Bronisław Komorowski facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the president of Poland. For the Catholic priest murdered during World War II, see Bronisław Komorowski (priest).

Quick facts for kids Bronisław Komorowski
Official portrait, 2013

5th President of Poland
In office 6 August 2010 – 6 August 2015
Prime Minister	Donald Tusk Ewa Kopacz
Preceded by	Grzegorz Schetyna (acting)
Succeeded by	Andrzej Duda
Acting 10 April 2010 – 8 July 2010
Prime Minister	Donald Tusk
Preceded by	Lech Kaczyński
Succeeded by	Bogdan Borusewicz (acting)
Marshal of the Sejm
In office 5 November 2007 – 8 July 2010
Preceded by	Ludwik Dorn
Succeeded by	Grzegorz Schetyna
Deputy Marshal of the Sejm
In office 25 October 2005 – 4 November 2007
Marshal	Marek Jurek Ludwik Dorn
Minister of National Defence
In office 16 June 2000 – 19 October 2001
Prime Minister	Jerzy Buzek
Preceded by	Janusz Onyszkiewicz
Succeeded by	Jerzy Szmajdziński
Member of the Sejm
In office 25 November 1991 – 8 July 2010
Constituency	20 – Warsaw II (1997–2010) 32 – Piła (1993–1997) 36 – Katowice (1991–1993)

Personal details
Born	Bronisław Maria Komorowski (1952-06-04) 4 June 1952 (age 73) Oborniki Śląskie, Polish People's Republic
Political party	Independent (2010–present)
Other political affiliations	UD (before 1994) UW (1994–1997) SKL (before 2001) PO (2001–2010)
Spouse	Anna Dziadzia (m. 1977)
Children	5
Alma mater	University of Warsaw
Awards	List of honours and awards
Signature

Bronisław Maria Komorowski (born 4 June 1952) is a Polish politician and historian. He was the fifth president of Poland from 2010 to 2015. Before becoming president, he was the Minister of Defence from 2000 to 2001.

As the Marshal of the Sejm (like the speaker of parliament), Komorowski became the acting president on 10 April 2010. This happened after President Lech Kaczyński died in a plane crash. Komorowski then ran in the presidential election. He won in the second round on 4 July 2010. He officially became president on 6 August 2010.

On 6 August 2015, Andrzej Duda took over as president. Duda had won the 2015 presidential election. Komorowski was the only president of the Third Polish Republic who did not have to share power with a different political party in the government.

Early Life and Education
What Was His Dissident Activity?
His Political Career in the Third Republic
Becoming Marshal of the Sejm
His Time as President of Poland
- Acting President
- Presidency
  - His Views on Ukraine
Personal Life
Honours and Awards
State Visits Gallery
See also

Early Life and Education

Bronisław Maria Komorowski was born in Oborniki Śląskie, Poland. His father, Zygmunt Leon Komorowski, was a professor. His mother was Jadwiga Komorowska. Bronisław's grandfather, Juliusz Komorowski, owned a manor in Lithuania. The Komorowski family owned this manor until 1940.

Bronisław's family kept some Lithuanian traditions, like eating special dishes during Christmas. His grandmother also sang songs in the Lithuanian language.

He lived in Józefów and Pruszków as a child. In 1966, he moved to Warsaw and finished high school there. He was also very active in the Scout Movement for many years. He even met his future wife through Scouting.

In 1977, he finished studying history at the University of Warsaw. After that, he worked as an editor for a newspaper called Słowo Powszechne.

What Was His Dissident Activity?

During the time of the Polish People's Republic, Komorowski was part of a movement that wanted democracy. He worked as an underground publisher. He helped create a monthly newspaper called Głos.

In 1980, he was sent to prison for one month. This was because he helped organize a demonstration on 11 November 1979. He also worked for the "Solidarity" trade union.

When martial law was declared in Poland, he was held by the authorities. From 1981 to 1989, he taught at a seminary. In 1989, he visited his family's old manor in Lithuania.

His Political Career in the Third Republic

Bronisław Komorowski as Deputy Marshal in Sejm, September 2007

From 1989 to 1990, Komorowski worked in the government. He was a vice minister of national defence from 1990 to 1993. In the early 1990s, he was involved with the Democratic Union and Freedom Union parties.

Bronisław Komorowski with Lech Kaczyński and Nicolas Sarkozy

He was elected to the Polish parliament, called the Sejm, in 1991 and 1993. In 1997, he joined the Conservative People's Party. This party was part of a larger group called Solidarity Electoral Action.

