Presidents and democratization in Poland: The roles of Lech Walesa and Aleksander Kwasniewski in building a new polity

Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics

Volumn 16, Issue 3, 2000, Pages 39-62

  Millard, Frances ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

DEMOCRATIZATION; LEADERSHIP; POLITICAL CHANGE; POST-COMMUNISM;

EID: 0033792456     PISSN: 13523279     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/13523270008415440     Document Type: Article

References (56)

1. Some seminal works are Juan J. Linz, 'Presidential or Parliamentary Democracy: Does It Make a Difference?', in Juan J. Linz and Arturo Valenzuela (eds.), The Failure of Presidential Democracy (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994), pp.3-87; Matthew Soberg Shugart and John Carey, Presidents and Assemblies: Constitutional Design and Electoral Dynamics (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992); A. Stepan and C. Skach, 'Constitutional Frameworks and Democratic Consolidation: Parliamentarism versus Presidentialism', World Politics, Vol.46, No.1 (1996), pp. 1-22.
2. Some seminal works are Juan J. Linz, 'Presidential or Parliamentary Democracy: Does It Make a Difference?', in Juan J. Linz and Arturo Valenzuela (eds.), The Failure of Presidential Democracy (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994), pp.3-87; Matthew Soberg Shugart and John Carey, Presidents and Assemblies: Constitutional Design and Electoral Dynamics (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992); A. Stepan and C. Skach, 'Constitutional Frameworks and Democratic Consolidation: Parliamentarism versus Presidentialism', World Politics, Vol.46, No.1 (1996), pp. 1-22.
3. Some seminal works are Juan J. Linz, 'Presidential or Parliamentary Democracy: Does It Make a Difference?', in Juan J. Linz and Arturo Valenzuela (eds.), The Failure of Presidential Democracy (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994), pp.3-87; Matthew Soberg Shugart and John Carey, Presidents and Assemblies: Constitutional Design and Electoral Dynamics (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992); A. Stepan and C. Skach, 'Constitutional Frameworks and Democratic Consolidation: Parliamentarism versus Presidentialism', World Politics, Vol.46, No.1 (1996), pp. 1-22.
4. Kizysztof Jasiewicz, 'Poland: Wałȩsa's Legacy to the Presidency', in Ray Taras (ed.), Postcommunist Presidents (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997), pp. 130-68, makes use of elements of Linz's framework in his analysis of Wałȩsa.
5. Scott Mainwaring and Matthew S. Shugart, 'Juan Linz, Presidentialism and Democracy: A Critical Appraisal', Comparative Politics, Vol.29, No.4 (1997), pp.463-9.
6. Baylis underplays personality in his thoughtful analysis: Thomas A. Baylis, 'Presidents versus Prime Ministers: Shaping Executive Authority in Eastern Europe', World Politics, Vol.48 (April 1996), pp.297-323.
7. Timothy Frye, 'A Politics of Institutional Choice: Post-Communist Presidencies', Comparative Political Studies, Vol.30 (Oct. 1997), p.547.
8. John Ishiyama and Matthew Velten, 'Presidential Power and Democratic Development in Post-Communist Polities', Communist and Post-Communist Studies, Vol.31 (Sept. 1998), p.223.
9. James McGregor, 'The Presidency in East Central Europe', RFE/RL Research Report, Vol.3, No.2 (14 Jan. 1994), p.29, gives Poland and Hungary equal weight in his table of unweighted powers; but McGregor recognizes the crucial role of personality, will and independent sources of support in the exercise of these powers.
