Democratic Government in Poland

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Democratic Government in Poland Also by George Sanford POLISH COMMUNISM IN CRISIS MILITARY RULE IN POLAND: The Rebuilding of Communist Power 1981–1983 THE SOLIDARITY CONGRESS, 1981 DEMOCRATIZATION IN POLAND, 1988–90: Polish Voices POLAND: World Bibliographical Series (with A. Gozdecka-Sanford) HISTORICAL DICTIONARY OF POLAND (with A. Gozdecka-Sanford) BUILDING DEMOCRACY: The International Dimension of Democratization in Eastern Europe (with G. Pridham and E. Herring) POLAND: The Conquest of History Democratic Government in Poland Constitutional Politics since 1989

George Sanford Reader in Politics University of Bristol © George Sanford 2002 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2002 978-0-333-77475-5 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The author has asserted his right to be identiﬁed as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 2002 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 Companies and representatives throughout the world PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the new global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-41655-4 ISBN 978-1-4039-0757-8 (eBook) DOI 10.1057/9781403907578 This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sanford, George. Democratic government in Poland : constitutional politics since 1989 / George Sanford, p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Poland–Politics and government–1989– 2. Contitutional history–Poland. I. Title. JN6760 .S26 2002 320.9438–dc21 2002020059 10987654321 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 Contents

List of Tables vii List of Abbreviations viii Preface xiii Chronology xv 1 The Constitution and History 1 Poland’s quest for security and modernization 1 Historical traditions and constitutional values 4 The effects of foreign rule and war on state institutions 10 Constitutions and political frameworks 11 The usable past of Polish constitutionalism 15 2 The Communist Experience and Legacy 24 The debate on the Polish People’s Republic 24 The communist party-state in Poland 27 The signiﬁcance of communist constitutionalism 31 Judgement on the PRL (Polish People’s Republic) 39 3 Democratic Transition and Consolidation 50 The constitutional abdication of communism 50 The controlled transition in practice 56 The consolidation of democracy 60 4 Constitution Making and Consensus Building 74 National sovereignty and citizenship 74 Constitutional engineering and institution building 76 The politics of the temporary: writing the Little Constitution 80 Towards the 1997 constitution 85 The April 1997 constitution 91 5 Parliament and Democratic Politics 103 Organization, functioning and composition of the Sejm 105 Deputies 110 Legislation 115 Debates and plenary sessions 120 Committees 120 Parliamentary control of government 123 Organization, functioning and composition of the Senate 124 Rationalized parliamentarianism? 128

v vi Contents

6 The Executive: Dual or Fragmented? 138 The presidency 138 Formation, dismissal and accountability of governments 147 The Council of Ministers 151 The emergence of the prime minister 155 Mechanisms of coalition government 157 From Ofﬁce of the Council of Ministers (URM) to cabinet ofﬁce 162 Ministries 164 What sort of executive in Poland? 166 7 Government and the Mechanisms of Representation 173 Electoral framework 173 Presidential elections 176 Sejm elections 183 Senate elections 188 Local government elections 188 Dynamics and political consequences of voting behaviour 190 Party system and government 192 8 The Active Constitution in Practice 208 The constitutional and state tribunals 208 Organs of state control and rights protection 216 The Lustration Act and process 219 9 Conclusion: the Polish Constitution as a Framework for Democracy 230

Bibliography 236 Index 247 List of Tables

5.1 Polish deputies by gender 111 5.2 Polish deputies by age 111 5.3 Number of Sejm terms sat by Polish deputies on election 112 5.4 Polish deputies by education 112 5.5 Polish deputies by occupation 113 5.6 Source of legislative initiative 117 5.7 The work of the Sejm 119 5.8 Sejm committees 122 5.9 Political composition of the Senate 126 5.10 The work of the Senate 127 5.11 Political composition of the Sejm 130 5.12 Party control of the Sejm 131 6.1 Duration and type of government 150 6.2 Size and composition of the Council of Ministers 154 6.3 Party composition of governments 159 7.1 Presidential election of 25 November–9 December 1990 178 7.2 Presidential election of 5–19 November 1995 180 7.3 Presidential election of 8 October 2000 182 7.4 Percentage of votes and seats and number of seats gained in Sejm elections of 1991, 1993, 1997 and 2001 184 7.5 Size of party membership 194

