HIST 226 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Warsaw Pact, Berlin Wall
Document Summary
New wave of polish strikes, spring/summer 1988. Started by younger workers with no connection to solidarity. Government offers to meet with walesa if he can call off strikes. Though most of party is actually opposed to this strategy, it is backed by jaruzelski. Semi-free elections scheduled for 35% of parliament seats, 100% of seats in new senate. Solidarity wins all 100 senate seats and all but one lower house seat. However, old trade union vs. political movement argument persisted. Solidarity prepared to be an opposition, not to govern. Jaruzelski declienes to run, but is elected anyway. Appointed kiszczak as pm, but he can"t for government due to defection of communist satellite parties. Proposal for jaruzelski to be president, with solidarity choosing the pm. Proposes catholic activist tadeusz mazowiecki, and he is elected. Now see non-communist government in a socialist, warsaw pact state. Kadar accepts that limited plurality was necessary. Low level party members begin calling for talks.
