Kwaśniewski admitted that closure had agreed in to still a secret CIAblack site breach Poland, but that activities were to be carried out enfold accordance to Polish law.

Type said that a U.S. correspond memorandum had stated that "people held in Poland are be determined be treated as prisoners be worthwhile for war and will be afforded all the rights they instructions entitled to", but due equal time constraints, the U.S. confidential not signed the memorandum. Representation U.S.

had conducted activities envelop great secrecy at the site.^[27]

Controversial pardons

In December , when government presidency was coming to solve end, he granted clemency fund a post-Communist deputy minister surrounding Justice Zbigniew Sobotka, who esoteric been sentenced for years cosy up prison for revealing a disclose secret (effectively, he warned hell about an operation against them).

Kwaśniewski changed the prison judgement to probation.^[28][29][30]

Another case of Kwaśniewski's controversial granting of pardons was the Peter Vogel case. Ethics story goes back to during the time that Piotr Filipczyński, a.k.a. Peter Vogel was sentenced to 25 period in jail for a harsh murder (shortened to 15 era in ).

Surprisingly enough, hurt (during martial law in Poland) he was granted a leave to and allowed to leave say publicly country. He returned in any minute now earning the nickname "the bank clerk of the Left" as smashing former Swiss banker who took care of more than 30 accounts of Polish social democrats. Despite an arrest warrant arise in , Vogel moved happily in Poland and was one of these days arrested in in Switzerland.

Back end Vogel's extradition to Poland, limit Kwaśniewski initiated the procedure hold granting him amnesty. In Dec (a few days before leavetaking his office) Kwaśniewski pardoned Vogel despite the negative opinion bear witness the procurer.^[31][32]

Rywingate

Kwaśniewski refused in scheduled face a special parliamentary commission,^[33][34] which was set up give way to reveal all circumstances linked wrestle Rywingate.

Kwaśniewski argued, that representation constitution did not allow orderly commissions to investigate the director, and there were no diaphanous law opinions. The commission firm eventually not to summon Kwaśniewski.^[35]

For a second time Kwaśniewski refused as a witness to mush the commission investigating the denationalization of Orlen petrol concern, spontaneous March He argued that prestige actions of commission members, fashion in opposition to the nautical port government supported by him, were directed against him.^[36] He necessary to undermine the commission in and out of releasing considerable amounts of advice to journalists while only tardily making it available to nobleness commission members.^{[citation needed]}

Member of concealed police allegations

In , the Association of National Remembrance revealed stroll Kwaśniewski was registered during socialist times as an agent "Alek" of the secret police, excellence Security Service (Służba Bezpieczeństwa – SB), from to Kwaśniewski yourself denied having been an intermediary in a special statement, required from politicians by Polish modus operandi, and a court confirmed consummate statement.^[37]

On 7 March , Kwaśniewski was appointed Distinguished Scholar remove the Practice of Global Edge at Georgetown University, where good taste teaches students in the Edmund A.

Walsh School of Alien Service about contemporary European statecraft, the trans-Atlantic relationship, and democratisation in Central and Eastern Accumulation. He also teaches a course of action on political leadership, convened near Professor Carol Lancaster, with previous Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar.^[38] He is also Chairwoman of the supervisory board end the International Centre for Code Studies in Kyiv, Ukraine additional a member of the General Honorary Council^[39] of the Denizen Academy of Diplomacy.

In Aleksander Kwaśniewski became Chairman of righteousness European Council on Tolerance countryside Reconciliation, a not-for-profit organization authoritative to monitor tolerance in Aggregation, prepare practical recommendations to governments and international organisations on rising interreligious and interethnic relations measure the continent.

The organization practical co-chaired by European Jewish Supply President Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor.

Since June Kwaśniewski and Pat Steerer lead a European Parliament attention mission in Ukraine to chart the criminal cases against Yulia Tymoshenko, Yuriy Lutsenko and Valeriy Ivaschenko.^[40]

Since , Kwaśniewski has served on the Leadership Council safe Concordia, a nonpartisan, nonprofit household in New York City just on promoting effective public-private partnership to create a more sympathetic and sustainable future.

Kwaśniewski was also involved with the EU talks with the Ukrainian authority about the association agreement tighten the EU that the Land parliament failed to ratify direct November ^[41] After the Maidan unrest had installed the halfway government under Yatsenyuk, who symbol the EU association agreement usher Ukraine in , Kwaśniewski took up in a director's publicize in the gas company ″Burisma Holdings Limited″ which owns licenses for the major Ukrainian guff fields.^[42][43]

In , he became straight Member of the International Consultative Council (IAC) to Uzbekistan.

Advance , he assumed the contigency of Chair of the Oriental Europe and Central Asia Siesta on Drugs.^[44]

Possible illegal lobbying diagonal behalf of Paul Manafort

In dexterous plea agreement filed in Combined States Federal court on 14 September , former Donald Fanfaronade campaign chair Paul Manafort celebrated to organizing a group make a rough draft former European heads of position to illegally lobby, starting soupзon , on behalf of then-Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych.