vii List of Abbreviations

AK Armia Krajowa/Home Army AWS Akcja Wyborcza ‘Solidarno´sć’/Electoral Action Solidarity AWS-RS Akcja Wyborcza ‘Solidarno´sć’–Ruch Spol⁄ eczny/Electoral Action Solidarity–Social Action BBN Biuro Bezpieczeństwo Narodowego/National Security Bureau BBWR Bezpartyjny Blok Wspierania Reform/Non-Party Bloc for Supporting the Reforms BdP Blok dla Polski/Bloc for Poland BSiE Biuro Studiów i Expertyz/Bureau of Studies and Reports (Analyses), Sejm Chancellery CAP Common Agricultural Policy CBOS Centrum Badania Opinia Spol⁄ ecznej/Centre for the Study of Public Opinion CDIIIRP Chrze´sciańska Demokracja III RP/Christian Democracy of the Third Republic COMECON Council on Mutual Economic Assistance CPSU Communist Party of the Soviet Union CUP Centralny Urz ˛ad Planowania/Central Planning Office EBRD European Bank for Research and Development EU European Union FDP Forum Prawicy Demokratycznej/Forum of the Democratic Right FJN Front Jedno´sci Narodowej/National Unity Front GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GDP Gross Domestic Product GKBZpNP Gl⁄ ówna Komisja Badania Zbrodni przeciwko Narodowi Polskiemu/Main Commission for Investigating Crimes against the Polish Nation GUC Gl⁄ ówny Urz ˛ad Ce⁄l/Main Customs’ Board GUS Gl⁄ ówny Urz ˛ad Statystyczny/Main Statistical Office IFiS Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii/Institute of Philosophy and Sociology IMF International Monetary Fund IPN Instytut Pami˛eci Narodowej/Institute of National Memory ISP Instytut Studiów Politycznych/Institute of Political Studies KAW Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza/National Publishing Agency KIE Komisja Integracji Europejskiej/Committee on European Integration

viii List of Abbreviations ix

KERM Komitetet Ekonomiczny Rada Ministrów/Economic Commit- tee of the Council of Ministers KiW Ksi a˙˛zka i Wiedza/Book and Knowledge Publishers KL-D Kongres Liberalno-Demokratyczny/Liberal-Democratic Congress KO Komitet Obywatelski/Civic Committee KOK Komitet Obrony Kraju/National Defence Committee KOR Komitet Obrony Robotników/Workers’ Defence Committee KPEiR Krajowa Partia Emeritów i Rencistów/National Party of the Retired and Pensioners KPEiRRP Krajowa Partia Emeritów i Rencistów/National Party of the Retired and Pensioners of the Polish Republic KPN Konfederacja Polski Niepodlegl⁄ ej/Confederation for an Independent Poland KPP Komunistyczna Partia Polski/Communist Party of Poland KRN Krajowa Rada Narodowa/National Council for the Homeland KRRiTV Krajowa Rada Radiofonii Telewizji/National Council on Radio and Television KRRRM Komitet Rozwoju Regionalnego RM/Committee for Regional Development of the Council of Ministers KRS Krajowa Rada Sadownictwa/National ˛ Council for the Judiciary KSAP Krajowa Szkol⁄ a Administracji Publicznej/National School for Public Administration KSZpNP Komisja Scigania´ Zbrodni przeciwko Narodowi Polskiemu/ Commission for Investigating Crimes against the Polish Nation KSORM Komitet Spraw Obronnych Rady Ministrów/Committee on Defence Questions of the Council of Ministers KSRM Komitet Spól⁄ eczny Rady Ministrów/Social Committee of the Council of Ministers KUL Katolicki Uniwersytet w Lublinie/Catholic University in Lublin LOK Liga Obrony Kraju/League for the Defence of the Country LRP Liga Rodzin Polskich/League of Polish Families MON Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej/Ministry of National Defense MSW Ministerstwo Spraw Wewn˛etrznych/Ministry of the Interior MSZ Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych/Ministry of Foreign Affairs NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NBP Narodowy Bank Polski/National Bank of Poland NFOS Narodowy Fundusz Ochrony Srodowisku/National´ Fund for Environmental Protection NIK Najwy˙zsza Izba Kontroli/Supreme Control Chamber x List of Abbreviations

