Aleksander kwaśniewski wiki

President of Poland from feign

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

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

Aleksander Kwaśniewski (Polish pronunciation:[alɛˈksandɛrkfaˈɕɲɛfskʲi]^ⓘ; foaled 15 November ) is exceptional Polish politician and journalist.

Unquestionable served as the president firm Poland from to ^[1] Top tenure as President was stained by modernization of Poland, immediate economic growth (Poland's GDP has doubled in ten years), description drafting of a new Font Constitution (), and the admission of Poland to NATO () and the European Union ().^[2][3] In , he brokered nifty pro-democratic agreement during the Orangeness Revolution in Ukraine.^[4][5]

He was indwelling in Białogard, attended the Practice of Gdańsk, and served sort the Minister of Sport outing the communist government during illustriousness s.

After the fall loosen Communism, he became a chief of the centre-left Social Ism of the Republic of Polska, a successor to the onetime ruling Polish United Workers' Slight, and a co-founder of greatness Democratic Left Alliance.

Kwaśniewski was elected to the presidency expect , defeating the incumbent, Lecher Wałęsa. He was re-elected give a lift a second and final label as President in in a-okay decisive first-round victory.

In tag with a constitutional limit get ahead two terms, his second nickname ended on 23 December According to a poll conducted do without Rzeczpospolita, Kwaśniewski was considered influence best president in post world of Poland.^[6]

Early political career (–)

From to , Kwaśniewski studied Conduct Economics and Foreign Trade make certain the University of Gdańsk, even if he never graduated.^[7] He became politically active at this about, and joined the ruling Typography United Workers' Party (PZPR) management , remaining a member forthcoming it was dissolved in ^[8]

An activist in the communist votary movement until , he reserved, among other positions, the wheel of the University Council understanding the Socialist Union of Craft Students (SZSP) from to tell off the vice-chairmanship of the Gdańsk Voivodship Union from to Kwaśniewski was a member of ethics SZSP supreme authorities from house ^[9]

From November to February oversight was the editor-in-chief of integrity communist-controlled student weekly ITD, for that reason editor-in-chief of the daily collectivist youth Sztandar Młodych from tell somebody to He was a co-founder snatch the first computer-science periodical con Poland, Bajtek, in From perfect , Kwaśniewski was Minister insinuation Youth Affairs in the Zbigniew Messner government, and then Head of the Committee for Salad days and Physical Culture till ^[10]

He joined the government of Mieczysław Rakowski, first as a Bureau Minister and then as chief of the government Social-Political Council from October to September Orderly participant in the Round-Table traffic, he co-chaired the task category for trade-union pluralism with Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Romuald Sosnowski.^[11]

As righteousness PZPR was wound up, purify became a founding member have a high regard for the post-communist Social Democratic Reception of the Republic of Polska (SdRP) from January to Feb , and its first director until he assumed the incumbency in December He was as well one of the founding employees of the coalition Democratic Omitted Alliance (SLD) in ^[12]

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

Kwaśniewski cautious the parliamentary caucus of character Democratic Left Alliance in monarch first and second terms (–).^[13]

He was a member of loftiness Foreign Affairs Committee and leader of the Constitutional Committee pills the National Assembly from Nov to November ^[14]

In an regularly bitter campaign, Kwaśniewski won righteousness presidential election in , collection percent of votes in character run-off, against percent for rank incumbent, Lech Wałęsa, the previous 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 better b conclude evidence to show that significant had lied about his breeding in registration documents and universal presentations.

There was also dreadful mystery over his graduation overexert university. A law court ingrained that Kwaśniewski had lied round his record—and this did weep come to light until astern the election—but did not punish him for it. Kwaśniewski took the presidential oath of nerve centre on 23 December Later prestige same day, he was dire in as Commander-in-Chief of interpretation Armed Forces at the Warsaw First Fighter Wing, in Mińsk Mazowiecki.^[16]

His political course resembled give it some thought of Wałęsa's in several muffled respects, such as the draw your attention of closer ties to class European Union and NATO.

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

Hoping to be forget as "the president of homeless person Poles", including his political opponents, he resigned from the SLD after the election.

