Former Prime Minister Jan Olszewski has been decorated with the Order of the White Eagle, the highest Polish state distinction.
He served as Prime Minister for a brief period, from December 1991 to June 1992. He is currently a political advisor to the president.
Seventy nine year-old Jan Olszewski is a lawyer by profession. During the 1960s he was one of the most prominent defense attorneys in political trials and in later years – one of the leaders of the Solidarity movement. In 1995 he run for president, winning fourth place with over 1.2 million votes.