Poland celebrates historic June 1989 elections

President Komorowski (image reflected in windscree) opened a special exhibition in honour of the June elections on Sunday: photo - PAP/Jacek Turczyk

The elections resulted in a landslide for Solidarity trade union candidates following the historic Round Table talks between the opposition led by Lech Walesa and the communist authorities.

Bronislaw Komorowski, who was active in the opposition during the 1980s, will award state honours to those who fought for freedom during the communist era, as well as those who have worked to build freedom in Poland from various walks of life since it became a democratic state.

Lech Walesa is to receive the 'Freedom of Expression Award' at a ceremony at the Royal Castle in Warsaw and afterwards there will be the first public screening of the much-anticipated Walesa biopic by director Andrzej Wajda.

In the late afternoon, President Komorowski will “raise a toast to freedom” at Plac Konstytucji (Constitution Square), the president's office says, near the Niespodzianka cafe from where the opposition organised their 1989 election campaign.

At 20.00 CET, Komorowski will give a special television address to the nation where he will call for freedom to be “an inspiration for artists, writers, scientists. Let's take care of the gift of freedom,” the president is to say.

On 4 April 1989 it was agreed at the Round Table talks to hold elections for the lower house of parliament (Sejm) and a reconstituted Senate. It was also agreed to recreate the office of president who would be head of state and chief executive.

Elections for the Sejm on 4 June were only partially free as just 35 percent, or 161 seats, were contested (the remaining 65 percent were allocated to the communists) though all 100 seats in the Senate were elected.

In the two rounds of the elections - on the 4th and 18th of June – Solidarity candidates won a landslide, winning all the seats contested, accept for one seat in the Senate and two in the Sejm, which went to independent and communist candidates.

A government was then formed under Tadeusz Mazowiecki as prime minister which peacefully guided the country towards full democracy. (pg)