NSZ Narodowe Sil⁄ y Zbrojne/National Armed Forces OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OKP Obywatelski Klub Parlamentarny/Civic Parliamentary Club OPZZ Ogólnopolskie Porozumienie Zwiazków Zawodowych/All- Poland Alliance of Trade Unions OZON Obóz Zjednoczenia Narodowego/Camp of National Unity PAN Polska Akademia Nauk/Polish Academy of Sciences PAP Polska Agencja Prasowa/Polish Press Agency PC Porozumienie (Partia) Centrum/Centre Agreement (Party) PChD Partia Chrze´scijańskich Demokratów/Christian Democratic Party PiS Prawo i Sprawiedliwo´sć/Law and Justice PKP Polskiej Koleje Państwowe/Polish State Railways PKW Państwowa Komisja Wyborcza/State Electoral Commission PKWN Polski Komitet Wyzwolenia Narodowego/Polish Committee of National Liberation PO Platforma Obywatelska/Civic Platform PP Porozumienie Polskie/Polish Agreement PPPP Polska Partia Przyjaciól⁄ Piwa/Polish Party of the Friends of Beer PPR Polska Partia Robotnicza/Polish Workers’ Party PPS Polska Partia Socjalistyczna/Polish Socialist Party PR Polska Rzeczpospolita/Polish Republic PRiTV Polskie Radio i Telewizja/Polish Radio and Television PRL Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa/Polish People’s Republic PRON Patriotyczny Ruch Odrodzenia Narodowego/Patriotic Move- ment for National Rebirth PSL Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe/Polish Peasant Party PUS Polska Unia Socjaldemokratyczna/Polish Social Democratic Union PWN Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe/State Publishing House PZPR Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza/Polish United Workers’ Party RBN Rada Bezpieczeństwa Narodowego/National Security Council RD-S Ruch Demokratyczno-Spol⁄ eczny/Democratic-Social Movement RIP Rzecznik Interesu Publicznego/Spokesman for the Public Interest RLP Ruch Ludzi Pracy/Movement for the Working People RP Rzeczpospolita Polska/Republic of Poland ROAD Ruch Obywatelski Akcja Demokratyczna/Democratic Action Civic Movement ROP Ruch Odbudowy Polski/Movement for Rebuilding Poland ROPCiO Ruch Obrony Praw Czl⁄ owieka i Obywatela/Movement for the Defence of Human and Civic Rights List of Abbreviations xi

ROP Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich/Spokesman for Citizens’ Rights RS Ruch Stu/Movement of One Hundred SD Stronnictwo Demokratyczne/Democratic Party SdRP Socjal-demokracja Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej/Social-democracy of the Polish Republic SGH Skzkol⁄ a Gl⁄ ówna Handlowa/Main Trade School SGPiS Szkola Gl⁄ ówna Planowania i Statystyki/Main School for Planning and Statistics SK-L Stronnictwo Konserwatywno-Ludowe/Conservative-Popular Party SL Stronnictwo Ludowe/Peasant Party SLD Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej/Alliance of the Democratic Left SN Stronnictwo Narodowe/National Party SP Solidarno´sć Pracy/Labour Solidarity SP Stronnictwo Pracy/Labour Party TK Constitutional Tribunal TKN Towarzystwo Kursów Naukowych/Association of Academic Courses TVP Telewizja Polska/Polish Television UAM Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza/Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań UD Unia Demokratyczna/Democratic Union UMC-S Uniwersytet Marie Curie-Skl⁄ odowska/Marie Curie-Skl⁄ odowska University, Lublin. UP University Press UOP Urz ˛ad Ochrony Państwa/Office for State-Protection UP Unia Pracy/Labour Union UPR Unia Polityki Realnej/Union of Real Politics URM Urz ˛ad Rady Ministrów/Office of the Council of Ministers USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics UW Unia Wolno´sci/Freedom Union WAK Wyborcza Akcja Katolicka/Catholic Electoral Alliance WiN Wolno´sć i Niezawisl⁄ o´sć/Freedom and Independence WP Wojsko Polskie/Polish Army WRON Wojskowa Rada Ocalenia Narodowego/Military Council for National Salvation WSI Wojskowe Sl⁄ u˙zby Informacyjne/Military Intelligence Service WUWr Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocl⁄ awskiego/University of Wrocl⁄ aw Publishers ZCh-N Zjednoczenie Chrze´scijańsko–Narodowe/Christian National Union ZLP Zwi ˛azek Literatów Polskich/Union of Polish Writers Znak ‘The Sign’ xii List of Abbreviations

