Lech Wałęsa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lech Wałęsa
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Wałęsa in 2009
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| 2nd President of Poland | |
| In office 22 December 1990 – 22 December 1995 |
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| Prime Minister | Tadeusz Mazowiecki Jan Krzysztof Bielecki Jan Olszewski Waldemar Pawlak Hanna Suchocka Waldemar Pawlak Józef Oleksy |
| Preceded by | Wojciech Jaruzelski (in country) Ryszard Kaczorowski (in exile) |
| Succeeded by | Aleksander Kwaśniewski |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 September 1943 Popowo, Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia, Nazi Germany |
| Political party | Solidarity (1980–1988) Solidarity Citizens' Committee (1988–1993) Nonpartisan Bloc for Support of Reforms (1993–1997) Solidarity Electoral Action (1997–2001) Christian Democracy of the Third Polish Republic (1997–2001) |
| Spouse |
Mirosława Danuta Gołoś
(m. 1969) |
| Children | 8, including Jarosław |
| Awards | Full list |
| Signature |  |
Lech Wałęsa (born 29 September 1943) is a famous Polish leader. He was a key figure in ending Communist rule in Poland. He later became the president of Poland from 1990 to 1995.
Wałęsa was an electrician at a shipyard. He became a leader for workers' rights. He helped start the Solidarity movement. This was a huge group of workers who wanted more freedom and better lives.
In 1989, his efforts helped Poland become a democracy. This also played a big part in ending the Cold War. For his work, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983.
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Early Life and Work
Lech Wałęsa was born in Popowo, Poland, in 1943. His father was a carpenter who died when Lech was young. His mother, Feliksa, taught him strong beliefs.
Lech finished school in 1961. He became a trained electrician. After serving in the military, he started working at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk in 1967.
Leading the Solidarity Movement
Lech Wałęsa cared deeply about workers' rights. In 1970, he helped organize protests at the Gdańsk Shipyard. Workers were upset about rising food prices. These protests led to many deaths, which made Wałęsa even more determined to bring change.
Because of his activism, Wałęsa lost his job in 1976. The government watched him closely. He was often arrested for his activities.
In August 1980, another strike began at the Lenin Shipyard. Wałęsa climbed over the fence to join the workers. He quickly became a leader of the strike. This strike spread across Poland.
On August 31, 1980, the government signed an agreement with the striking workers. This was called the Gdańsk Agreement. It allowed workers to form their own independent trade union. This union was named Solidarność (Solidarity).
Wałęsa was chosen as the chairman of Solidarity. The union grew very fast. It had over 10 million members, which was a quarter of Poland's population. Wałęsa became famous around the world for his role.
In December 1981, the government declared martial law. This meant the army took control. Solidarity was made illegal. Wałęsa and many other leaders were arrested. He was held for 11 months.
Even after his release, Wałęsa continued his work for freedom. In 1983, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. He could not go to receive it himself. His wife, Danuta, accepted it for him. He feared the government would not let him back into Poland.
In the late 1980s, Wałęsa helped organize new strikes. These led to important talks with the government. These talks were called the Round Table Negotiations. They happened from February to April 1989.
The talks led to an agreement. Solidarity was made legal again. It also led to semi-free elections for the Polish parliament. In these elections, Solidarity won almost all the seats they could.
Wałęsa was a very public figure during this time. He appeared on many election posters. He helped convince other parties to form Poland's first non-Communist government in over 40 years.
Becoming President of Poland
After the 1989 elections, Wałęsa decided to run for president. He used the slogan, "I don't want to, but I have to." On December 9, 1990, Wałęsa won the election. He became Poland's first freely elected president in many years.
During his time as president, Wałęsa helped Poland change. The country moved from a state-controlled economy to a free-market economy. This meant more private businesses and less government control.
He also worked to improve Poland's relationships with other countries. He successfully negotiated for Soviet troops to leave Poland. He also supported Poland joining NATO and the European Union. These things happened after his presidency.
Wałęsa faced some challenges as president. His style was sometimes seen as confrontational. The changes to the economy were difficult for many people. He lost the 1995 presidential election to Aleksander Kwaśniewski. After this, his role in politics became smaller.
Life After the Presidency
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After leaving office in 1995, Wałęsa decided to travel the world. He gave many speeches at universities and public events.
In 1995, he started the Lech Wałęsa Institute. This group works to share the story of Polish Solidarity. It also helps educate young people and promote democracy around the world.
Wałęsa tried to run for president again in 2000. However, he received very few votes. After this, he announced he would leave Polish politics.
In 2006, Wałęsa left the Solidarity union. He disagreed with their support for certain political parties. He also disagreed with efforts to reveal everyone who might have worked with the old Communist secret police. Wałęsa felt this could turn into a "witch hunt."
Wałęsa has shared his views on different topics. In 2013, he made comments about LGBT rights that caused criticism. He later apologized and said his views had changed. He has since supported same-sex marriage in Poland.
Personal Life
On November 8, 1969, Lech Wałęsa married Mirosława Danuta Gołoś. She worked at a flower shop near his shipyard. They had eight children together.
In 2008, Wałęsa had a heart operation. He also had another heart operation in 2021. In 2022, he tested positive for COVID-19, but he had received three vaccine doses.
Honors and Awards
Lech Wałęsa has received many honors. In 1983, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He has also received over 30 state awards and more than 50 other awards from 30 countries. These include high honors from the UK, Germany, and France.
In 2004, the Gdańsk International Airport was renamed Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport. His signature is part of the airport's logo. Several schools and streets in different countries are also named after him.
Time magazine named him "Man of the Year" in 1981. He has received over 45 honorary doctorates from universities worldwide, including Harvard University. He is also an honorary citizen of many cities.
In the United States, he received the Philadelphia Liberty Medal in 1989. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was the first person who was not a head of state to speak to a joint meeting of the United States Congress.
Images for kids
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Signature Lech Wałęsa-Bolek on a document from the Kiszczak archives
See also
In Spanish: Lech Wałęsa para niños