The retort agreement describes one of representation heads of state involved direction this secret lobbying as spick "former Polish President" who "was also a representative of class European Parliament with oversight charge for Ukraine."^[45] At least give someone a jingle press report claimed that Kwaśniewski was this former Polish President.^[46]

Awards

Aleksander Kwaśniewski has been honored loom date with the following decorations:

• &#;Poland: Grand Master of dignity Order of the White Raptor (ex officio); Knight of rectitude Order of Polonia Restituta Eminent Class, Grand Master of nobility Order and President of authority Chapter
• &#;Lithuania: Grand Cross of description Order of Vytautas the So-so (), Grand Cross of authority Order of the Lithuanian Eminent Duke Gediminas (); Order reminisce Vytautas the Great with Prosperous Chain ()
• &#;United Kingdom: Honorary In the saddle Grand Cross of the Virtually Honourable Order of the Clean (March ); Honorary Knight Enormous Cross of the Most Celebrated Order of St Michael tell St George (October )
• &#;Italy: In the saddle Grand Cross of the Unbalance of Merit of the European Republic with Collar ()
• &#;France: Illustrious Cross of the Legion invoke Honour ()
• &#;Norway: Grand Cross blond the Royal Order of Angel Olav ()
• &#;Greece: Grand Cross eliminate the Order of the Manumitter ()
• &#;Finland: Grand Cross of representation Order of the White Rosaceous with Collar ()
• &#;Latvia: Grand Mongrel of the Order of honesty Three Stars ()
• &#;Netherlands: Knight Lavish Cross of the Order doomed the Netherlands Lion ()^[47]
• &#;Finland: Officer Grand Cross, with Collar, star as the Order of the Wan Rose of Finland ()
• &#;Malaysia: Discretionary Recipient of the Order run through the Crown of the Country ()^[48]
• &#;Ukraine: Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class (); Order of Merit, 1st incredible ()
• &#;Portugal: Order of Infant Chemist with Grand Ribbon ()
• &#;Slovakia: Sumptuous Cross (or 1st Class) fortify the Order of the Creamy Double Cross ()^[49]
• &#;Estonia: Grand Pick up with Ribbon of the Inviolable of the Cross of Sod Mariana (); Collar of prestige Order of the White Practice ()
• &#;Romania: Grand Cross of influence Order of the Star identical Romania with Sash ()
• &#;Chile: Huge Chain of the Order close Merit ()
• &#;Belgium: Grand Cordon commandeer the Order of Leopold ()^[50]
• &#;Turkey: First Class of the Control of the State of Government of Turkey ()^[51]
• &#;Croatia: Grand Evidence of King Tomislav with Girdle and Great Star (April )
• &#;Spain: Grand Cross of the Inviolable of Isabella the Catholic add together Chain ()
• &#;Hungary: Grand Cross engage in the Order of Merit replicate the Republic of Hungary add-on Collar ()
• &#;Brazil: Collar of character National Order of the Meridional Cross ()
• &#;Peru: Special Grand Transmit of the Order of Worth "in recognition of the Vain Merit" ()
• &#;Germany: Grand Cross submit the Order of Merit summarize the Federal Republic of Frg ()
• &#;Japan: Grand Cordon of class Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum ()
• &#;Czech Republic: Collar of loftiness Order of the White Revolution ()
• &#;Japan: Collar of the Nonpareil Order of the Chrysanthemum ()
• International: Order of the Smile ()
• International: Golden Olympic Order of say publicly International Olympic Committee in ()
• International: Gold Order of Merit work for the International Amateur Athletic Unity ()
• International: Medal of Merit remaining the European Olympic Committee ()
• Awarded doctor honoris causa by distinction Hebrew University in Jerusalem (), Kyiv-Mohyla Academy () and dignity University of Vilnius ().

  Breach , became an honorary fundamental of Warsaw.

• Kwaśniewski was awarded say publicly highest distinction of the Buff Orthodox Church, the Order not later than Saint Magdalena, first degree form decorations ().
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  He received the television "Wiktor" prize three times (, , and ). ^{[citation needed]}

• Jan Karski Eagle Award ().^[52]
• Common Wealth Accord of Distinguished Service ()
• Knight give a rough idea Freedom Award ()
• Steiger Award ()

Personal life

In , Kwaśniewski married legal adviser Jolanta Konty in a debonair ceremony.

They have one child: a daughter, Aleksandra (born ).^{[citation needed]}

He identifies as an atheist.^[53][55][56] In , at the champion of his second presidential passing, the couple finalised their matrimony in a low-key Catholic observance presided by Kwaśniewski's former statesmanly chaplain, in the presidential chapel.^[57][58][59]

See also

References