ZNP Zwi azek˛ Nauczycielstwo Polskiej/Union of Polish Teachers ZSL Zjednoczone Stronnictwo Ludowe/United Peasant Party ZUS Zakl⁄ ad Ubezpiecze´n Spol⁄ ecznych/Social Insurance Enterprise Preface

Poland has since 1989 enjoyed an unprecedently favourable international situation which has facilitated its political democratization although the process has been hampered by major problems of delayed socioeconomic modernization. Democratic political institutions and constitutional politics have been consolidated. The country’s elites have successfully developed Poland’s historical traditions as well as the evolutionary consensus methods which emerged out of the negotiated revolution which ended communism. The result, examined in this study, has been the gradual working out of a widely accepted institutional balance. Parliamentary sovereignty and judicial review have been defined, executive power has shifted from the president to the prime minister, supported by a more efficient, although still far from perfect, cabinet and civil service and the full powers of the Constitutional Tribunal have all been embodied in the 1997 constitution. This constitutional and institutional dimension has stabilized Poland’s democratic political life despite powerful ideological and socioeconomic cleavages which have produced an exceptionally fluid party system. Electoral volatility was demonstrated most dramatically in the September 2001 parliamentary election which saw the disappearance from the Sejm of the two governing parties (Electoral Action Solidarity and the Freedom Union) which had supported Jerzy Buzek, the outgoing prime minister, since 1997. As this book went to press the issue was whether the near majority achieved by the Union of the Democratic Left, which had been reconstructed in a strongly pro-European and social democratic direction, supported by the 1990’s constitutional compromise, would be strong enough to resist party fragmentation and the electoral success of the pop- ulist ‘Self-Defence’ (Samoobrona) movement. Regular cyclical swings against incumbents in Poland since 1991 have been fuelled by popular reactions against the costs of socioeconomic transformation balanced by the desire to restructure sufficiently to join the European Union and to achieve consumer prosperity. This study, nevertheless, demonstrates that Poland’s political institutions and traditions have a basic underlying solidity. A strong sense of constitutionalism and rule of law has been hammered out through long drawn out struggles against occupying partitioning powers, the Nazi onslaught and communist rule. They are now rooted deeply in what the Poles consider to be their national tradition, derived from a ‘usable past’ based on adapted memories of ‘gentry democracy’ and the interwar Second Republic. This holds out the realistic likelihood that what outsiders might regard as dangerous forces of instability will be contained as Poland successfully completes its systemic transition. xiii xiv Preface

Since my first stay in Poland for a year of postgraduate study in the History department of Warsaw University during 1965 to 1966, I have visited Poland about 40 times. During the period of East–West ideological- systemic struggle, my warmest links were with ‘Third Way’ reformists and patriotic-minded intelligentsia, forces which eventually achieved the com- promises which ended communism. They have, subsequently, been a significant element of the political elites which have kept the Third Republic on course, achieved the democratic normality examined in this study and done their best to protect Poland and its national culture from the more excessive depradations of democratic capitalism. Of the many, many Poles who I have met over the years it would be invidious to acknowledge my intellectual, and in some cases, personal debt to more than a leading handful of the academics – mainly in my fields of politics, history and state law – who have supported me at various times, notably Wojciech Sokolewicz; Stanis⁄law Gebethner; Hieronim Kubiak; Jerzy Wiatr; Leszek Garlicki; Ryszard Mojak; Ryszard Zelichowski; Krzysztof Skotnicki; Hubert Izdebski; Stanisl⁄ aw Bielen; Andrzej Paczkowski; Grzegorz Rydlewski; Piotr Winczorek; Wojciech Materski; Wojciech Roszkowski; Wies⁄law Skrzydlo; Zdzis⁄law Jarosz; Eugeniusz Zieliński; Karol B. Janowski; Andrzej Rychard; Krzysztof Jasiewicz; Adam Bromke; Zbigniew Pelczynski. Finally – but above all – I would like to dedicate this, my ninth book, to my mother in gratitude for a lifetime of selfless support and encouragement.