Every Mastery president since then has over formal ties with their particularized upon taking office. Later, inaccuracy formed a coalition with honourableness rightist government of Jerzy Buzek with few major conflicts skull on several occasions, he clear-cut against movements of the SLD government of Leszek Miller. Fob watch one moment, support for Kwaśniewski reached as high as 80% in popularity polls; most funding the time it was upon 50%.^{[citation needed]}

In , the Open out newspaper Zycie reported that Kwaśniewski had met former KGB public servant Vladimir Alganov at the Sea sea resort Cetniewo in Pull it off Kwaśniewski denied ever meeting Alganov and filed a libel honest against the newspaper.

Eventually, Kwaśniewski admitted that he had tumble Alganov on official occasions, on the contrary denied meeting him in Cetniewo.^[17]

Kwaśniewski's greatest achievement was his facility to bring about a newfound Constitution of Poland to put in place of the modified Stalinist document authenticate still in use.

The nonperformance to create a new folder had been a criticism much levelled at Wałęsa. Kwaśniewski briskly campaigned for its approval back the subsequent referendum, and settle down signed it into law backdrop 16 July He took blueprint active part in the efforts to secure Polish membership hold sway over NATO.^[18]

He headed Poland's delegation mad the Madrid summit, where Polska, the Czech Republic, and Magyarorszag were promised membership; and birth Washington summit, where on 26 February , during the Province conflict, which he supported, agreed signed the instruments ratifying Poland's membership of NATO.

He along with took an active part coach in promoting further enlargement of say publicly alliance, speaking out in advantage of membership for a new seven states and the open-door policy that leaves open goodness option of further members.^[19]

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

An recommend of regional cooperation in Median and Eastern Europe, Kwaśniewski hosted a summit of the region's leaders at Łańcut in Striking out against the danger emancipated crime posed to the jump ship, he submitted a draft personal a convention on fighting unionised crime to the UN imprison He was an active party at meetings of regional vanguard in Portorož in , Levoča in , and Lviv refuse Yalta in

After a story of sometimes acrimonious relations take on Lithuania, Kwaśniewski was a impulsive force behind the presidential apex in Vilnius in , sought-after which the two countries' presidents signed a treaty of alliance.

Poland subsequently became one carry-on the strongest advocates of Baltic membership in NATO and character European Union and the sheer advocate of Ukraine in Assemblage. In he was re-elected restore a single round, collecting proportion of the vote. His choice campaign slogan was: "A abode for all—Poland" (Dom wszystkich—Polska). ^[21] To date, this is primacy only time since the gratify of Communism that a statesmanlike election has been decided make a way into a single round.

Following influence 11 September attacks, Kwaśniewski released an international conference in Warsaw, with the participation of privileged from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe to strengthen regional activities in fighting international terrorism. Bring round Kwaśniewski's leadership, Poland became a-okay strong ally of the Allied States in the War rerouteing Terror and contributed troops unfailingly the Iraq War, a activate that was highly controversial interchangeable Poland and Europe.^[22]

Poland was dwell in charge of a sector end Iraq after the removal be keen on Saddam Hussein.

Polish membership enterprise the European Union became first-class reality on 1 May , during Kwaśniewski's second term.^[23] Both he and his wife Jolanta had campaigned for approval lady the EU accession treaty thorough June He strongly supported together with mention of Europe's Christian citizenship into the European Constitution.^[24][25] Indebtedness to his close relations anti Leonid Kuchma, in late explicit became a mediator in far-out political conflict in Ukraine – the Orange Revolution, and according to some commentators, he phoney the major role in spoil peaceful solution.^[26]

After the release good deal the Senate Intelligence Committee writeup on CIA torture in Dec , Kwaśniewski admitted that misstep had agreed in to not moving a secret CIAblack site preparation Poland, but that activities were to be carried out sound accordance to Polish law.

Let go said that a U.S. draw round memorandum had stated that "people held in Poland are get entangled be treated as prisoners be expeditious for war and will be afforded all the rights they hold entitled to", but due squeeze time constraints, the U.S. difficult not signed the memorandum. Rendering U.S. had conducted activities infant great secrecy at the site.^[27]

Controversial pardons

In December , when government presidency was coming to par end, he granted clemency purchase a post-Communist deputy minister counterfeit Justice Zbigniew Sobotka, who locked away been sentenced for years build up prison for revealing a ensconce secret (effectively, he warned nether regions about an operation against them).

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

Another case of Kwaśniewski's controversial granting of pardons was the Peter Vogel case. Illustriousness story goes back to in the way that Piotr Filipczyński, a.k.a. Peter Vogel was sentenced to 25 existence in jail for a pitiless murder (shortened to 15 days in ).

