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Lech Wałęsa

President of Poland from 1990 to 1995 · Poland · On the map · Politicians · Born 1943 · age 83

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Lech Wałęsa is a Polish statesman, dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who served as the president of Poland between 1990 and 1995. After winning the 1990 election, Wałęsa became the first democratically elected president of Poland since 1926 and the first-ever Polish president elected by popular vote.

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Lech Wałęsa is read about 2,581 times a day, in 155 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 1 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 400 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2026Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of RomaniaAward2016“You can’t change the facts with your lies, allegations and counterfeits”In their words18 February 2016Being accused of being an agent for the Soviet era communist police, quoted on New Europe (18 February 2016), "Poland’s former president

2011Ronald Reagan Freedom AwardAward2009Ernst Reuter MedalAward2005Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 2nd classAward2004OsgarAward1999Grand cross of the Order of the White LionAward1995Grand Collar of the Order of Prince HenryAward1993“I am convinced that Germany has drawn conclusions [from World War II] and Europe has drawn conclusions as well. And I can say an unpopular thing.”In their wordsJarosław Kurski: Lech Wałęsa: democrat or dictator?, Westview Press, 1993, p. 59 and p. 166:

Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of FinlandAward1991Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of NancyAwardOrder of Pius IXAward1990Named President of the Republic of PolandOffice22 December 1990 to 22 December 19951989Freedom AwardAwardPresidential Medal of FreedomAward1983Honorary Doctor of Paris 8 UniversityAward1981“Freedom must be gained step by step, slowly. Freedom is a food which must be carefully administered when people are too hungry for it.”In their words23 February 1981Interview with Oriana Fallaci (22 & 23 February 1981)

1980Financial Times Person of the YearAward1970“Aresztowano mnie wiele razy. Za pierwszym razem, w grudniu 1970 roku, podpisałem 3 albo 4 dokumenty.”In their wordsDecember 1970I was arrested many times. The first time, in December 1970, I signed 3 or 4 documents. Most probably I'd sign anything then, except

1943Born29 September 1943

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In their own words 4

,
Lech Wałęsa
,
4 statements, newest first

  1. Można powiedzieć, że byłem gdzieś niezręczny, może nawet kogoś wsypałem, ale nie to, że byłem agentem.

    One could say I was goofy somewhere, and maybe even outed someone, but not that I was an agent. Not that I wanted to betray anybody. (...), Own words

  2. If once again Germany destabilizes Europe, then Germany will be not be divided again, but wiped off the map.

    Wenn Deutschland noch einmal Europa destabilisiert dann wird Deutschland nicht mehr geteilt, sondern von der Landkarte gefegt werden. Ost, Own words

  3. Dokonałem zwrotu o 360 stopni.

    I turned around by 360 degrees., Own words

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Awards

Distinguished Member of the European Order of Merit2026
Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania, president of Romania2026
Point Alpha Prize2013
Ronald Reagan Freedom Award2011
Honorary Citizen of Budapest2011
Ernst Reuter Medal2009
Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany2009
Jan Karski Freedom Award2007
Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class2006
Kisiel Prize2005
Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 2nd class2005
Osgar2004
Pacem in Terris Award2001
Golden Plate Award2000
Grand cross of the Order of the White Lion1999
Democracy Service Medal1999
Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry1995
Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay1995
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary1994
Knight of the Order of the Elephant1993
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland1993
Order of the White Eagle1992
Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta1992
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour1991
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath1991
Order of Pius IX1991
Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Nancy1991
Honorary doctor of the University of Gdańsk1990
Presidential Medal of Freedom, George H. W. Bush1989
Order of Francisco de Miranda1989
Philadelphia Liberty Medal1989
Freedom Award1989
Integrity Award1986
Nobel Peace Prize1983
Honorary Doctor of Paris 8 University1983
Fritt Ord Award1982
Monismanien Prize1981
Financial Times Person of the Year1980
European Human Rights Prize
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland

About this person

An electrician by trade, Wałęsa became the leader of the opposition Solidarity movement and led a successful pro-democratic effort, which in 1989 ended Communist rule in Poland and ushered in the end of the Cold War.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Country
Poland
Category
Politicians
Topics
Politicians, Politics
Type
Politician
Status
Living
Dates
Born 1943 · age 83

Where to find them

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