GEORGE SANFORD Bristol Chronology

10th century Piast dynasty establishes distinct Polish state. 966 Mieszko I adopts Christianity. 1025 Boles⁄law the Brave crowned King of Poland. 12th century The feudal state disintegrates. 1386 Jagiel⁄ l⁄ o marries Jadwiga inaugurating the Jagiellonian dynasty which rules until 1572. 1410 The Teutonic Order is defeated by the Polish-Lithuanian alliance at the battle of Grunwald. 1505 Nihil Novi statute. 1569 Union of Lublin formalizes the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. 1572–1764 Election of monarchs mainly from the Waza and Saxon dynasties. 1653 First use of Liberum veto. 1683 Jan Sobieski defeats the Turks at Vienna 1717 Russian domination conﬁrmed by the ‘Dumb Sejm’. 1772 First Partition of Poland. 1788–92 Four Year Sejm. 1791 Constitution of Third of May. 1793 Second Partition. 1794 Ko´sciuszko’s Uprising. 1795 Third Partition ends the Polish Commonwealth. 1807–13 Grand Duchy of Warsaw and introduction of Napoleonic Code. 1815–30 Congress Kingdom and Free State of Kraków are established. 1830–31 Suppression of November Uprising by Russia. 1863–64 Russia puts down the January Uprising. 1867 Galicia gains autonomy within Austro-Hapsburg Empire. 1918 11 November Poland regains independence with Pi⁄l− sudski as Head of State. 1920 August Bolsheviks defeated by Pil⁄ sudski at battle of Warsaw. 1921 Promulgation of democratic constitution of 17 March: Treaty of Riga secures Poland an extended eastern frontier. 1926 May coup by Pil⁄ sudski inaugurates growing authoritarian rule.

xv xvi Chronology

1935 April The authoritarian constitution is promulgated; May Pil⁄ sudski dies. 1939 Poland, invaded by Nazi Germany on 1 September and the USSR on 17 September; is divided up on the basis of the Ribbentrop–Molotov Pact. 1940 Spring–Summer Soviet massacre of over 22 000 Polish Prisoners of War, colloquially known as ‘Katyń’. 1944 Spring Anders corps fights for Monte Cassino; August–September Warsaw Uprising; December Polish Committee of National Liberation becomes the Provisional Government. 1945 Red Army occupation and establishment of communist rule within new frontiers on the Oder–Neisse in the west and around the Curzon Line in the east. 1947 Elections and elimination of remaining opposition. 1948 Gomul⁄ ka’s downfall; Stalinist domination under Bierut and Rokossowski. 1956 June Poznań uprising; October Popular unrest returns Gomul⁄ ka to power. 1968 March Student and reform opposition is crushed by the anti-Zionist purge. 1970 West German recognition of the Oder–Neisse line; demonstrations on the Baltic seacoast are suppressed; Gierek replaces Gomul⁄ ka. 1976 Period of growing prosperity and détente ends; June Food price increase is abandoned after Radom and Ursus riots. Suppression leads to dissidence and the Workers’ Defence Committee. 1978 Cardinal Karol Wojtyl⁄ a of Kraków is elected Pope. 1979 John Paul II’s first visit to Poland. 1980 Summer Growing protests against the food price-rise. August sit-in strikes in the Baltic dockyards; Gdańsk, Szczecin and Jastrz˛ebie Agreements concede rights to strike and to organize free trade unions; emergence of Solidarity, led by Wal⁄ esa.˛ 1981 Consumer collapse and socioeconomic discontent. July The PZPR and Solidarity hold their congresses; Jaruzelski assumes party as well as state power; December The Military Council of National Salvation declares the State of War and suppresses opposition. 1982 Organization of underground counter-society. 1983 State of War ends: John Paul II visits Poland for a second time. Chronology xvii

