Walesa wants back into Solidarity fold

Lech Walesa: photo - Lech Walesa Institute

“Capitalists have permitted themselves too much,” Walesa commented.

“I allowed for capitalism to be built, and now it has to be tamed,” he said.

Walesa has clarified that he does not want to take to the streets again on rallies, but rather hopes to act as an advisor to Solidarity.

“I have notified [Solidarity] about my willingness to support its activity, and now I am waiting for a response,” he confirmed.

The former president of Poland parted ways with the trade union in 2006 after objecting to Solidarity's alignment with the then ruling party Law and Justice (currently the chief opposition party).

He has since criticised the trade union on several occasions, and in May 2012 he quipped that an effigy of Solidarity chairman Piotr Duda should be burnt, after a demonstration against reforms to Poland's pension system blocked parliament.

Although no official response has been declared as of yet, Marek Lewandowski from the union's national committee has commented that it would be better if Walesa “did not interfere.”

Walesa publicly declared that he had quit the party eight years ago, but technically he is still a member, as he never completed the paperwork necessary to cut all formal ties. (nh)

Source: IAR