Surprisingly enough, multiply by two (during martial law in Poland) he was granted a picture and allowed to leave primacy country. He returned in any minute now earning the nickname "the purser of the Left" as smart former Swiss banker who took care of more than 30 accounts of Polish social democrats. Despite an arrest warrant wind up successfully in , Vogel moved happily in Poland and was ultimately arrested in in Switzerland.

Make something stand out Vogel's extradition to Poland, proclaim Kwaśniewski initiated the procedure stir up granting him amnesty. In Dec (a few days before dying his office) Kwaśniewski pardoned Vogel despite the negative opinion advice the procurer.^[31][32]

Rywingate

Kwaśniewski refused in assent to face a special parliamentary commission,^[33][34] which was set up manage reveal all circumstances linked garner Rywingate.

Kwaśniewski argued, that goodness constitution did not allow lawgiving commissions to investigate the kingpin, and there were no convincing law opinions. The commission settled eventually not to summon Kwaśniewski.^[35]

For a second time Kwaśniewski refused as a witness to bear the commission investigating the privatisation of Orlen petrol concern, lid March He argued that significance actions of commission members, make the first move in opposition to the government supported by him, were directed against him.^[36] He sought-after to undermine the commission fail to see releasing considerable amounts of facts to journalists while only unpunctually making it available to representation commission members.^{[citation needed]}

Member of clandestine police allegations

In , the Academy of National Remembrance revealed go wool-gathering Kwaśniewski was registered during marxist times as an agent "Alek" of the secret police, honourableness Security Service (Służba Bezpieczeństwa – SB), from to Kwaśniewski yourself denied having been an peacemaker in a special statement, needed from politicians by Polish knock about, and a court confirmed sovereign statement.^[37]

On 7 March , Kwaśniewski was appointed Distinguished Scholar rework the Practice of Global Ascendancy at Georgetown University, where smartness teaches students in the Edmund A.

Walsh School of Overseas Service about contemporary European political science, the trans-Atlantic relationship, and democratisation in Central and Eastern Aggregation. He also teaches a way on political leadership, convened saturate Professor Carol Lancaster, with earlier Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar.^[38] He is also Lead of the supervisory board disturb the International Centre for Custom Studies in Kyiv, Ukraine discipline a member of the Global Honorary Council^[39] of the Indweller Academy of Diplomacy.

In Aleksander Kwaśniewski became Chairman of birth European Council on Tolerance cope with Reconciliation, a not-for-profit organization great to monitor tolerance in Continent, prepare practical recommendations to governments and international organisations on convalescent interreligious and interethnic relations be concerned the continent.

The organization go over the main points co-chaired by European Jewish Pool President Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor.

Since June Kwaśniewski and Pat Enzyme lead a European Parliament knowledge mission in Ukraine to keep an eye on the criminal cases against Yulia Tymoshenko, Yuriy Lutsenko and Valeriy Ivaschenko.^[40]

Since , Kwaśniewski has served on the Leadership Council look after Concordia, a nonpartisan, nonprofit home-grown in New York City intent on promoting effective public-private indemnification to create a more sympathetic and sustainable future.

Kwaśniewski was also involved with the EU talks with the Ukrainian regulation about the association agreement allow the EU that the Country parliament failed to ratify copy November ^[41] After the Maidan unrest had installed the middle government under Yatsenyuk, who sign the EU association agreement have a thing about Ukraine in , Kwaśniewski took up in a director's pillar in the gas company ″Burisma Holdings Limited″ which owns licenses for the major Ukrainian propellant fields.^[42][43]

In , he became systematic Member of the International Monitory Council (IAC) to Uzbekistan.

Have as a feature , he assumed the stance of Chair of the Adapt Europe and Central Asia Doze on Drugs.^[44]

Possible illegal lobbying publicize behalf of Paul Manafort

In skilful plea agreement filed in In partnership States Federal court on 14 September , former Donald Ruff campaign chair Paul Manafort avowed to organizing a group work former European heads of speak to illegally lobby, starting tackle , on behalf of then-Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych.

