National Government

Poland was the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to break out of communist rule. This bold move, soon followed throughout the region, started in early 1989 with discussions, which became known as the "Round Table Negotiations," between the Communist-dominated authorities and the opposition. As a result, major agreements were reached, including the legalization of the Solidarity trade union and an agreement to hold free elections on June 4,1989.

This was the prelude to the development of a new system of government with a legal parliamentary opposition. Other developments included the creation of a position of the President as head of state, and a second chamber of Parliament, the Senate. All the contested seats in the June 1989 elections were won by the representatives of Solidarity, who formed the first non-communist government in the region since World War II.

Poland is a sovereign and democratic country whose institutions operate under the rule of law. There is a multiplicity of political parties across the entire political spectrum; five parties or politcal coalitions are represented in the current Parliament.

Poland is a constitutional republic with a mixture of presidential and parliamentary models. The National Assembly -- made up of the two chambers of Parliament, the Sejm and the Senate -- approved the final draft of the country`s first post-Communist constitution April 2, 1997. After the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the referendum, and President Aleksander Kwasniewski signed it into law, the new constitution went into effect Oct. 17, 1997.

The long-awaited constitution, the result of several years of intensive debate and negotiations spanning five administrations across the entire political spectrum, is the country`s 10th since Poland`s first history-making Constitution of May 3, 1791.

The President is elected by universal suffrage to a five-year term, for a maximum of two terms. The President is the commander-in-chief of the military forces. The President has the right to dissolve the Parliament if it is unable to approve the budget law or to form a government. Solidarity leader Lech Walesa was elected President in November 1990 and his mandate expired in 1995. He was succeeded by Aleksander Kwasniewski.

The Parliament is composed of the Sejm with 460 seats and the Senate with 100 seats, each elected to a four-year term. The Senate can veto or propose changes to legislation emanating from the Sejm. The Sejm can overrule a veto by the Senate with a 2/3 majority and a presidential veto by 3/5 majority.

The most recent parliamentary elections took place Sept. 21, 1997, held according to the new election law requiring a minimum of 5% of the vote for representation in the Parliament (for electoral coalitions, this threshold was set at 8%). Additionally, 69 seats from a national list were proportionately allotted in the Sejm to all parties winning more than 7% of the general vote, thus promoting the consolidation of smaller parties.

Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS) received 33.83% of the general vote, the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) received 27.13%, and the Freedom Union (UW) took 13.37% of the popular vote. The Polish Peasant Party (PSL) received only 7.31% (in comparison to more than 15% in the preceding 1993 election), and the Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland (ROP) came in last with 5.56% of the vote.

This translated into the following seats (Sejm/Senate, respectively):Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS) 201/51; Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) 164/28; Freedom Union (UW) 60/8; Polish Peasant Party (PSL) 27/3; Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland (ROP) 6/5; German Minority 2/-; Non-affiliated -/5.

The current Polish coalition government of Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek -- created by the Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS) and the Freedom Union (UW) -- is the sixth since 1989 (i.e., the collapse of the Communist regime). It replaced the coalition government headed by Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and made up of the SLD and PSL. Prime Minister Buzek outlined his program to the Parliament on Nov. 10, and won a 260 to 173 vote of confidence.

Buzek said his government would pursue four major goals: improving living standards, reforming government structures, increasing national security, and reinforcing moral values in the society.

"There is no better guarantee for Poland`s sovereignty than NATO," Buzek said. Rapid integration with the European Union is another priority, but his government would make efforts to ensure that the process of integration is carried out with respect for Poland`s identity, the Prime Minister added.

Economic goals include privatizing remaining state-owned industries by the year 2001 and restructuring ailing sectors like coal mining and heavy industry.

Local Government