1986 General amnesty: Jaruzelski establishes Consultative Council and Wal⁄ esa˛ the Solidarity Provisional Council. 1987 Narrow failure of referendum. 1988 Spring–Summer strikes; August PZPR plenum initiates reform course; December Wal⁄ esa˛ sets up Civic Committee. 1989 January PZPR plenum confirms reform leadership and decision to negotiate with the opposition. 6 February–5 April Round Table negotiations and contract. April Re- legalization of Solidarity. June PZPR is defeated in the Sejm and Senate elections. July Jaruzelski is barely elected as president. August Mazowiecki is nominated as prime minister. September Sejm confirms the Solidarity- led coalition government with communist participa- tion; signing of EEC trade and economic agreement. December Constitutional amendment excludes PZPR’s leading-role. 1990 January Dissolution of PZPR and formation of SdRP and PUS; initiation of Balcerowicz’ economic shock therapy. May Local government election. Summer Resignation of communist ministers: ‘war at the top’ splits Solidarity. November Polish–German Treaty confirms inviolability of their frontier: Tymiński eliminates Mazowiecki in first ballot of presidential election. December Wal⁄ esa˛ elected as president. 1991 January Bielecki replaces Mazowiecki as prime minister. February Signing of Vi˘segrad Agreement; Solidarity Congress elects Krzaklewski as national chairman. October First fully free election produces a fragmented Sejm. December Olszewski appointed prime minister of a centre-right government; signing of EEC associate membership agreement. 1992 May Timetable for withdrawal of Soviet troops in Poland agreed. June Interior minister Macierewicz attempts to release secret files; Olszewski’s government falls. Pawlak is nominated, but not confirmed, as prime minister. July Suchocka forms a Solidarity- orientated coalition. November Promulgation of Little Constitution. 1993 May Wal⁄esa˛ dissolves Sejm after Suchocka loses vote of confidence. September Last operational Soviet troops leave Poland. October SLD and PSL win a large majority of seats in Sejm election while Solidarity, KLD, PC and xviii Chronology

the national-catholics are excluded. November Pawlak leads an SLD-PSL coalition government. 1994 February Poland joins Partnership for Peace. April Formal amalgamation of UD with KLD to form Freedom Union (UW). May Borowski is replaced by Kol⁄ odko as minister of finance. June Local Government elections. July Wal⁄esa˛ signs Treaty with Lithuania in Vilnius. 1995 March Oleksy replaces Pawlak as prime minister: Zych becomes Sejm-Marshal April UW Congress elects Balcerowicz as leader in place of Mazowiecki. November presidential election – Wal⁄esa˛ heads off challenges by Kuroń, Gronkiewicz-Waltz and Olszewski but is just defeated by Kwa´sniewski on the second ballot. December Interior Minister Milczanowski accuses Oleksy of betraying state secrets. 1996 March Cimoszewicz takes over as prime minister on Oleksy’s resignation April Suspension of investigation against Oleksy; Constitutional Tribunal rules that the abortion law is unconstitutional. July Sejm postpones ratification of Concordat. October Publication of White Book on Oleksy affair. November Bugaj’s Sejm Commission report closes Oleksy Affair. Winter Reform of central ministries. 1997 February Bel⁄ ka takes over from Kol⁄ odko as Minister of Finance. March Wilecki dismissed as Chief of Staff; April Sejm passes constitution despite rightist and cleri- cal opposition; AWS elects its co-ordinating committee; Lustration Law passed. May Referendum barely approves constitution on low turnout. June John Paul’s fifth papal visit to Poland; EU Amsterdam summit decides to begin negotiations for full membership entry with Poland. July Serious flooding in southern and western Poland; NATO Madrid Summit endorses Polish membership. September Sejm election produces an ‘Electoral Action’ Solidarity (AWS) and Freedom Union (UW) majority. October Jerzy Buzek forms an AWS-UW coalition government. December Finance Minister Balcerowicz launches an economic austerity programme. 1998 January Ratification of the Concordat with the Vatican. March Jan Kulakowski appointed Government Plenipotentiary for EU entry negotiations. April Opening of first stage ‘screening’ negotiations with EU. June Amended Lustration Law is passed – Nizieński appointed Public Interest Spokesman. October Local Chronology xix

government elections. December Institute of National Memory is established. 1999 March Poland becomes a NATO member. June Sixth Papal visit. 2000 January Treasury Minister W ˛asacz resigns. May Buzek forms a minority government on UW withdrawal. August Lustration Court approves Kwa´sniewski’s and Wal⁄ esa’s˛ electoral declarations. September Kwa´sniewski vetoes Universal Wealth-Holding Law. October Presidential election – Kwa´sniewski is re-elected deci- sively on the ﬁrst ballot – Olechowski does well, Krzaklewski poorly. 2001 February Formation of PO. April New electoral law. October SLD almost wins a majority of seats in the Sejm and does so in the Senate in the parliamentary elections. The PSL, PO, Samoobrona as well as Catholic and conservative groups win Sejm representation but the AWS and UW fail to do so; Leszek Miller forms SLD-PSL government with Cimoszewicz as Foreign Minister.