10. On the Round Table negotiations, see Frances Millard, The Anatomy of the New Poland: Post-Communist Politics in Its First Phase (Aldershot: Edward Elgar, 1994), pp.56-83; Wiktor Osiatynski, 'The Roundtable Talks in Poland', in Jon Elster (ed.), The Roundtable Talks and the Breakdown of Communism (Chicago, IL and London: University of Chicago Press, 1996), pp.21-68.
11. On the Round Table negotiations, see Frances Millard, The Anatomy of the New Poland: Post-Communist Politics in Its First Phase (Aldershot: Edward Elgar, 1994), pp.56-83; Wiktor Osiatynski, 'The Roundtable Talks in Poland', in Jon Elster (ed.), The Roundtable Talks and the Breakdown of Communism (Chicago, IL and London: University of Chicago Press, 1996), pp.21-68.
12. Paul G. Lewis, 'Non-competitive Elections and Regime Change: Poland 1989', Parliamentary Affairs, Vol.43, No.1 (1990), pp.90-107.
13. Wałȩsa had originally expected to be elected by the National Assembly. After Mazowiecki's supporters began to organize support for a constitutional amendment introducing direct election of the president, he altered his view.
14. Frances Millard, The Polish Presidential Election of 1995', Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, Vol.12, No.1 (1996), pp. 101-9; Hubert Tworzecki, 'The Polish Presidential Elections of 1995', Electoral Studies, Vol.15, No.3 (1996), pp.403-9; Donald Pienkos, 'The 1995 Polish Presidential Election: A Step Toward Normalcy', The Polish Review, Vol.XLII, No.4 (1997), pp.395-430.
15. Frances Millard, The Polish Presidential Election of 1995', Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, Vol.12, No.1 (1996), pp. 101-9; Hubert Tworzecki, 'The Polish Presidential Elections of 1995', Electoral Studies, Vol.15, No.3 (1996), pp.403-9; Donald Pienkos, 'The 1995 Polish Presidential Election: A Step Toward Normalcy', The Polish Review, Vol.XLII, No.4 (1997), pp.395-430.
16. Frances Millard, The Polish Presidential Election of 1995', Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, Vol.12, No.1 (1996), pp. 101-9; Hubert Tworzecki, 'The Polish Presidential Elections of 1995', Electoral Studies, Vol.15, No.3 (1996), pp.403-9; Donald Pienkos, 'The 1995 Polish Presidential Election: A Step Toward Normalcy', The Polish Review, Vol.XLII, No.4 (1997), pp.395-430.
17. For a complete list see Anna Materska-Sosnowska, 'SLD - perspektywa pozostania u władzy czy przejścia do opozycji', in Stanisław Gebethner (ed.), Wybory '97. Partie i programy wyborcze (Warsaw: Elipsa, 1997), p.154.
18. Mikołaj Kozakiewicz, Byłem marszalkiem kontraktowego… (Warsaw: BGW, c. 1991), p.54.
19. J. Forowicz, 'Nowy tezy z Belwederu', Rzeczpospolita, 21 March 1991.
20. Ryszard Mojak, Instytitcja prezydenta RP w okresie przekształceń ustrojowych (Lublin: Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej, 1995), pp.211-12.
21. Kronika Sejmowa, No.25, 6-12 June 1991, p.19; K. Groblewski, 'Prezydenckie weto dla ordynacji wyborczej', Rzeczpospolita, 11 June 1991.
22. Kronika Sejmowa, No.25, 6-12 June 1991, p.19; K. Groblewski, 'Prezydenckie weto dla ordynacji wyborczej', Rzeczpospolita, 11 June 1991.
23. Rzeczpospolita, 27 June 1991.
24. Jarosław Kaczyński, quoted in Marcin Dominik Zdort, 'Droga na skróty', Rzeczpospolita, 11 Feb. 1998.
25. Piotr Winczorek, 'Kto jest "gospodarzem"projektu', Rzeczpospolita, 1-2 Feb. 1992.
26. K. Pilczyński, 'Wzmocnić - rza̧d czy prezydenturȩ, Rzeczpospolita, 12 Dec. 1991.
27. For further detail see Ryszard Chruściak, 'Ustawa konstytucyjna o trybie przygotowania i uchwalenia Konstytucji RP - przebieg prac parlamentarnych', in Ryszard Chruściak, Tadeusz Mołdawa, Konstanty A. Wojtaszczyk and Eugeniusz Zieliński, Polski system polityczny w okresie transformacji (Warsaw: Elipsa, 1995), pp.101-4.
