Identical twins President Lech Kaczynski and Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice party and former prime minister of Poland, celebrate their 60th birthday today.
During the Law and Justice-led government of 2005 to 2007, Poland was unique, politically, in that the nation had a head of state and a leader of the government who were both identical twins.
The brothers first became known in Poland, not for their politics, but for their acting, when they both starred in the 1962 movie The two who stole the moon (right) at the age of 12.
Both studied law and went on to become prominent members of the anti-communist opposition in the 1980s. Both Lech – born 45 minutes before his brother – and Jaroslaw took positions in the government that followed the elections in June 1989 but quickly fell out with their former ally, Lech Walesa.
Finally, on an anti-corruption ticket, they became Poland’s most powerful politicians in 2005, with Lech installed in the Presidential Palace and in 2006, with Jaroslaw as prime minister until his party’s defeat to Civic Platform in the 2007 elections.
Nelly Rokita, herself a Law and Justice politician and wife of another well-known politician Jan Rokita - who turns 50 today - wishes all her best to the president and Law and Justice leader and says that 60 years old is far too young to retire from politics.
'You have to remember that Adenauer was a prime minister at 80! So one should definitely not resign from politics. 60 or 50 years of age is still young for a politician,” she said.
However, controversial Janusz Palikot from the Civic Platform party – and leading critic of the brothers – has assured he would send them a birthday cake with 120 candles as well as flowers.
“I wish them all the best in life and all the worst in politics. Sixty years of age is the autumn of life. I guess, it is time to wish the twin brothers a peaceful retirement,” said Palikot.
(pg/jn)