Lech Walesa is seen as the greatest hero of the struggle for democratic freedom in Poland, finds a survey for the European Solidarity Centre.

The poll by the CBOS research institute, published 21 years after the June 1989 elections and ahead of celebrations of the birth of the Solidarity trade union 30 years ago, finds that Walesa has been left unscathed by accusations - reiterated again in a controversial biography last year - that the former president and head of Solidarity cooperated with the communist secret services (SB).

Walesa remains the most iconic figure of the struggle for freedom; in second place respondents mentioned the late Jacek Kuron - who is remembered for his concern for those left behind in the transformation from communism to capitalism - and in third place comes late MEP Bronislaw Geremek.

Anna Walentynowicz - whose sacking from the Lenin shipyard was one of the catalysts for the summer of strikes in Poland in 1980 - is also remembered as a hero of the democratic struggle. Walentynowicz died in the Smolensk place disaster of April 10.

The study was done in March and April, before the Smolensk disaster.

When asked who gained the most from the changes in the country two decades ago, 83 percent mentioned entrepreneurs, politicians and rich people (81 percent). Those who lost the most were the poorly educated (59 percent), pensioners (53 percent) and “ordinary people” (43 percent).

In contrast to surveys taken ten years ago, most Poles, however, feel that the transformations have brought more good than bad (43 percent) with around 30 percent thinking that good and bad have resulted in equal measure. (pg)

Source: Gazeta Wyborcza

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