Jan Olszewski
Encyclopedia
Jan Ferdynand Olszewski AUD (born August 20, 1930 in Warsaw
) is a Polish
lawyer and political figure. He is best known for serving as Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland
from 1991 to 1992.
Olszewski, a native of Warsaw
, came from a worker's family with strong socialist traditions (even he, despite a later right-wing career, considered himself a socialist during his early political life). Many members of his family belonged to the first tier of Polish Socialist Party
.
Since 1943 he was active in Szare Szeregi
, underground Polish Scouting Association during World War II. After War he was active supporter and campaigned for Stanisław Mikołajczyk's Polish People's Party (1946–1947).
He graduated from secondary school in 1949 and went to study law in University of Warsaw
(graduation in 1953). After this he was an employee of Ministry of Justice and later Polish Academy of Sciences
.
In 1956 he became member of the staff of the weekly Po prostu magazine. In one of his article (March 11) he called for rehabilitation of former Armia Krajowa
members, prosecuted by communist authorities. Soon he became one of the best know public critics of regime, resulting prohibiting him from being journalist in 1957 (to 1959).
From 1956 to 1962 he was a member of the Klub Krzywego Koła, comprising intellectual elites cricitising regime.
During 1960s Olszewski became leading defense attorney in political trials (i.e. Melchior Wańkowicz
in 1964, Jacek Kuroń
and Karol Modzelewski
in 1965, and Janusz Szpotanski
). His professional activity was banned again in 1968. He returned in 1970, when Edward Gierek
came to power.
During 1970s he continued his legal activity and became one of the most prominent leaders of the democratic opposition – later Solidarity.
In 1984 he was auxiliary prosecutor in trial of murderers of priest Jerzy Popiełuszko.
Olszewski participated in the Polish Round Table Agreement
, but refused to run for Contract Sejm
or to join Tadeusz Mazowiecki
cabinet.
He joined Centre Agreement in 1990. After Polish parliamentary election, 1991
he was named by President Lech Wałęsa
as new Prime Minister.
His cabinet, however, lasted just over half of a year (December 23, 1991 – June 5, 1992). His cabinet fell over issues related to lustration
and the proper way of handling communist secret police files. In next (1993) election he lost his Sejm seat (he held since 1991). He returned to the Sejm in 1997 and 2001 (this time from the right wing League of Polish Families
ballot).
He ran for President in 1995, winning fourth place (after Aleksander Kwaśniewski
, Lech Wałęsa
and Jacek Kuroń
) with 1 225 453 votes (6,86%).
In 1996 he founded and became the leader of Ruch Odbudowy Polski
(now disbanded).
A longtime political ally of Jarosław Kaczyński and Lech Kaczyński
, he is current a strong supporter of their policy and Law and Justice
party.
From April 10, 2006, Olszewski served as one of President Kaczyński's political advisors until the latter's death. He also served as the Vice President of the State Tribunal of the Republic of Poland on two occasions (1989–1991, 2005–2006).
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
) is a Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
lawyer and political figure. He is best known for serving as Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland
Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland
The Prime Minister of Poland heads the Polish Council of Ministers and directs their work, supervises territorial self-government within the guidelines and in ways described in the Constitution and other legislation, and acts as the superior for all government administration workers...
from 1991 to 1992.
Olszewski, a native of Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, came from a worker's family with strong socialist traditions (even he, despite a later right-wing career, considered himself a socialist during his early political life). Many members of his family belonged to the first tier of Polish Socialist Party
Polish Socialist Party
The Polish Socialist Party was one of the most important Polish left-wing political parties from its inception in 1892 until 1948...
.
Since 1943 he was active in Szare Szeregi
Szare Szeregi
"Gray Ranks" was a codename for the underground Polish Scouting Association during World War II.The wartime organisation was created on 27 September 1939, actively resisted and fought German occupation in Warsaw until 18 January 1945, and contributed to the resistance operations of the Polish...
, underground Polish Scouting Association during World War II. After War he was active supporter and campaigned for Stanisław Mikołajczyk's Polish People's Party (1946–1947).
He graduated from secondary school in 1949 and went to study law in University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
(graduation in 1953). After this he was an employee of Ministry of Justice and later Polish Academy of Sciences
Polish Academy of Sciences
The Polish Academy of Sciences, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of two Polish institutions having the nature of an academy of sciences.-History:...
.
In 1956 he became member of the staff of the weekly Po prostu magazine. In one of his article (March 11) he called for rehabilitation of former Armia Krajowa
Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
members, prosecuted by communist authorities. Soon he became one of the best know public critics of regime, resulting prohibiting him from being journalist in 1957 (to 1959).
From 1956 to 1962 he was a member of the Klub Krzywego Koła, comprising intellectual elites cricitising regime.
During 1960s Olszewski became leading defense attorney in political trials (i.e. Melchior Wańkowicz
Melchior Wankowicz
Melchior Wańkowicz was a Polish writer, journalist and publisher. He is most famous for his reporting for the Polish Armed Forces in the West during World War II and writing a book about the battle of Monte Cassino....
in 1964, Jacek Kuroń
Jacek Kuron
Jacek Jan Kuroń was one of the democratic leaders of opposition in the People's Republic of Poland. Kuroń was a prominent Polish social and political figure; educator and historian; an activist of the Polish Scouting Association; co-founder of the Workers' Defence Committee; twice a Minister of...
and Karol Modzelewski
Karol Modzelewski
Karol Modzelewski is a Polish historian, writer and politician.He is the adopted son of Zygmunt Modzelewski. Professor at the University of Wroclaw and the University of Warsaw, he was a member of the Polish United Workers Party but was expelled from it in 1964 for opposition to some policies of...
in 1965, and Janusz Szpotanski
Janusz Szpotański
Janusz Szpotański, was a Polish poet, satirist, critic, translator, literary theorist and chess player .He was the creator of satirical tragi-comedic poems which ridiculed the communist...