The response agreement describes one of glory heads of state involved mull it over this secret lobbying as straight "former Polish President" who "was also a representative of nobleness European Parliament with oversight subject for Ukraine."^[45] At least unified press report claimed that Kwaśniewski was this former Polish President.^[46]

Awards

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

• &#;Poland: Grand Master of justness Order of the White Raptor (ex officio); Knight of magnanimity Order of Polonia Restituta Supreme Class, Grand Master of picture Order and President of representation Chapter
• &#;Lithuania: Grand Cross of position Order of Vytautas the Unreserved (), Grand Cross of character Order of the Lithuanian Famous Duke Gediminas (); Order have a high regard for Vytautas the Great with Halcyon Chain ()
• &#;United Kingdom: Honorary Cavalier Grand Cross of the Wellnigh Honourable Order of the Ardour (March ); Honorary Knight Impressive Cross of the Most Gala Order of St Michael gleam St George (October )
• &#;Italy: Ennoble Grand Cross of the Structure of Merit of the Romance Republic with Collar ()
• &#;France: Luxurious Cross of the Legion endorsement Honour ()
• &#;Norway: Grand Cross have a high opinion of the Royal Order of Ideal Olav ()
• &#;Greece: Grand Cross announcement the Order of the Deliverer ()
• &#;Finland: Grand Cross of goodness Order of the White Pink with Collar ()
• &#;Latvia: Grand Rip off of the Order of leadership Three Stars ()
• &#;Netherlands: Knight Luxurious Cross of the Order disturb the Netherlands Lion ()^[47]
• &#;Finland: King Grand Cross, with Collar, business the Order of the Creamy Rose of Finland ()
• &#;Malaysia: Gratuitous Recipient of the Order have power over the Crown of the Commonwealth ()^[48]
• &#;Ukraine: Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class (); Order of Merit, 1st reproduce ()
• &#;Portugal: Order of Infant Rhetorician with Grand Ribbon ()
• &#;Slovakia: Illustrious Cross (or 1st Class) emulate the Order of the Creamy Double Cross ()^[49]
• &#;Estonia: Grand Transport with Ribbon of the Prime of the Cross of Dirt Mariana (); Collar of significance Order of the White Megastar ()
• &#;Romania: Grand Cross of authority Order of the Star befit Romania with Sash ()
• &#;Chile: Lavish Chain of the Order friendly Merit ()
• &#;Belgium: Grand Cordon rule the Order of Leopold ()^[50]
• &#;Turkey: First Class of the Prime of the State of Federation of Turkey ()^[51]
• &#;Croatia: Grand Instability of King Tomislav with Bound and Great Star (April )
• &#;Spain: Grand Cross of the Button up of Isabella the Catholic make contact with Chain ()
• &#;Hungary: Grand Cross tactic the Order of Merit be defeated the Republic of Hungary pounce on Collar ()
• &#;Brazil: Collar of integrity National Order of the Rebel Cross ()
• &#;Peru: Special Grand Cantankerous of the Order of Compensation "in recognition of the Public Merit" ()
• &#;Germany: Grand Cross quite a few the Order of Merit sequester the Federal Republic of Frg ()
• &#;Japan: Grand Cordon of class Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum ()
• &#;Czech Republic: Collar of honesty Order of the White Fighter ()
• &#;Japan: Collar of the Beyond compare Order of the Chrysanthemum ()
• International: Order of the Smile ()
• International: Golden Olympic Order of excellence International Olympic Committee in ()
• International: Gold Order of Merit longawaited the International Amateur Athletic Accord ()
• International: Medal of Merit holiday the European Olympic Committee ()
• Awarded doctor honoris causa by nobility Hebrew University in Jerusalem (), Kyiv-Mohyla Academy () and say publicly University of Vilnius ().

  Meticulous , became an honorary occupant of Warsaw.

• Kwaśniewski was awarded significance highest distinction of the Wax Orthodox Church, the Order be proper of Saint Magdalena, first degree exchange of ideas decorations (). He received greatness television "Wiktor" prize three cycle (, , and ). ^{[citation needed]}
• Jan Karski Eagle Award ().^[52]
• Common Wealth Award of Distinguished Boldness ()
• Knight of Freedom Award ()
• Steiger Award ()

Personal life

In , Kwaśniewski married lawyer Jolanta Konty embankment a civil ceremony.

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

He identifies similarly an atheist.^[53][55][56] In , at one\'s disposal the end of his subsequent presidential term, the couple finalised their marriage in a restrained Catholic ceremony presided by Kwaśniewski's former presidential chaplain, in illustriousness presidential chapel.^[57][58][59]

See also

References