Lech Kaczyński facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lech Kaczyński
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Official portrait, 2006
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| President of Poland | |
| In office 23 December 2005 – 10 April 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz Jarosław Kaczyński Donald Tusk |
| Preceded by | Aleksander Kwaśniewski |
| Succeeded by | Bronisław Komorowski (acting) |
| President of the Supreme Audit Office | |
| In office 14 February 1992 – 8 June 1995 |
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| President | Lech Wałęsa |
| Prime Minister | Jan Olszewski Waldemar Pawlak Hanna Suchocka Waldemar Pawlak Józef Oleksy |
| Preceded by | Walerian Pańko |
| Succeeded by | Janusz Wojciechowski |
| Mayor of Warsaw | |
| In office 18 November 2002 – 22 December 2005 |
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| Deputy | Mirosław Kochalski Dorota Safjan Sławomir Skrzypek Władysław Stasiak Andrzej Urbański |
| Preceded by | Wojciech Kozak |
| Succeeded by | Mirosław Kochalski (Acting) |
| Leader of Law and Justice | |
| In office 13 June 2001 – 18 January 2003 |
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| Parliamentary Leader |
Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz Jarosław Kaczyński Ludwik Dorn |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Jarosław Kaczyński |
| Minister of Justice Public Prosecutor General |
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| In office 12 June 2000 – 4 July 2001 |
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| Prime Minister | Jerzy Buzek |
| Preceded by | Hanna Suchocka |
| Succeeded by | Stanisław Iwanicki |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński
18 June 1949 Warsaw, Polish People's Republic |
| Died | 10 April 2010 (aged 60) Smolensk, Russia |
| Cause of death | Airplane crash |
| Political party | Independent (2005–2010) |
| Other political affiliations |
Solidarity (before 1991) Centre Agreement (1991–1997) Solidarity Electoral Action (1997–2001) Law and Justice (2001–2005) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater |
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| Awards |                 |
| Signature |  |
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński (born 18 June 1949 – died 10 April 2010) was a Polish politician. He served as the President of Poland from 2005 until his death in 2010. Before becoming president, he was the Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 to 2005. He also held important roles like the head of the Supreme Audit Office and Minister of Justice.
Born in Warsaw, Lech Kaczyński was a twin. He even starred in a Polish film called The Two Who Stole the Moon in 1962 with his identical twin brother, Jarosław. He studied law at the Warsaw University and later earned his PhD from Gdańsk University.
During the time when Poland was under communist rule, Kaczyński was a strong supporter of democracy. He was active in groups that fought for freedom, like the Solidarity movement. He was even held by the authorities for a while because of his anti-communist activities.
In 2001, he helped start a political party called Law and Justice with his brother. He became the party's first leader. In 2005, he ran for president and won, becoming the leader of Poland. In 2006, his brother Jarosław became the Prime Minister, making them the first twin brothers in the world to lead a country at the same time.
Sadly, Lech Kaczyński died on 10 April 2010, in a plane crash in Russia. His wife and many other important Polish officials also died in the accident. He was the first Polish president to die while in office since 1922.
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Early Life and Education
Lech Kaczyński was born in Warsaw. His father, Rajmund, was an engineer and a soldier who fought in World War II. His mother, Jadwiga, was a language expert.
When he was a child, Lech and his identical twin brother, Jarosław, acted in a Polish movie called The Two Who Stole the Moon.
Lech Kaczyński studied law at the Warsaw University. He later earned a special degree called a PhD from Gdańsk University in 1980. He also became a professor, teaching law at universities in Gdańsk and Warsaw.
Fighting for Freedom
In the 1970s, Lech Kaczyński became very active in the movement against communism in Poland. He joined groups like the Workers' Defence Committee and the Independent Trade Union movement.
In August 1980, he became an advisor to the Solidarity movement, which was a big trade union fighting for workers' rights and freedom. When the communist government declared martial law in December 1981, he was arrested because he was seen as an "anti-socialist element."
After he was released, he continued his work with the underground Solidarity movement. When Solidarity became legal again in the late 1980s, Kaczyński advised Lech Wałęsa, who was a famous leader of the movement. He also took part in important talks in 1989 that helped bring an end to communist rule in Poland.
Political Career Before Presidency
After Poland became free from communism, Lech Kaczyński was elected as a senator in 1989. He also became the vice-chairman of the Solidarity trade union. In 1991, he was elected to the Polish parliament.