In September 1997, Komorowski was elected to the Sejm again. From 1997 to 2000, he led the Parliamentary National Defence Committee. From 2000 to 2001, he was the Minister of National Defence.

In 2001, he joined the Civic Platform (PO) party. He was elected to the Sejm for the fourth time as a candidate for PO. He became a member of the National Civic Platform Board.

He was elected to the Sejm again in 2005. On 26 October 2005, he became the Vice Speaker of the Sejm. On 27 April 2007, he was nominated to be the Speaker of the Sejm, but another person was chosen. Komorowski remained Deputy Marshal.

In the 2007 parliamentary election, he received many votes.

Becoming Marshal of the Sejm

On 5 November 2007, Bronisław Komorowski was elected Speaker of the 6th Sejm. He received 292 votes. As Speaker, he was a very important figure in the Polish parliament.

On 27 March 2010, the Civic Platform party chose him as their candidate for the 2010 presidential election.

His Time as President of Poland

Acting President

President Bronisław Komorowski with two former presidents, Lech Wałęsa and Aleksander Kwaśniewski

Komorowski became acting president on 10 April 2010. This happened after the tragic death of President Lech Kaczyński. His first decision was to announce seven days of national mourning.

The Constitution of Poland says that the acting president must set a date for the next election. Komorowski announced that the election would be held on 20 June.

In the election, he won 41.54% of the votes in the first round. He then faced Jarosław Kaczyński in the second round. Komorowski won the runoff election with 53.01% of the votes. He officially became president on 6 August 2010.

Presidency

President Bronisław Komorowski during his inaugural speech in front of the National Assembly

Bronisław Komorowski with his successor Andrzej Duda and their spouses in Warsaw, 6 August 2015

After becoming president, Komorowski made several important appointments. He appointed Jacek Michałowski as the head of the President's office. He also appointed General Stanisław Koziej to lead the National Security Bureau.

On 29 April 2010, Komorowski signed a law that changed the Institute of National Remembrance. On 27 May 2010, he nominated Marek Belka to be the head of the National Bank of Poland.

After winning the election, Komorowski resigned from the Sejm on 8 July 2010. This meant he stopped being the Marshal and acting president. His successor as acting president was Grzegorz Schetyna. Komorowski chose to live and work in the Belweder Palace.

On 25 May 2015, Komorowski lost the 2015 presidential election to Andrzej Duda. His term as president ended on 6 August 2015.

His Views on Ukraine

On 22 February 2015, Komorowski supported the idea of a UN peacekeeping mission in Donbass, Ukraine. This was suggested by the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko.

On 9 April, during a visit to Kyiv, Komorowski spoke to the Ukrainian parliament. He said that Europe would not be stable if Ukraine was not part of it. He also mentioned the presence of Russian troops in Donbas. Many politicians in Ukraine and Poland called his speech very important.

On 2 July, he visited Lviv, Ukraine. He received an honorary degree from Lviv University. He also said he would create an institute to help with Polish-Ukrainian relations.

Personal Life

Komorowski married Anna Dembowska in 1977. They have five children: Zofia Aleksandra, Tadeusz Jan, Maria Anna, Piotr Zygmunt, and Elżbieta Jadwiga.

Komorowski is proud of his family's roots in Lithuania. He often talks about how important this land is to him. He has said that half of his heart is Lithuanian. He understands the Lithuanian language.

He gives lectures to students at the Bronisław Komorowski Centre for Political Practice. This center was created at Collegium Civitas in Warsaw in 2015.

Honours and Awards

National Honours

Poland:
- Knight of the Order of the White Eagle
- Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta

Foreign Honours

Croatia: Recipient of the Grand Order of King Tomislav (2013)
Estonia: Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (2014)
France: Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (2012)
Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer (2013)
Italy: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2012)
Latvia: Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (2012)
Malta: Honorary Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit (2009)
Monaco: Knight Grand Officer of the Order of Saint Charles (2012)
Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (2014)
North Macedonia: Recipient of the Order 8-September (2013)
Norway: Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (2012)
Portugal: Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry (2012)
Slovakia: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross (2014)
Sweden: Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (2011)
Ukraine: Member 1st Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (2008)

Distinctions

Lithuania:
- Doctor honoris causa of the Mykolas Romeris University in Vilnius, Lithuania (2008)
- Doctor honoris causa of the Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania (2015)
- Honorary citizen of Rokiškis