28. See Jarosław Kaczyński, 'Byłem głównym rozgrywaja̧cym', Polityka, 18 Jan. 1992; Radek Sikorski, 'Poles Apart', The Spectator, 27 June 1992, pp.9-12; Jan Olszewski, Olszewski: Przerwana Premiera (Warsaw: Tygodnik Solidarność, 1992), pp.28-38.
29. See Jarosław Kaczyński, 'Byłem głównym rozgrywaja̧cym', Polityka, 18 Jan. 1992; Radek Sikorski, 'Poles Apart', The Spectator, 27 June 1992, pp.9-12; Jan Olszewski, Olszewski: Przerwana Premiera (Warsaw: Tygodnik Solidarność, 1992), pp.28-38.
30. See Jarosław Kaczyński, 'Byłem głównym rozgrywaja̧cym', Polityka, 18 Jan. 1992; Radek Sikorski, 'Poles Apart', The Spectator, 27 June 1992, pp.9-12; Jan Olszewski, Olszewski: Przerwana Premiera (Warsaw: Tygodnik Solidarność, 1992), pp.28-38.
31. W. Bereś and K. Burnetko, Gliniarz z 'Tygodnika' (Warsaw: BGW, 1990), pp.24-5, 47-51.
32. Rzeczpospolita, 30-31 May 1992; see also J. Snopkiewicz (ed.), Teczki, czyli widma bezpieki (Warsaw: BGW, 1992), pp.39-41.
33. Rzeczpospolita, 30-31 May 1992; see also J. Snopkiewicz (ed.), Teczki, czyli widma bezpieki (Warsaw: BGW, 1992), pp.39-41.
34. Rzeczpospolita, 5 June 1992.
35. For a favourable assessment, see Wiktor Osiatyński, 'A Bill of Rights for Poland', The East European Constitutional Review, Vol.1, No.3 (1992), pp.29-33.
36. Marek Jurek of the ZChN, quoted in Rzeczpospolita, 22 Jan. 1993.
37. 'Projekt Prezydenta RP - Konstytucja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej', Rzeczpospolita, 19 May 1994.
38. Rzeczpospolita, 14-15 Jan. 1995.
39. Quoted in Rzeczpospolita, 21 April 1995 from a Radio interview with Lech Wałȩsa.
40. Quoted in Jan Bijak, 'Niedobre uciechy', Polityka, 3 June 1995.
41. Quoted from a radio discussion in Gazeta Wyborcza, reported in OMRI Daily Digest, No. 166, Part II (25 Aug. 1995).
42. See Aleks Szczerbiak, 'Electoral Politics in Poland: The Parliamentary Elections of 1997', Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, Vol.14, No.3 (1998), pp.58-83.
43. Piotr Aleksandrowicz, Krzysztof Gottesman and Jan Skórzyński, 'Niewa̧tpliwie mam satysfakcjȩ' (interview with Aleksander Kwaśniewski), Rzeczpospolita, 14 May 1998.
44. Rzeczpospolita, 5 Dec. 1997.
45. Krzysztof Czabański, ' … albo nie być', Rzeczpospolita, 2-3 June 1999.
46. Gaps arise where the Constitution specifies actions to be defined by law; for example, Article 117 provides that the principles for the use of armed force beyond Poland's borders are defined by international treaty or by law; in the absence of a law, the government would have been unable to act.
47. Janina Paradowska, 'Weto odrzucone - ustawa do zmiany', Polityka, 26 Dec. 1998.
48. Rzeczpospolita, 5 March 1999.
49. Rzeczpospolita, 26 March 1999.
50. CBOS polls in January 1998 gave Kwaśniewski a rating of 75 per cent, rising to 80 per cent in September: 'Tydzień w kraju', Polityka, 21 Feb. 1998; 'Tydzień w kraju', Polityka, 17 Oct. 1998.
51. CBOS polls in January 1998 gave Kwaśniewski a rating of 75 per cent, rising to 80 per cent in September: 'Tydzień w kraju', Polityka, 21 Feb. 1998; 'Tydzień w kraju', Polityka, 17 Oct. 1998.
52. PBS data, reported in Rzeczpospolita, 21 Sept. 1999.
53. By October 58 per cent disapproved of the prime minister's performance: CBOS data in Rzeczpospolita, 22 Oct. 1999.
54. SLD hovered around the 40 per cent mark by the autumn: see PBS data in Rzeczpospolita, 20 July, 23 Aug. and 20 Sept. 1999; Pentor data in Wprost, No.42, 17 Oct. 1999.
55. SLD hovered around the 40 per cent mark by the autumn: see PBS data in Rzeczpospolita, 20 July, 23 Aug. and 20 Sept. 1999; Pentor data in Wprost, No.42, 17 Oct. 1999.
56. James P. McGregor, 'Constitutional Factors in Politics in Post-communist Central and Eastern Europe', Communist and Post-Communist Studies, Vol.29, No.2 (1996), p. 149.