). His professional activity was banned again in 1968. He returned in 1970, when Edward Gierek
Edward Gierek
Edward Gierek was a Polish communist politician.He was born in Porąbka, outside of Sosnowiec. He lost his father to a mining accident in a pit at the age of four. His mother married again and emigrated to northern France, where he was raised. He joined the French Communist Party in 1931 and was...
came to power.
During 1970s he continued his legal activity and became one of the most prominent leaders of the democratic opposition – later Solidarity.
In 1984 he was auxiliary prosecutor in trial of murderers of priest Jerzy Popiełuszko.
Olszewski participated in the Polish Round Table Agreement
Polish Round Table Agreement
The Polish Round Table Talks took place in Warsaw, Poland from February 6 to April 4, 1989. The government initiated the discussion with the banned trade union Solidarność and other opposition groups in an attempt to defuse growing social unrest.-History:...
, but refused to run for Contract Sejm
Contract Sejm
Contract Sejm is a term commonly applied to the Polish Parliament elected in the Polish parliamentary elections of 1989. The contract refers to an agreement reached by the Communist Party and the Solidarity movement during the Polish Round Table Agreement. The final agreement was signed on April...
or to join Tadeusz Mazowiecki
Tadeusz Mazowiecki
Tadeusz Mazowiecki is a Polish author, journalist, philanthropist and Christian-democratic politician, formerly one of the leaders of the Solidarity movement, and the first non-communist prime minister in Central and Eastern Europe after World War II.-Biography:Mazowiecki comes from a Polish...
cabinet.
He joined Centre Agreement in 1990. After Polish parliamentary election, 1991
Polish parliamentary election, 1991
The Polish parliamentary election in 1991 to the Sejm and the Senate of Poland was held on October 27. In the Sejm elections, 27,517,280 citizens were eligible to vote, 11,887,949 of them cast their votes, 11,218,602 of those were counted as valid. In the Senate elections, 43.2% of citizens cast...
he was named by President Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa is a Polish politician, trade-union organizer, and human-rights activist. A charismatic leader, he co-founded Solidarity , the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland between 1990 and 95.Wałęsa was an electrician...
as new Prime Minister.
His cabinet, however, lasted just over half of a year (December 23, 1991 – June 5, 1992). His cabinet fell over issues related to lustration
Lustration in Poland
Lustration in Poland refers to the policy of limiting the participation of former communists, and especially informants of the communist secret police , in the successor governments or even in civil service positions.-1992–1997:...
and the proper way of handling communist secret police files. In next (1993) election he lost his Sejm seat (he held since 1991). He returned to the Sejm in 1997 and 2001 (this time from the right wing League of Polish Families
League of Polish Families
The League of Polish Families is a right-wing political party in Poland. It was represented in the Polish parliament, forming part of the cabinet of Jarosław Kaczyński, until the latter dissolved in September 2007....
ballot).
He ran for President in 1995, winning fourth place (after Aleksander Kwaśniewski
Aleksander Kwasniewski
Aleksander Kwaśniewski is a Polish politician who served as the President of Poland from 1995 to 2005. He was born in Białogard, and during communist rule he was active in the Socialist Union of Polish Students and was the Minister for Sport in the communist government in the 1980s...
, Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa is a Polish politician, trade-union organizer, and human-rights activist. A charismatic leader, he co-founded Solidarity , the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland between 1990 and 95.Wałęsa was an electrician...
and Jacek Kuroń
Jacek Kuron
Jacek Jan Kuroń was one of the democratic leaders of opposition in the People's Republic of Poland. Kuroń was a prominent Polish social and political figure; educator and historian; an activist of the Polish Scouting Association; co-founder of the Workers' Defence Committee; twice a Minister of...
) with 1 225 453 votes (6,86%).
In 1996 he founded and became the leader of Ruch Odbudowy Polski
Ruch Odbudowy Polski
Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland is a conservative and eurosceptic political party in Poland. It participated in election to the Polish parliament, the Sejm, at Polish parliamentary election, 1997, where it received 5.6% of the vote, to elect 6 M.P's...
(now disbanded).
A longtime political ally of Jarosław Kaczyński and Lech Kaczyński
Lech Kaczynski
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński was Polish lawyer and politician who served as the President of Poland from 2005 until 2010 and as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005. Before he became a president, he was also a member of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość...
, he is current a strong supporter of their policy and Law and Justice
Law and Justice
Law and Justice , abbreviated to PiS, is a right-wing, conservative political party in Poland. With 147 seats in the Sejm and 38 in the Senate, it is the second-largest party in the Polish parliament....
party.
From April 10, 2006, Olszewski served as one of President Kaczyński's political advisors until the latter's death. He also served as the Vice President of the State Tribunal of the Republic of Poland on two occasions (1989–1991, 2005–2006).