United People's Party chairman who joined Wałęsa in 1989 to open the way for the Mazowiecki government
Born in Białystok, he graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics in 1956 and that year joined the United People's Party (ZSL), a satellite of the Polish United Workers' Party. He was deputy prime minister in 1980–1985, chairman of the ZSL in 1981–1989 and Marshal of the Sejm in 1985–1989. After the Round Table Agreement he backed cooperation with the democratic opposition, and in 1989, with Lech Wałęsa of Solidarity and Jerzy Jóźwiak of the Alliance of Democrats, co-founded the Mazowiecki cabinet, the first non-communist government in post-war Poland. After the ZSL was transformed he joined the Polish People's Party 'Rebirth' and then the re-created Polish People's Party.
Activities and affiliations
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1976–1989
Legislature and state representation
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1990–
Legislature and state representation
Career Timeline
- 1956Joined the United People's Party (ZSL)
- 1976–1989Member of the Sejm (7th–9th terms)
- 1980.04–10Minister of Food Industry and Procurement
- 1980.04–1985.11Deputy Prime Minister
- 1981–1989Chairman of the ZSL Supreme Committee
- 1985–1989Marshal of the Sejm
- 1989Co-founded the Mazowiecki cabinet with Wałęsa and Jóźwiak