It's exactly 4 years today since Lech Kaczynski took office in Poland’s Presidential Palace.

Lech Kaczynski succeeded Aleksander Kwasniewski, the only head of state since 1989 to be re-elected for two terms in office. Kaczynski himself will be trying to repeat this feat if he stands in next year’s presidential elections.

In 2005, Lech Kaczynski defeated his main rival, Donald Tusk, who is now the prime minister, in the second round of the election, winning over 54 percent of the vote.

Before his election to the office of Poland's president, Lech Kaczynski had been mayor of Warsaw. In the 1990s, was justice minister under Jerzy Buzek’s AWS-led government in 2001 until his dismissal one year later.

A presidency of two halves

Archbishop metropolitan of Warsaw Kazimierz Nycz says that Lech Kaczynski was the first president to properly honour Second World War era heroes: “I am of the opinion that “historical politics” had been neglected in Poland before Lech Kaczynski came to power. It's very good that he appreciates historical events and the people who sacrificed their lives, in the times of war, in the hard times following the war and later in 1980s during martial law imposed by communists,” said the archbishop.

Last year, during Hanukah, President Kaczynski became the first Polish head of state to visit a synagogue.

His critics have accused him of nationalism and occasionally zealous anti-Russian sentiments, particularly at the time of Moscow’s war with Georgia last year. Human rights groups have also accused the president of homophobia.

Pro EU groups have criticized him for dragging his feet over signing the Lisbon Treaty, something he eventually did in October this year after Ireland’s second referendum on the issue.

And Lech Walesa has taken him to court this year in a libel case after Kaczynski accused the former Solidarity leader of being the 1970s communist collaborator “Bolek”.

Kaczynski’s four year presidency can be split into two halves – the first being harmonious, when his twin brother Jaroslaw was prime minister under the Law and Justice-led government, 2005 – 2007. The second half has been characterized by a “difficult cohabitation” with Donald Tusk’s government, where disputes over foreign policy have been numerous. Kaczynski has also used his power of veto frequently, over issues such as the media bill and health policy. (pg/jn)