He was a key advisor to Lech Wałęsa when Wałęsa became President of Poland in 1990. Kaczyński held several important government jobs. He was the President of the Supreme Chamber of Control from 1992 to 1995. Later, he served as Minister of Justice from 2000 to 2001. During this time, he was very popular because he strongly fought against corruption.
Founding Law and Justice
In 2001, Lech Kaczyński and his brother, Jarosław, started a new political party called Law and Justice. This party is generally seen as conservative. Lech Kaczyński was the first leader of the party.
Mayor of Warsaw
In 2002, Kaczyński was elected Mayor of Warsaw by a large number of votes. As mayor, he focused on fighting corruption in the city. He also strongly supported building the Warsaw Uprising Museum, which tells the story of the brave uprising against the Germans in World War II. He also helped with the building of a museum about Polish Jews in Warsaw.
Becoming President of Poland
Presidential Election
On 19 March 2005, Lech Kaczyński announced that he would run for president in the election that year. In the first round of voting, he came in second place. However, in the second round, he gained more support and won the election with 54.04% of the votes. He defeated Donald Tusk.
He officially became the President of Poland on 23 December 2005.
Goals as President
As president, Kaczyński said he wanted to make Poland better. He aimed to:
- Increase unity among Polish people.
- Bring justice for those affected by communist rule.
- Fight against corruption.
- Make the economy safe and help families grow.
- Reduce economic differences between different parts of Poland.
He also believed in combining modern ideas with traditional values and remembering the teachings of Pope John Paul II. In 2008, he became the first Polish head of state to visit a synagogue and attend a religious service there.
Foreign Relations
In his foreign policy, President Kaczyński focused on making Poland's energy supply secure. He wanted to strengthen ties with the United States and continue to work closely with the European Union. He also aimed to improve relations with France and Germany.
He worked to build strong partnerships with countries like Ukraine, the Baltic states, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. He was well-regarded in Israel because he encouraged young Poles to learn about the Holocaust.
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Family Life
Lech Kaczyński married an economist named Maria Kaczyńska in 1978. They had one daughter, Marta, and two granddaughters, Ewa and Martyna. His brother, Jarosław Kaczyński, also served as the Prime Minister of Poland.
Tragic Death
On 10 April 2010, President Lech Kaczyński, his wife Maria, and many other important Polish officials were traveling on a Tupolev Tu-154M plane. They were going to Russia to remember the Katyn massacre, a tragic event from World War II.
The plane crashed while trying to land at Smolensk Air Base in Russia. All 96 people on board died in the accident. This was a very sad day for Poland, as it was the first time a Polish president had died in office in many years.
State Funeral
On 11 April 2010, President Kaczyński's body was brought back to Poland. He and his wife lay in state at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, allowing people to pay their respects.
The state funeral was held in Kraków on 18 April 2010. After a special church service, the presidential couple were buried together in a coffin. Their resting place is in a crypt beneath the Wawel Cathedral, a very important historical site in Poland. Many foreign leaders wanted to attend the funeral, but a volcanic eruption in Iceland caused air travel problems, so many could not make it.
Awards and Honours
Lech Kaczyński received many awards and honours from Poland and other countries for his service and achievements.
National Honours
Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (Poland's highest honour)
Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
Foreign Honours
Heydar Aliyev Order (Azerbaijan)
Grand Order of King Tomislav (Croatia)
Member 1st Class of the Order of the White Lion (Czech Republic)
Order of National Hero of Georgia (Georgia, awarded after his death)
St. George's Order of Victory (Georgia)
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (Hungary)
Commander Grand Cross with Golden Chain of the Order of Vytautas the Great (Lithuania)
Collar of the Order pro Merito Melitensi (Sovereign Military Order of Malta)
Grand Cross Special Class of the Order pro Merito Melitensi (Sovereign Military Order of Malta)
Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry (Portugal)
Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania (Romania)
Collar of the Order of Abdulaziz al Saud (Saudi Arabia)
Member 1st Class of the Order of the White Double Cross (Slovakia)
Member 1st Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Ukraine)
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Other Achievements
- Honorary doctorate from the Tbilisi State University in Georgia (2007)
- Honorary doctorate from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea (2008)
- Honorary doctorate from Catholic University of Lublin in Poland (2009)
- Honorary citizen of Warsaw (2010)
Images for kids
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Lech Kaczyński's signature
See also
In Spanish: Lech Kaczyński para niños
